Rapid HIV testing with quick connection to treatment or prevention in Tennessee
Implementation of Rapid HIV Testing and Linkage to HIV Treatment or Prevention Among Vulnerable Populations in Tennessee
Rapid HIV testing will be offered to vulnerable people in Tennessee so they can be quickly connected to HIV treatment (ART) or prevention (PrEP).
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132795 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll be offered a rapid HIV test at public health sites in Tennessee, beginning at Shelby County Health Department in Memphis. If you test positive, staff will help you get linked quickly to HIV care and start ART at nearby Ryan White-funded clinics; if you test negative but are at risk, you'll be offered help to start PrEP. The project will track testing, linkage, and viral suppression outcomes to build a sustainable local program. The effort focuses on vulnerable groups affected by the opioid crisis and other underserved communities in the US South.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People in Tennessee—particularly in Memphis/Shelby County—who are at risk for HIV, have not been recently tested, or are part of vulnerable populations (including people who inject drugs and underserved communities).
Not a fit: People who live outside the program area or who are already stably engaged in HIV care with viral suppression are unlikely to directly benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people could learn their HIV status sooner and start ART or PrEP quickly, which may reduce illnesses and new infections in Tennessee.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid testing and same-day linkage to ART or PrEP have shown benefit in other settings, but applying and sustaining these approaches in the US South and among vulnerable groups is less well-established.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pettit, April — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Pettit, April
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.