Medication treatment for opioid use and HIV care in Central Asia
Expanding Medication Assisted Therapies in Central Asia
This project works to expand access to medications for opioid addiction alongside HIV care for people who inject drugs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11403093 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
People who inject drugs and their partners in three Central Asian countries will be connected with clinics to increase use of opioid agonist therapy together with HIV medicines. The team will first identify local barriers and supports, then use a proven implementation approach (NIATx) guided by the EPIS framework to change clinic practices. Local clinics and providers will pilot changes, track uptake of medications, and share lessons to improve and sustain services. The effort emphasizes real-world clinic changes rather than only laboratory work.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who inject drugs (and their sexual partners) in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Tajikistan who could benefit from opioid agonist therapy and HIV services.
Not a fit: People who do not use opioids, live outside the three target countries, or are unable or unwilling to access participating clinics are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the effort could increase treatment access, reduce new HIV infections, and improve health for people who inject drugs in the region.
How similar studies have performed: Previous programs combining opioid agonist therapy with HIV treatment and using implementation strategies like NIATx have improved care in other settings, though Central Asia has unique barriers.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Altice, Frederick Lewis — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Altice, Frederick Lewis
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.