Improving home testing for HIV and STIs among Black women in Texas
Official title: Increasing HIV/STI Home Testing, Linkage toCare, and Linkage to PrEP via a Digital Intervention among Black Women in a GeographicHotspot
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10836231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making it easier for Black women in Travis County, Texas, to test for HIV and STIs from home, while also providing support to help them get the care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | May 5, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $245,625 |
| NIH project number | 7R34MH128054-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10836231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black women living in Travis County, Texas, who are at high risk for HIV and STIs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not reside in Travis County or who are not at risk for HIV or STIs may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on increasing access to home testing for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among Black women in Travis County, Texas, a region with high HIV rates. The project aims to develop a web-based intervention that combines home testing with motivational support to encourage testing and linkage to care. Participants will engage in a structured program that guides them through the testing process, from using the home kit to obtaining treatment and attending appointments for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). By addressing barriers to testing, the research seeks to improve health outcomes for this high-risk population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection of HIV and STIs, ultimately reducing transmission rates and improving health outcomes for Black women.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that home testing and digital interventions can effectively increase testing rates and linkage to care in similar populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nydegger, Liesl a — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Nydegger, Liesl a
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.
-
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.