Understanding the Ethics of HIV Studies for Young People in Africa
Official title: Ethics of HIV-related research involving underage key populations in sub-Saharan Africa
Funded at Suny Downstate Medical Center · NIH-11181027 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand and overcome challenges in including young people at high risk for HIV in health studies in sub-Saharan Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Suny Downstate Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brooklyn, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $665,635 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD105684-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181027 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This work is relevant to young people in sub-Saharan Africa who are at high risk for HIV and who might be interested in participating in future health studies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in sub-Saharan Africa or who are not part of the specific underage key populations at high risk for HIV may not directly benefit from this particular ethics project.
What this research studies
Many young people in sub-Saharan Africa, including those who sell sex or are adolescent men who have sex with men, face a high risk of HIV and other health issues. However, current rules often prevent them from joining health studies, especially due to difficulties in getting parental consent for sensitive topics. This project will look at the laws and ethical guidelines in 48 sub-Saharan African countries to see how they affect research with these young people. By identifying these barriers, the goal is to find better ways to include these vulnerable youth in future HIV prevention and treatment studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help ensure that future HIV prevention and treatment strategies are developed specifically for and with young people who are currently excluded from such important health studies.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific ethical and legal landscape is unique, other efforts have successfully adapted research protocols to include vulnerable populations, suggesting that overcoming these barriers is achievable.
Where this research is happening
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Suny Downstate Medical Center
Brooklyn, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grosso, Ashley Lynn — Suny Downstate Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Grosso, Ashley Lynn
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.