Improving HIV prevention for Black adolescents and young adults using a supportive app
Official title: Integration of Trusted Adult Supports into the HealthMpowerment App to Improve Black Adolescent and Young Adult PrEP Use
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11139596 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make the HealthMpowerment app better by adding trusted adults to help Black teens and young adults use PrEP, a medicine that can prevent HIV, especially in the Deep South where the rates are higher.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | November 2, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $188,393 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH128128-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139596 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black adolescents and young adults under 21 who are at risk for HIV and are seeking support in accessing PrEP.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for HIV or who are outside the age range of 13 to 21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the HealthMpowerment app by integrating trusted adult supports to improve the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among Black adolescents and young adults. The approach focuses on understanding the barriers these individuals face in accessing and adhering to PrEP, particularly in the Deep South, where HIV rates are disproportionately high. By leveraging the experiences of both adolescents and supportive adults, the project seeks to create a more effective intervention that empowers young people to take control of their sexual health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase PrEP adherence and reduce HIV infection rates among Black adolescents and young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that integrating support systems can improve health outcomes in similar populations, indicating a promising approach for this intervention.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hill, Samantha V — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Hill, Samantha V
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.