How neighborhood and money affect HIV care outcomes
Official title: The Neighborhood Context, Economics, and Health Outcomes among People with HIV
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11539114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researcher at Johns Hopkins and later at University of Pittsburgh will study how people’s neighborhood and local wealth influence HIV care and outcomes using existing HIV patient data.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AI181608-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who are receiving care at participating clinics and whose residential neighborhood data can be linked to health outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose care is not influenced by neighborhood or economic conditions, or whose data cannot be linked to residential information, may not see direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project follows an early career researcher as she moves to independence to study how where people live and the wealth of their neighborhood shape HIV care success. Using the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort, the study will link where participants live to their retention in care, viral load suppression, and mortality. The team will compare different neighborhood economic conditions and use statistical methods to estimate the impact of moving or staying in place on HIV care outcomes. The work will build epidemiologic skills and apply them to real patient data to inform policies that improve care access and health in people living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform policy and programs to improve HIV care retention and viral suppression by addressing neighborhood economic factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown neighborhood context can relate to health outcomes, but this project applies causal methods to HIV care in a defined clinical cohort, representing a meaningful advancement.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zalla, Lauren C. — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Zalla, Lauren C.
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.