Wrist sensor and app to help young people with HIV cut down drinking

A wrist biosensor-based mHealth suite to support alcohol intervention in young people living with HIV

NIH-funded research Florida State University · NIH-11173776

This project uses a wearable wrist alcohol sensor and a smartphone app to help young people with HIV track and reduce their drinking.

Quick facts

Grant typeP01 program project
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionFlorida State University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Tallahassee, United States)
Project IDNIH-11173776 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would wear a wrist sensor that detects drinking and connects to a phone app that gives personalized feedback and reminders. The team will build and test algorithms tuned for people with HIV to improve detection of when and how much you drink. They will combine the objective sensor data with mobile engagement tools designed for teens and young adults to encourage safer choices and better HIV care. The project includes testing how acceptable and useful the system is for young people living with HIV.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents and young adults living with HIV (roughly ages 13–29) who drink alcohol, have access to a smartphone, and are willing to wear a wrist device.

Not a fit: People without HIV, those who do not drink alcohol, or individuals unwilling/unable to use a smartphone or wearable are unlikely to benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help young people with HIV drink less, stick to HIV medications, and improve viral suppression.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows wrist alcohol sensors and mHealth can detect drinking and support behavior change in adults, but applying tailored algorithms and engagement strategies to young people with HIV is new.

Where this research is happening

Tallahassee, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.