Understanding how adolescents can consent to HIV prevention research in Uganda
Official title: Improving understanding of Capacity to consent to sensitive biomedical HIV prevention Research among adolescents in Rakai Uganda (ICARE)
Funded at Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy · NIH-11070363 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how teenagers in Rakai, Uganda can give their permission to join important HIV prevention research, while also understanding the challenges that getting permission from parents can create, and it aims to help make it easier for young people to take part in future studies about HIV prevention methods like PrEP.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | April 8, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $569,123 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH134695-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070363 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12-20 living in Rakai, Uganda, who are interested in HIV prevention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the age range of 12-20 or those not residing in Rakai, Uganda, may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the ability of adolescents in Rakai, Uganda, to provide informed consent for participation in sensitive biomedical HIV prevention research. It aims to identify the barriers that parental consent poses to adolescent involvement and to explore the developmental differences in decision-making among youth. By leveraging existing community cohort studies, the research will assess adolescents' beliefs and interests in HIV prevention methods like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The ultimate goal is to create a digital toolkit that facilitates adolescent participation in future biomedical studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to increased participation of adolescents in HIV prevention trials, ultimately improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding consent capacity in adolescents can enhance their participation in sensitive health studies, indicating potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kreniske, Philip — Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
- Study coordinator: Kreniske, Philip
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Making HIV prevention and care easier for Ugandan youth
A Ugandan study is testing ways to help adolescents and young adults (15–24) prevent HIV and stay healthy, using long-acting PrEP and youth-friendly services.
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Innovative HIV Prevention and Care Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults in Uganda
A Ugandan research team is testing practical, youth-focused strategies to help 15-24 year-olds using HIV prevention or treatment services stay healthy and engaged in care.
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Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
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Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
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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.
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.