Understanding why young men stop PrEP early so they stay protected
Official title: An Overlooked Crisis in HIV Prevention: Behavioral and Sociocultural Drivers of Premature PrEP Discontinuation
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11408933 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to learn why men ages 18–35 stop taking PrEP before it’s needed and how to help them stay on it, with a focus on pills and injections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $755,118 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DA064423-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408933 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are sexually active men aged 18–35 who have started PrEP (oral or injectable) and may discontinue within the study period.
✕Less likely to help
People not using PrEP or outside the 18–35 age range may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project follows young men who use PrEP to understand why some stop taking it early and what keeps them engaged in PrEP care. It uses mixed methods over time, combining interviews, surveys, and real-world data to uncover social, behavioral, and substance-use factors. The team will test ideas that could inform future interventions to keep people on PrEP and prevent HIV infections in this high-risk group.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to more effective strategies to keep young men on PrEP and reduce new HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that understanding behavioral and social drivers can inform better retention in PrEP care, though this specific focus on early discontinuation among 18–35-year-old men is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Watson, Ryan J — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Watson, Ryan J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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TB PrEP: Bringing HIV prevention to households affected by TB in Uganda
Aims to help people in households with TB in Uganda access HIV PrEP as part of a combined prevention approach.
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How choosing PrEP products could improve HIV protection for young women in Kenya
This project looks at which HIV-prevention options young Kenyan women prefer and how choosing a product affects how well they stay protected.
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Effectiveness of PrEP product choice for HIV prevention among young Kenyan women seeking reproductive health services
A study tests which PrEP options best help young Kenyan women stay protected against HIV when they access reproductive health services.
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Nurse-led group program to boost PrEP use for women at risk of HIV
A nurse-developed, three-session group program helps women in midwestern cities start and stay on PrEP to prevent HIV.
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.