Telehealth-supported PrEP/PEP delivery through private pharmacies
Official title: Leveraging Telehealth to Optimize HIV PrEP and PEP Delivery at Private Pharmacies
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11417150 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study is testing a telehealth model where private pharmacies help people access HIV PrEP and PEP with remote nurse support to reduce barriers and stigma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 12, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $750,792 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH140465-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417150 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults and adolescents in Kenya (≥15 years old) who are eligible for PrEP/PEP and are using or eligible to use pharmacy-based services.
✕Less likely to help
People outside the study settings or those not seeking PrEP/PEP may not benefit.
What this research studies
The project partners with pharmacies in Kenya to allow trained pharmacy staff to start and manage PrEP/PEP under remote clinician supervision. A remote nurse will assist providers, screen clients, and guide them between visits, using telehealth tools. The study uses a cluster-randomized design in Kisumu and Homa Bay to compare pharmacy-priority telehealth support versus standard care, focusing on improving uptake and continuation. Results will inform scalable, pharmacy-based PrEP/PEP delivery that could reach more people who need protection from HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make PrEP/PEP more accessible and sustained for people at risk of HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary pilots in Kenya showed high acceptability but highlighted provider time burden and continuation gaps, suggesting room for improvement.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortblad, Katrina Frances — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Ortblad, Katrina Frances
Related research
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CARES: A practical program to help adolescent girls and young women use PrEP in Africa
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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.