Improving HIV prevention services for adolescents through rapid STI testing
Official title: Clinical and implementation outcomes of a point of care sexually transmitted infection testing strategy to improve HIV prevention service delivery in adolescents
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-11084641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help teenagers get tested for HIV by offering quick tests for STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia during their visits, so they can get results in just 30 minutes and receive important counseling about HIV prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2025 |
| Project end | June 8, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $490,550 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MH136994-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents seeking STI testing and treatment who may be at risk for HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those who are not seeking STI testing may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to enhance HIV prevention services for adolescents by implementing point of care testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like gonorrhea and chlamydia. By providing test results within 30 minutes, this method aims to increase the number of adolescents receiving HIV testing and counseling for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) during their STI visits. The study will evaluate how effectively this rapid testing can improve service delivery and patient outcomes in routine pediatric settings. The goal is to close the gap in HIV prevention services that many adolescents currently face.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of adolescents receiving timely HIV testing and prevention services, ultimately reducing the rates of HIV among this population.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using rapid testing methods to improve health service delivery, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, Sarah Marian — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Wood, Sarah Marian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Making HIV prevention and care easier for Ugandan youth
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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Innovative HIV Prevention and Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults in Uganda
A Ugandan research team is testing practical, youth-focused strategies to help 15-24 year-olds using HIV prevention or treatment services stay healthy and engaged in care.
-
Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
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Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
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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.
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.