M-Suubi: A family-centered approach to reduce HIV stigma and improve care for adolescents with HIV in Uganda
Official title: M-Suubi: A Multi-level integrated intervention to reduce the impact of HIV stigma on HIV treatment outcomes among adolescents living with HIV in Uganda
Funded at New York University · NIH-11532434 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A youth-focused program tests a combined family-based approach and economic support to reduce HIV stigma and improve HIV treatment outcomes for adolescents living with HIV in Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $211,490 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH126892-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11532434 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents living with HIV in Uganda and similar resource-limited settings who experience stigma and challenges with adherence.
✕Less likely to help
Adolescents without access to family or economic support structures may not experience the same benefits.
What this research studies
This project tests a multilevel intervention that brings families together to address HIV stigma and support treatment adherence for adolescents living with HIV. It combines Multiple Family Groups for HIV stigma reduction with a family economic empowerment component, adapted for the Ugandan context and evaluated for cost-effectiveness. The study will engage adolescents, their families, and health care settings to measure changes in stigma, retention in care, and viral suppression. Findings are designed to inform strategies that could be translated to US settings facing similar barriers to HIV care. The work is led by NYU in collaboration with local partners in Uganda and aligns with priorities to improve care for adolescents with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce stigma, improve adherence, and increase viral suppression among adolescents living with HIV, with potential adaptation to other settings.
How similar studies have gone: Previous stigma-reduction and family-based interventions have shown improvements in adherence in diverse settings, but evaluating a combined multilevel approach in this context is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ssewamala, Fred M — New York University
- Study coordinator: Ssewamala, Fred M
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.