Suubi4PrEP: Improving PrEP Access and Adherence for Adolescent Girls and Young Women
Official title: Suubi4PrEP: Improving PrEP Access and Adherence Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11467584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to help young women aged 15-24 in the US and abroad access and stick with PrEP to prevent HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $219,907 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH139471-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 who are at risk for HIV and face barriers to PrEP uptake or adherence.
✕Less likely to help
Participants without interest in PrEP or who do not face barriers to uptake may receive no additional benefit.
What this research studies
This project targets adolescent girls and young women who are at higher risk of HIV by combining peer support with economic empowerment to reduce barriers like transportation costs and food needs. The study will test whether adding financial support and social encouragement improves PrEP uptake and adherence beyond peer support alone. It uses a three-arm design to compare different combinations of peer engagement and economic assistance over several years. The findings could inform programs that address both behavioral and poverty-related factors to prevent HIV in AGYW. The research is led by Washington University in Saint Louis and aims to enroll participants who are part of the affected communities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase PrEP use and adherence among AGYW, reducing new HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests peer support and economic empowerment can improve health behaviors, but combining both approaches is being tested for added impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nabunya, Proscovia — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Nabunya, Proscovia
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mChoice: Boosting PrEP Use and Adherence for Black and Latino MSM with Tailored Training and Support
A national study to help Black and Latino men who have sex with men start and stick with PrEP through culturally matched provider training and patient support.
-
Harnessing male peer networks to boost HIV testing and PrEP use
A large clinical trial in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through male peer networks, with phone support, increases PrEP uptake among men.
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Harnessing men's peer networks to boost HIV self-testing and PrEP use
A large project in South Africa tests whether giving HIV self-test kits through men’s social networks, with phone support, can lead to more men starting PrEP and using HIV testing.
-
Participatory system dynamics to improve PrEP access in the Bronx
A community-driven project in the Bronx will use system dynamics to identify practical ways to help people at risk for HIV start and stay on PrEP.
-
TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
-
CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
A program called CARES helps young women in South Africa and Zimbabwe use different PrEP options better, with counseling, reminders, and options for support.
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.