HIV testing and relationship skills training to help YMSM and PrEP uptake
Official title: HIV Testing and Communication skills training to reduce HIV risk and Improve PREP uptake
Funded at Hunter College · NIH-11411508 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program for young men who have sex with men under 25 to get HIV testing and learn communication skills to reduce risk and improve PrEP use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hunter College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $812,134 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI207135-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411508 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are young men who have sex with men under 25 who are sexually active and may benefit from improved communication about safer sex and PrEP.
✕Less likely to help
Participants who are not in a relationship or who do not intend to use PrEP may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a new approach that mixes HIV testing with video-based communication training and motivational goal setting to help young men in relationships negotiate safer sex and PrEP use. It builds on a prior protocol and will compare the new intervention to standard HIV testing in a randomized trial. If successful, the program could offer a practical way to reduce HIV risk in real-world settings for YMSM. The study will involve youth in New York City and measure changes in testing uptake, relationship communication, and PrEP adherence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could increase HIV testing and PrEP uptake among young men who have sex with men, potentially lowering new infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work showed promise for integrating testing with tailored communication training, and this trial will test its effectiveness in a randomized design.
Where this research is happening
-
Hunter College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cain, Demetria N. — Hunter College
- Study coordinator: Cain, Demetria N.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
-
Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.