Using peer support to help people with substance use improve HIV prevention and treatment with long-acting injections
Official title: Peer Behavioral Activation Utilization to Improve Substance Use and HIV Outcomes in People Receiving Long Acting Injectable-PrEP/ART (PUSH).”
Funded at University of Maryland Baltimore · NIH-11158975 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how peer support can help people who use drugs better manage their HIV prevention or treatment with long-acting injectable medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $605,950 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA061324-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158975 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people who use drugs and are receiving or considering long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention or ART for HIV treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use drugs or are not receiving long-acting injectable PrEP/ART may not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Substance use can make it harder to prevent HIV and to stick with HIV treatment, even with new long-acting injectable medications (PrEP for prevention, ART for treatment). This project is testing a program called "Peer Activate," where trained peers help individuals develop problem-solving skills. The program also encourages engaging in rewarding, substance-free activities and structured daily routines to promote consistent medication use. The goal is to ensure these important long-acting injectable medications work as effectively as possible for people who also use drugs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help people who use drugs better prevent HIV or manage their HIV infection, leading to improved health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: The research builds on prior studies showing the feasibility of engaging patients and the promise of the Peer Activate intervention in other contexts, but it has not yet been tested with long-acting injectable PrEP/ART.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Maryland Baltimore
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rosenthal, Elana Simon — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Rosenthal, Elana Simon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving PrEP and mental health/substance-use reach for Hispanic men through community-driven implementation
A team at the University of Miami is collaborating with HIV organizations to describe and share real-world methods that help more Hispanic men access PrEP and mental health or substance-use care, with plans to spread successful approaches to other regions.
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Bringing PrEP and mental health/substance-use services to Hispanic men through community partnerships
This project works with local HIV organizations to spread practical ways to improve access to PrEP and mental health/substance-use care for Hispanic men.
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Peer-driven behavioral support to boost long-acting PrEP/ART adherence for people at risk of HIV
A team at the University of Maryland Baltimore is testing a peer-delivered program to help people who use drugs stay adherent to long-acting PrEP/ART to reduce HIV risk and improve viral suppression.
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Trauma-focused writing plus rewards to help women who inject drugs stick with PrEP
A trial tests whether adding a trauma-focused expressive writing session to a rewards-based program helps women who inject drugs use PrEP more consistently and reduce HIV risk.
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Understanding barriers to HIV prevention for Black men who have sex with men
This study is looking into why Black men who have sex with men in the southeastern U.S. aren't using a medication called PrEP to help prevent HIV, focusing on issues like stigma and substance use, and it aims to find ways to make it easier for them to access and stick with PrEP, especially after the challenges brought
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Improving HIV prevention for women who inject drugs through a trauma intervention.
This study is exploring a new way to help women who inject drugs and are at risk for HIV, especially those in sex work, by using writing activities and support to encourage them to stick with their HIV prevention medication, PrEP, while also addressing their past traumas and challenges.
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.