Long-acting injectable HIV prevention for transgender and non-binary people
Official title: The Bridge Clinic: Optimizing Injectable PrEP Delivery for Transgender and Non-Binary People
Funded at Public Health Foundation Enterprises · NIH-11374762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers long‑acting injectable HIV prevention (cabotegravir) through a trans-affirming clinic to help transgender and non‑binary people use PrEP more easily.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Public Health Foundation Enterprises NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (City of Industry, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $519,514 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH132488-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are transgender and non-binary people at risk for HIV who want to start or switch to long-acting injectable PrEP and can attend clinic visits in the study area.
✕Less likely to help
People living with HIV, those unwilling to receive injections, those medically ineligible for cabotegravir, or those unable to attend local clinic visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.
What this research studies
As a patient, you would access a low-threshold, nurse-led Bridge Clinic with flexible hours that includes a trans peer navigator, text-message support (PrEPmate), transportation assistance, and community outreach. The team will add long‑acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB‑LA) to this model and use rapid-cycle improvement methods to refine how injections are offered and supported. They will conduct group sessions with community members and track outcomes like uptake, retention, and acceptability. The study also includes testing for any interactions between gender-affirming hormones and CAB‑LA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make it easier for transgender and non-binary people to start and stay on effective injectable PrEP and reduce new HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: Large trials have shown cabotegravir injections prevent HIV better than daily oral PrEP in general populations, but using injectable PrEP within a trans-affirming clinic and studying hormone interactions is a newer implementation approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Public Health Foundation Enterprises
City of Industry, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Albert Ying-Hwa — Public Health Foundation Enterprises
- Study coordinator: Liu, Albert Ying-Hwa
Related research
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CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
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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.