Using social connections to improve HIV prevention
Developing causal inference methods to evaluate and leverage spillover effects through social Interactions for designing improved HIV prevention interventions
This project creates ways to use social connections so HIV prevention works better for people at risk and their communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11092799 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work aims to make HIV prevention more effective in real communities by understanding how one person's treatment or behavior can affect friends, partners, or neighbors. Researchers will build statistical tools that separate a treatment's direct benefit to you from spillover benefits to others, even when people don't follow the assigned plan or when influence links are uncertain. They will apply these tools to data from group- and network-based trials to spot individuals who strongly influence peers and to design better prevention packages. The methods could be used in clinics and community programs in places such as the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people at risk for HIV or living with HIV who take part in community- or clinic-based prevention programs or network-focused trials.
Not a fit: People who are not involved in community or network-based HIV prevention efforts or whose care is unrelated to HIV prevention may not see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help design prevention programs that reduce new HIV infections by amplifying helpful social influence and targeting key people.
How similar studies have performed: Some social-network interventions have reduced risk behaviors, but the specific statistical methods to handle spillover and noncompliance are still new and being refined.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Forastiere, Laura — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Forastiere, Laura
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 below.