PositiveLinks for Youth in Texas: A mobile health tool to help young adults with HIV stay in care
Official title: PositiveLinks for Youth (PL4Y) for Texas: Effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of mHealth to improve care outcomes for young adults with HIV
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Science Center · NIH-11411890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile health program called PL4Y helps young adults with HIV in Texas stay engaged with care and improve viral suppression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Science Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Antonio, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $855,899 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI205724-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11411890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young adults aged 18–29 living with HIV who are receiving care at the participating Texas clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not using smartphones or not comfortable with mobile health tools may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project will expand a smartphone-based support program for youth aged 18–29 living with HIV across six clinics in Texas. It uses features like daily mood and medication checks, appointment reminders, and secure messaging to keep patients connected to care and adherent to treatment. The team will measure how well PL4Y works in real-world clinic settings and whether it is feasible and acceptable to patients. If successful, PL4Y could make HIV a manageable condition for more young people by boosting engagement and viral suppression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, PL4Y could help more young people with HIV stay in care and achieve viral suppression, improving health and reducing transmission.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results from a pilot RCT in South Texas showed higher virologic suppression with PL4Y.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Science Center
San Antonio, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taylor, Barbara S — University of Texas Hlth Science Center
- Study coordinator: Taylor, Barbara S
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.