HIV Care Access for People in Boston-area Jails and Beyond
Official title: Massachusetts HIV and Justice-Involved Populations Research Network
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11394626 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests a plan to help people involved with the criminal-legal system get HIV testing and PrEP so they stay healthier after release.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,532,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R33DA060588-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394626 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are involved with the criminal-legal system in the Suffolk County area, particularly those with opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not affected by incarceration or without HIV risk factors may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
The project partners with Suffolk County jail and community clinics to understand barriers to HIV testing and PrEP for people with opioid use disorder. It will pilot a multi-pronged strategy to connect individuals to HIV care during jail stay, at release, and in the community. The study includes a formative evaluation and a type 2 hybrid implementation-effectiveness design to see if the approach improves testing and PrEP linkage in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could reduce HIV transmission and improve health outcomes for justice-involved individuals and their communities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior efforts show that jail-based HIV testing and linkage to care can be improved with targeted interventions, though results vary by setting.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wurcel, Alysse Gail — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wurcel, Alysse Gail
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.