HIV viral suppression for people just diagnosed in refugee settlements in Uganda through community ART delivery
Official title: Achieving HIV viral suppression in refugee settlements in Uganda with Head StART: a cluster randomized trial evaluating the effectiveness of community ART delivery for people newly diagnosed with HIV
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11536649 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large U.S.–based research project tests whether delivering HIV treatment in refugee settlements in Uganda helps people newly diagnosed with HIV start treatment, stay adherent, and reach viral suppression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $299,158 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH130216-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11536649 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People newly diagnosed with HIV living in refugee settlements in Uganda who are eligible for ART.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not living in refugee settlements or not yet diagnosed with HIV may not be affected by this delivery strategy.
What this research studies
If you are newly diagnosed with HIV in a refugee settlement in Uganda, this project tests a practical way to start and continue ART by bringing care to the community. Researchers will compare standard clinic-based care to community ART delivery over time to see if the new approach helps people begin treatment sooner, stay adherent, and achieve viral suppression. The study uses a cluster randomized design, engaging clinics and communities to understand real-world effectiveness in a setting with transportation and disclosure challenges. The goal is to identify an approach that reduces barriers like travel distance and stigma, improving engagement in HIV care from diagnosis onward.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make it easier for newly diagnosed people in refugee settlements to start and stay on HIV treatment, improving health and reducing transmission.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilot findings suggest that early community ART delivery may help with viral suppression in this setting, but this is a larger, controlled study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'laughlin, Kelli Nicole — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: O'laughlin, Kelli Nicole
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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.