On-site HIV testing and text message prevention in community dental clinics
Official title: Testing and Texting in Community Health Center Dental Clinics to Diagnose and Prevent HIV Infection
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11386606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A dental clinic-based program will offer rapid HIV testing and text-message prevention support to adults at risk in a Boston-area health system.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2023 |
| Project end | September 23, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $777,818 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE031249-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years or older who visit participating community health center dental clinics and are at risk for HIV.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not at risk for HIV or not using dental clinics in the study area may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project blends dental care with HIV prevention by adding rapid HIV tests inside community health center dental clinics and sending targeted text messages to help reduce risk. In the early phase, researchers will talk with patients and dental staff to understand what would work and what barriers exist. The study then moves to a cluster randomized trial in four clinics to compare on-site testing with referral testing, followed by a potential second trial after the initial results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in dental settings could more easily learn their HIV status and access prevention resources, reducing new infections.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies show HIV testing can be effective when offered in medical settings; this trial tests a new dental-clinic delivery model.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henshaw, Michelle M — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Henshaw, Michelle M
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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.