Pharmacy-enabled rapid HIV prevention and treatment access in Southern communities
Official title: Pharmacy-centered Rapid ARV Network: Capacity-building for status-neutral ART/PrEP services within Southern community pharmacies
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11415053 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A quick, pharmacy-based program in Alabama aims to make HIV testing and rapid ARV/PrEP access available in community pharmacies to help people in high-burden areas get connected to care fast.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $189,725 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AI191580-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11415053 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults in Alabama and similar Southern regions who may benefit from rapid HIV testing and immediate access to PrEP or ART through participating pharmacies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals in areas without participating pharmacies or who do not seek HIV testing or ARV/PrEP services at pharmacies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on how independent pharmacies in Alabama can offer rapid, status-neutral HIV testing and immediate access to ARV or PrEP. Researchers will use mixed-methods to understand what helps or hinders implementing these services in community settings. The goal is to create a practical, scalable approach that links people who test positive to treatment and keeps those at risk connected to prevention, all within existing pharmacy networks. The work centers on communities in the Southern United States where HIV is most burdensome, especially communities of color and MSM. Results could guide policy and practice to expand pharmacist-led HIV services.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could access rapid HIV testing and ARV/PrEP through local pharmacies, speeding linkage to care and prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Pharmacy-based HIV testing and link-to-care strategies have shown promise in other regions, supporting the potential for success in the South.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rana, Aadia — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Rana, Aadia
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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.