Text messaging program to reduce HIV infections among teenage sexual minority boys
Official title: Harnessing the power of text messaging to reduce HIV incidence in adolescent males across the United States
Funded at Center for Innovative Public Health Research · NIH-11394652 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide text-message based program aims to reduce new HIV infections among 13–20 year-old sexual minority male youth by delivering prevention content and testing information.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Center for Innovative Public Health Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Clemente, United States) |
| Project start | September 23, 2021 |
| Project end | December 8, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,045,277 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HD108738-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394652 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescent males aged 13–20 who identify as sexual minority and reside in the United States, including those in rural or southern regions.
✕Less likely to help
Youth who do not use text messaging or who are outside the target age range may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses mobile messaging to reach sexual minority male teens across the United States with HIV prevention content and resources for testing. It adapts a proven text-based approach to a younger, diverse population, addressing barriers like stigma and access in rural and southern areas. Participants would engage with messages that promote testing and safer behaviors, with outcomes tracked to see if HIV infections decrease. The program emphasizes privacy and relevance to youth who may not be openly gay or out in their communities. The study is led by the Center for Innovative Public Health Research under Michele L. Ybarra and runs from 2021 to 2027.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could reduce new HIV infections among adolescent sexual minority males by making testing and prevention information more accessible and acceptable.
How similar studies have gone: Text messaging interventions have shown promise for changing health behaviors, including HIV testing uptake, in various populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Center for Innovative Public Health Research
San Clemente, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ybarra, Michele L. — Center for Innovative Public Health Research
- Study coordinator: Ybarra, Michele L.
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.