Structured Peer-led ART and Reentry Support to Stay in HIV Care After Prison in South Africa
Official title: Structured Peer-delivered ART and Reentry Community Strategy (SPARCS) to overcome barriers to HIV care continuity during community reentry from incarceration in South Africa
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11611055 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program using peer facilitators to help people reentering society after prison in South Africa stay on HIV treatment and keep accessing care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $305,018 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH131445-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11611055 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults recently released from incarceration in South Africa who are living with HIV and at risk of dropping out of care.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who are not recently released from incarceration or who do not have HIV may not benefit from this specific program.
What this research studies
This project builds on a proven peer-led approach that directly provides ART and strengthens skills, self-efficacy, and social support to improve continuity of HIV care after incarceration. It targets adults recently released into the community who have left prison and may face barriers to starting or staying on ART. Through community-based sessions and streamlined access to ART, the program aims to keep participants in care for six months and beyond, while considering cost and feasibility for scale-up. The study is implemented with Johns Hopkins University leading the effort to adapt and evaluate the intervention in the South African context.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce HIV-related illness and death by improving sustained ART use after release.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot showed higher in-care rates with the SPARCS approach compared to care as usual six months after release.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hoffmann, Christopher J — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Hoffmann, Christopher J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeting hidden brain injuries in iTTP to improve long-term brain health
A researcher aims to find out how silent brain injuries in people with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) happen, how they affect thinking and stroke risk, and how to prevent them.
-
Accelerated flap coverage for severe leg injuries: earlier reconstruction vs standard timing
This study tests whether doing early flap coverage after a severe leg injury lowers infection risk and improves healing for patients with open wounds and bone injury.
-
Placebo-controlled shunting for iNPH: does the surgery help with walking and balance?
A doctor-led trial at Johns Hopkins will test whether a shunt surgery improves walking and balance in older adults with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.
-
Omalizumab for COPD patients with allergen sensitization and exposure
A multicenter trial will test whether adding omalizumab helps people with COPD who are allergic to common indoor allergens and are exposed to them.
-
Johns Hopkins Total Worker Health Center focusing on mental health
A nationwide center at Johns Hopkins is working to improve mental health and well-being among workers by studying workplace health strategies and translating findings into practical tools.
-
Role of fat droplets in liver fat and inflammatory signals in NAFLD
A study at Johns Hopkins will explore how fat droplets in the liver influence molecules that drive inflammation and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults.
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.