How social and community disadvantages affect HIV risk and substance use for young Black men and transgender women
SILOS: Structural Inequities across Layers Of Social-Context as Drivers of HIV and Substance Use
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11458430
Researchers will survey 2,700 young men who have sex with men and transgender women across five U.S. cities to learn how social networks, neighborhoods, and access to resources relate to HIV risk and substance use.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11458430 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project invites people like me—young men who have sex with men and transgender women, especially Black participants—to complete remote surveys about our friendships, places we go, and experiences with stigma and services. The team will map social connections and neighborhood contexts to see how supportive or risky environments spread across networks. About 2,700 racially diverse participants from five U.S. cities will be included and data will be collected remotely to protect privacy. The researchers aim to show how layered social inequalities concentrate risk and limit access to resources so future programs can better help those most affected.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young men who have sex with men and transgender women—particularly Black/African American individuals—living in the participating cities and willing to complete remote network surveys are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not MSM or transgender women, who are outside the study cities, or who do not match the study's age or demographic targets likely would not benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new community- and network-based programs that reduce HIV transmission and substance use among marginalized groups.
How similar studies have performed: Previous social-network and neighborhood studies have identified risk patterns and helped target interventions, but this multi-city, layered focus on structural inequities is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BIRKETT, MICHELLE — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BIRKETT, MICHELLE
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 below.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus, Communicable Diseases