How relationship violence affects HIV prevention for gay and bisexual men
Official title: Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Prevention among Sexual Minority Men
Funded at San Diego State University · NIH-11218728 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows HIV-negative gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to track how intimate partner violence relates to HIV testing, PrEP use, and STI risk over two years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $154,228 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH126762-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11218728 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
HIV-negative sexual minority men (men who have sex with men), typically adults 21 years and older, especially those who have experienced or are at risk for intimate partner violence, are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People living with HIV, women, or those who are not men who have sex with men are not the focus and may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow participants for 24 months with regular surveys and check-ins about experiences of physical, sexual, and psychological partner violence, relationship context, sexual behavior, and substance use. The project will also collect information about HIV testing, STI diagnoses, PrEP initiation, and whether people stay on PrEP over time. Investigators will compare different patterns of violence (perpetration vs receipt, steady vs casual partners) to see how these relate to prevention behaviors and infection risk. The goal is to identify points where prevention and support could be improved for men experiencing partner violence.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better-tailored HIV prevention and support services for sexual minority men affected by partner violence.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked intimate partner violence to higher sexual risk and HIV seroconversion, but large, long-term cohorts focusing on testing, PrEP uptake, and PrEP persistence in sexual minority men remain relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
San Diego State University
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Storholm, Erik D. — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Storholm, Erik D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Intimate Partner Violence and HIV Prevention Engagement in High-Risk Populations
This project follows people at high risk for HIV to see how intimate partner violence affects their use of HIV testing and PrEP over two years.
-
How partner abuse affects HIV testing, PrEP use, and sexual health
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The effects of intimate partner violence on HIV prevention in sexual minority men
This study looks at how experiences of intimate partner violence can influence HIV prevention habits in sexual minority men, like whether they get tested for HIV or use medications to prevent it, and it aims to help find better ways to support those affected over the next two years.
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Exploring the link between intimate partner violence and HIV prevention in transgender and nonbinary individuals
This study is looking at how experiences of intimate partner violence can affect HIV testing and prevention among transgender and nonbinary people, with the goal of finding ways to better support their health and safety.
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A Ugandan study is testing ways to help adolescents and young adults (15–24) prevent HIV and stay healthy, using long-acting PrEP and youth-friendly services.
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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.