Social virtual reality to tackle loneliness in older men with HIV
Official title: Developing a social virtual reality intervention to address loneliness among older men with HIV
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11470637 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new virtual reality program designed for older men living with HIV to connect with others and reduce loneliness, with the goal of improving health and daily well‑being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $751,340 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH146539-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11470637 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older men living with HIV who feel lonely or socially isolated and are open to using virtual reality technology.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not interested in or unable to use VR technology or those without loneliness or adherence challenges may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project develops a social virtual reality tool tailored to aging men with HIV to help them feel more connected. It will explore what features matter most to users, create an engaging VR environment, and test whether it reduces loneliness and supports better HIV care engagement. The team will work with participants to refine the experience for safety, accessibility, and cultural relevance, and then pilot the intervention in a real‑world setting. If successful, this approach could be scaled to improve quality of life and health outcomes for older adults living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce loneliness and improve adherence to HIV treatment and overall well-being among older men living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous digital and VR‑based social interventions have shown promise for reducing loneliness in older adults, but this is the first VR‑based approach tailored for aging men with HIV.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meanley, Steven Paul — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Meanley, Steven Paul
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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.