W-PrEP: clinic-level steps to help women get PrEP for HIV prevention
Official title: The Women's PrEP Project (W-PrEP): A cluster randomized controlled trial of a clinic-level intervention to improve HIV prevention services for women
Funded at Medstar Health Research Institute · NIH-11334633 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A clinic-level program helps healthcare teams better offer and support PrEP for women to prevent HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medstar Health Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 25, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $827,567 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NR022623-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11334633 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women at risk for HIV who could benefit from PrEP and are treated in participating clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Women not at risk for HIV or those not receiving care in participating clinics may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project adapts proven HIV-prevention methods to a clinic-wide approach that educates clinicians, improves prescribing, and provides patient-facing materials. It aims to increase PrEP initiation, adherence, and persistence among women by making PrEP information and services a routine part of care. The study uses a cluster-randomized design to test how well these changes work across clinics and what barriers may still exist. If successful, it could translate into more women being protected against HIV through easier access and ongoing support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, women will have greater access to PrEP and support to stay on it, reducing new HIV infections.
How similar studies have gone: Previous interventions informed this project, but a clinic-wide, PrEP-focused implementation in this setting is being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Medstar Health Research Institute
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scott, Rachel K — Medstar Health Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Scott, Rachel K
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.
-
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.
-
A brief alcohol support for PrEP users to boost HIV prevention
A short, friendly program helps people starting or restarting PrEP in Vietnam drink less and stick with PrEP to stay protected.
-
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.
-
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.
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.