Smartphone support to reduce chemsex harms for men who have sex with men
Official title: Optimizing a Just-in-Time Adaptive Intervention to Increase Uptake of Chemsex Harm Reduction Services in MSM: A Micro-randomized Trial
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11380030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a smartphone app to send timely, personalized messages and links to harm-reduction services to help men who have sex with men stay safer during chemsex.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $597,385 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA061661-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are men who have sex with men who engage in chemsex, live in Malaysia, and can use an Android smartphone to run the JomCare app.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not engage in chemsex, live outside the study area, or cannot use the required smartphone app are unlikely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
You would use an app called JomCare that detects moments of higher chemsex risk and offers short, private tips, safety tools, and service links. The app delivers tailored messages at key times and the study will sometimes try different messages or features to see which work best. Participants are repeatedly and randomly offered different app components so researchers can learn which timing and content reduce risk most effectively. The project focuses on men who have sex with men in Malaysia and aims to provide low-burden, discreet support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower HIV transmission and other harms by connecting MSM with timely, private harm-reduction support when they need it.
How similar studies have gone: Similar just-in-time adaptive intervention apps have helped with addiction and mental health, but using them specifically for chemsex harm reduction is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shrestha, Roman — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Shrestha, Roman
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.