Long-acting cabotegravir injections for HIV prevention
Official title: Cabotegravir PrEP: Actionable Robust Evidence for Translation into Practice (CABARET)
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11369747 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether bimonthly cabotegravir injections can make HIV prevention easier and reach people who have trouble taking daily pills, especially in Black, Latino, and transgender communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 21, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $762,559 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI174862-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369747 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People at substantial risk for HIV—including men who have sex with men, transgender women, and cisgender women, especially Black and Latino individuals who have difficulty taking daily pills—are most likely to be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have HIV, have medical contraindications to cabotegravir, or cannot attend regular injection visits may not benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You might be invited through clinics or community programs to learn about and receive long‑acting cabotegravir injections instead of daily oral PrEP. The research uses clinic data, patient surveys, and follow-up visits to track who starts and stays on injections, what barriers they face, and how monitoring strategies like oral ramp‑down or extra viral testing affect safety. The team focuses on groups at higher risk of HIV and underrepresented among current PrEP users to find fair ways to expand access. Findings will inform practical clinic approaches to reduce infections, inequities, and drug resistance risks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make HIV prevention simpler for people who struggle with daily pills and help reduce racial and gender gaps in PrEP access.
How similar studies have gone: Large clinical trials have already shown that long‑acting cabotegravir injections can prevent HIV better than daily oral PrEP, but real‑world implementation, equity, and resistance questions remain less studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marcus, Julia L. — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Marcus, Julia L.
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.
-
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.
-
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.