Improving HIV Prevention and Substance Use Care after Sexual Assault for Adolescents and Young Adults
Official title: Improving HIV Prevention and Substance Use Post-Sexual Assault Services for Adolescents and Young Adults
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11565537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot study aims to make HIV prevention and substance use support more available for teens and young adults who have experienced sexual violence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $155,716 |
| NIH project number | 3R34DA063014-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11565537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults who have experienced sexual violence and are seeking care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not engaged with post-assault care services or outside the age range may not benefit from these improvements.
What this research studies
This project builds on enhanced SANE services to provide same-day HIV prevention and substance-use support for adolescent and young adult survivors of sexual violence. It uses interviews and co-design with young survivors and community partners to tailor care, then tests a small randomized trial to see if the approach is feasible, acceptable, and shows signs of helping with HIV prevention uptake and substance-use treatment. The study combines patient input, caregiver feedback, and practical recruitment strategies to refine the intervention before broader testing. If successful, it could improve care pathways for a vulnerable group that faces high risks of HIV exposure and substance misuse after assault.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster access to HIV prevention and substance-use support after an assault, potentially reducing future HIV risk and improving overall health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts show tailored post-assault care can improve engagement, but this pilot explores a novel combination of same-day HIV prevention with substance-use support in AYA survivors.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Santa Maria, Diane M. — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Santa Maria, Diane M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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MY-RIDE: a real-time mobile program to reduce HIV risk and substance use among youth experiencing homelessness
A mobile program delivers personalized messages and coaching to youth aged 18-25 who are homeless, aiming to reduce drug use and increase HIV prevention like PrEP and condom use.
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Enhancing HIV prevention and substance use services for young survivors of sexual assault
This study is looking to make healthcare easier for young people who have gone through sexual violence by adding same-day HIV prevention and help for substance use to the care they already receive, and it will involve talking to survivors to make sure these services really fit their needs.
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MY-RIDE: A mobile health program for HIV prevention and substance use in youth experiencing homelessness
This program offers a mobile health app called MY-RIDE to help young people experiencing homelessness reduce substance use and prevent HIV.
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Creating a mobile app to help women in the carceral system access HIV prevention and substance use treatment.
This study is creating a helpful mobile app to make it easier for women in the criminal justice system to access HIV prevention and treatment for substance use, while also listening to their thoughts on these services to improve their healthcare experience.
-
Improving HIV prevention and substance use support for homeless youth
This study is testing a helpful mobile program called MY-RIDE that aims to support young people experiencing homelessness in staying safe from HIV and reducing substance use, by sending them personalized messages and feedback based on their needs, all while being easy to access even if they don’t have stable housing.
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A peer-led program to help young drug users in India with HIV prevention and treatment.
This study is helping young people in India who use drugs and are at risk for HIV by making it easier for them to get treatment and support from their peers at local health centers.
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.