WeCare: a mental health and HIV medication adherence program for high-risk men in resource-poor settings
Official title: Addressing mental health and HIV medication adherence among high-risk men in a resource-limited setting
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11399084 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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) | $72,449 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH135806-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11399084 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include high-risk men in resource-limited settings who are on PrEP or ART and experience stress, depression, or adherence challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without HIV risk or current PrEP/ART use, or those not facing mental health or adherence barriers, may not benefit.
What this research studies
WeCare is a new, integrated program designed to support men living with or at risk for HIV by addressing mental health and medication adherence together. The project will first gather insights from the target population to shape the intervention, then pilot a manual and implementation plan, and finally compare WeCare to enhanced standard care in a small randomized trial. Participants will be followed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months to measure changes in mental health and actual medication adherence using biological tests and self-reports. The goal is to create a scalable, stigma-aware approach that helps people stay on PrEP and ART more consistently.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, WeCare could improve mental health and HIV treatment adherence for men in tough settings, potentially reducing HIV transmission and improving health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Similar integrated adherence and mental health approaches have shown promise in pilot settings, but this exact program is novel in its framing and population.
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 combined mental health and HIV medication support program for high-risk men
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.
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Mental health and HIV medication support for men in low-resource areas
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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.