Smartphone game to help prevent HIV among teens with long-term follow-up booster
Official title: Efficacy Trial of a Smartphone Game to Prevent HIV among Young Africans: Long-Term Follow-Up with Developmentally Tailored Booster
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11541148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A teen-friendly smartphone game called Tumaini is being studied to help prevent HIV in young people, now with plans to follow participants for several more years and add a booster tailored to their age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $229,337 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH118982-06S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11541148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults who participated in or are similar to the Tumaini cohort and who are at risk for HIV exposure.
✕Less likely to help
Participants outside the target age range or those not at risk for HIV may derive little to no benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a large, multi-year trial in Kenya where nearly 1,000 adolescents played a theory-based game intended to reduce risky sexual behavior. The new plan follows the same cohort into late adolescence and early adulthood to see whether long-term effects persist and whether an age-appropriate booster enhances impact. Researchers will assess behavioral outcomes related to first sex and HIV prevention service access, while adapting content to participants’ changing developmental needs. The study aims to inform whether a scalable, low-cost digital intervention could support HIV prevention in other settings, including the US.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could provide a cost-effective, scalable way to reduce HIV risk among adolescents and young adults.
How similar studies have gone: Past results showed positive effects on risk-reduction behaviors and intentions and high retention; long-term effects remain to be proven.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Winskell, S Kate — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Winskell, S Kate
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.