HIV testing and prevention for people with opioid use involved in jails
Official title: Massachusetts HIV and Justice-Involved Populations Research Network
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11372731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will offer easier HIV testing and help start HIV-prevention medicine (PrEP) for people with opioid use who are in or leaving jail in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,538,194 |
| NIH project number | 4R33DA060588-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with opioid use disorder who are incarcerated in or recently released from Suffolk County jails, especially those who inject drugs or do not know their HIV status.
✕Less likely to help
People without opioid use disorder, not involved with the criminal legal system, or already stably engaged in HIV prevention and care are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be offered low-barrier HIV testing and, if at risk, help to start and continue PrEP, or fast connection to HIV treatment if positive. The team will run a small pilot and then a larger implementation study working with the Suffolk County jails and community clinics to link care before and after release. The plan integrates HIV services with existing medication programs for opioid use disorder to make it simpler to get both kinds of care. Researchers will track how many people get tested, start PrEP, and stay connected to care to improve services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase HIV testing and PrEP access for justice-involved people with opioid use disorder, lowering new infections and improving continuity of care.
How similar studies have gone: Similar jail-based programs have sometimes increased HIV testing but have struggled to get people started and retained on PrEP, so this project builds on prior lessons to improve linkage and continuity.
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.