Improving HIV prevention and care for sexual and gender minority youth in Africa
Resilient HIV Implementation Science with Sexual and Gender Minority Youths using Evidence (RISE) Clinical Research Center
This project develops and uses youth-focused approaches to improve HIV prevention and care for sexual and gender minority young people (ages 15–24) in African communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11373152 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were to take part, the center would work with clinics and community groups in West, East, and Southern Africa to deliver HIV prevention and care tailored for LGBTQ+ youth. They will combine digital health tools, youth-tailored interventions, and training for local providers to make services more accessible and acceptable. The team will run implementation projects at several clinical and community sites, gather real-world data on what works, and adapt programs based on youth feedback. Results are intended to be turned into practical guidance for clinics and programs serving sexual and gender minority youths.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are sexual and gender minority youths aged 15–24 who are at risk for or living with HIV and who access care at participating clinics or community sites in the listed African regions.
Not a fit: Older adults, people who are not sexual or gender minorities, or those living outside the participating countries and clinics are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could expand access to youth-friendly HIV testing, prevention (including PrEP), and care services for sexual and gender minority young people.
How similar studies have performed: Many implementation and digital health efforts have improved HIV care delivery, but tailored studies focused specifically on sexual and gender minority youths in these African settings remain limited, so this work builds on promising approaches while addressing a gap.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Charurat, Manhattan E — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Charurat, Manhattan E
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.