Using urban gardening and peer counseling to improve HIV care for food-insecure individuals in the Dominican Republic
Official title: Promesa: Urban gardening and peer nutritional counseling to improve HIV care outcomes among people with food insecurity in the Dominican Republic
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-11042772 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how growing your own food and getting support from friends can help people with HIV in the Dominican Republic who struggle to get enough to eat, and it will last for 18 months to see how well these activities improve their health and treatment success.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | May 3, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $533,390 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131447-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11042772 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV in the Dominican Republic who are experiencing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not living with HIV or those who do not face food insecurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how urban gardening and peer nutritional counseling can help improve health outcomes for people living with HIV who face food insecurity in the Dominican Republic. The study will implement a cluster randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of these interventions over 18 months. Participants will engage in gardening activities and receive nutritional support from peers, aiming to enhance their food security and adherence to HIV treatment. The research will also explore the factors that influence the success of these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve HIV treatment outcomes and overall health for individuals facing food insecurity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results for similar interventions, indicating potential for success in this larger trial.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Derose, Kathryn Pitkin — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Derose, Kathryn Pitkin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Connecting high-risk Veterans with food and nutrition support
This project will try ways to help Veterans who struggle to get enough healthy food by linking VA clinics with community food programs and services.
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Promesa: Urban gardens and peer nutrition to help people with HIV in the Dominican Republic
A unified program uses urban gardening and peer nutrition counseling to help people living with HIV who are food insecure in the Dominican Republic improve their health and HIV outcomes.
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Addressing Food Insecurity in Underserved Communities
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Promesa: Urban gardens and peer nutrition support for people with HIV in the Dominican Republic
This project offers urban gardening and peer-led nutrition support to people living with HIV who face food insecurity in the Dominican Republic to help keep their viral load undetectable and stay on treatment.
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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.