Understanding why some people with HIV struggle to maintain viral suppression in the Deep South
Official title: Drive to Zero: Developing a digital cohort to understand the drivers of non-sustained viral suppression in the Deep South
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-10895585 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at what makes it hard for people with HIV in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to stay healthy and take their medicine, and it aims to help 1,000 individuals who are struggling by using mobile health technology to find better ways to support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,289,479 |
| NIH project number | 5UG3AI176566-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895585 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi who have not maintained viral suppression or have not been in care for the past year.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are currently receiving effective HIV treatment and maintaining viral suppression may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the factors affecting viral suppression in individuals living with HIV in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi, where healthcare resources are limited. By utilizing mobile health technology, the study aims to recruit and support a digital cohort of 1,000 individuals who have not maintained viral suppression or have not been in care recently. The research will explore individual, community, and structural factors that influence healthcare access and adherence to treatment. The goal is to identify barriers and develop strategies to improve health outcomes for these individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for helping individuals with HIV achieve and maintain viral suppression.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on viral suppression, this approach using digital technology to address community-level factors is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rana, Aadia — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Rana, Aadia
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.