Measuring PrEP drug levels to track HIV prevention in communities
Drug concentration measurement for HIV prevention targets: toward a population-based HIV impact assessment (PHIA) for PrEP
This project measures PrEP drug levels in people in sub-Saharan Africa to help set community targets for preventing HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11397251 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's view, researchers will test blood samples collected in national HIV surveys for PrEP drug concentrations and link those results to local HIV infection data. They will combine lab measurements with computer models to estimate how much PrEP coverage different settings need to lower new infections. The team aims to create setting-specific PrEP coverage targets that public health programs can use to guide prevention efforts. Results will show whether communities are reaching effective levels of PrEP use and where services should expand.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults in sub-Saharan African communities who take PrEP or are at risk for HIV and who join national HIV population surveys that collect blood samples.
Not a fit: People outside the surveyed sub-Saharan African areas, those not eligible for or not using PrEP, or those who do not participate in the surveys are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could give health programs clear, local targets for PrEP that help more people at risk get effective protection from HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Large population HIV surveys and drug-level testing have been used before to monitor HIV treatment and prevention, but applying drug concentrations to set population-level PrEP coverage targets is a newer use.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bershteyn, Anna — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Bershteyn, Anna
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 below.