Improving HIV prevention services for women
Official title: Socio-Structural Intervention to Improve Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Services for Cisgender Women (CGW) (PrEP-CGW)
Funded at Medstar Health Research Institute · NIH-10686097 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making it easier for women in Washington, D.C. to access PrEP, a medication that helps prevent HIV, by tackling issues like stigma and cost, and it aims to create better support systems to help women feel more comfortable using these services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medstar Health Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hyattsville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $271,237 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH128046-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10686097 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are cisgender women, especially those at high risk for HIV, including Black women in Washington, D.C.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not cisgender women or those who are not at risk for HIV may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services for cisgender women, particularly in Washington, D.C., where HIV rates are significantly high. It aims to identify and address socio-structural barriers that prevent women from utilizing PrEP, such as stigma, cost, and medical mistrust. The approach includes engaging medical providers and peer support systems to improve women's experiences with PrEP services. By piloting this intervention in a high-prevalence area, the research seeks to develop effective strategies that can be implemented across the Southern United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce HIV transmission rates among cisgender women by improving their access to and use of PrEP.
How similar studies have gone: There is growing evidence that socio-structural interventions can effectively improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, although this specific approach for cisgender women is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Medstar Health Research Institute
Hyattsville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Rachel K — Medstar Health Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Scott, Rachel K
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.