New ways to encourage frequent HIV testing in at-risk adults

Transformative approaches to rapidly and efficiently test demand creation interventions to promote HIV retesting in adults at increased risk of HIV

NIH-funded research University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10930093

This study is all about finding friendly ways to help adults at higher risk for HIV get tested more often, using smart ideas from behavioral science to understand their hesitations and create helpful nudges that make retesting easier and more appealing.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California, San Francisco NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Francisco, United States)
Project IDNIH-10930093 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving the frequency of HIV retesting among adults at increased risk of HIV infection. It utilizes insights from behavioral economics to understand why individuals may not seek retesting and develops low-cost interventions, known as 'nudges', to encourage this behavior. By engaging both scientists and community members in the design process, the study aims to create tailored nudges that address specific barriers to retesting. A large-scale field experiment will then be conducted to test the effectiveness of these interventions in real-world settings.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are at increased risk of HIV infection.

Not a fit: Patients who are not at increased risk for HIV or those who are already regularly tested may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased rates of HIV retesting, resulting in earlier diagnosis and treatment for individuals at risk.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research using behavioral economics to promote health behaviors has shown promising results, indicating that this approach could be effective in increasing HIV retesting.

Where this research is happening

San Francisco, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.