WeCare: a combined mental health and HIV medication support program for high-risk men
Official title: Addressing mental health and HIV medication adherence among high-risk men in a resource-limited setting
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11555368 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly program called WeCare aims to support mental health and improve adherence to HIV meds among high-risk men in settings with limited resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $112,000 |
| NIH project number | 3R34MH135806-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11555368 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are high-risk men in resource-limited settings who are on PrEP or ART and are experiencing mental health challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who do not face mental health or adherence barriers, or who are not on PrEP/ART, may see limited or no direct benefit.
What this research studies
WeCare is a planned program that blends problem-solving therapy, stress coping, and a non-stigmatizing approach to help men stay on PrEP or ART. The project will start by talking with the target community to shape the program, then test and refine the intervention in a pilot setting. Finally, a small randomized trial will compare WeCare to enhanced standard care and measure mental health and medication adherence over six months.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, WeCare could help people maintain better mental health and stay adherent to HIV prevention and treatment regimens.
How similar studies have gone: Previous programs show that integrated mental health and adherence support can improve outcomes, but this specific integrated, scalable approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Operario, Don — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Operario, Don
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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WeCare: a mental health and HIV medication adherence program for high-risk men in resource-poor settings
A patient-friendly approach called WeCare is being tested to help high-risk men manage stress and depression while sticking to HIV PrEP and ART in low-resource settings.
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Mental health and HIV medication support for men in low-resource areas
This project will try a combined mental-health and medication-support program to help high-risk men in resource-limited areas stay on HIV prevention and treatment.
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A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
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.