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Clinical trial Recruiting at 3 sites Interventional Ages 18 to 59 Men only

California MEPS Hub for HIV prevention and reentry support

Official title: California Hub for HIV/STI/SUD Prevention Research With Reentry Populations

Run by University of California, Los Angeles · NCT07433985 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project will test a peer-led, app-based program with small cash incentives to help people with substance use recently released from jail or prison get PrEP, HIV/STI testing, and related services.

Quick facts

Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 59 Years
SexMen only
Enrollment318 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Academic / other
Locations3 sites (Oakland, California and 2 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 1, 2025
Main results expectedJuly 31, 2029
Study endsJuly 31, 2029
Registry record updatedApril 3, 2026
Trial IDNCT07433985 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are people assigned male at birth, aged 18–59, released from jail or prison within the past 12 months, with a history of substance use or recent SUD treatment, recent sexual or injection risk, self-reported HIV-negative status, access to or plans to obtain a smartphone, and intent to reside in the study counties for nine months.

Probably not a fit

People already living with HIV, those without smartphone access or unwilling to remain in the study counties, individuals outside the specified age or gender criteria, or those not meeting the recent incarceration or substance use criteria are unlikely to benefit from participation.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The study is a Type 3 Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness trial that aims to adapt and scale the Mobile Enhanced Prevention Support (MEPS) intervention across three community partner organizations in Alameda and Riverside counties. MEPS combines trained peer mentors, a smartphone app (GeoPass), and contingency management (small cash incentives) to promote biomedical HIV prevention and preventive screenings among people with substance use disorders who were recently incarcerated. The trial will enroll at least 300 participants, with the first 200 randomized to intervention or control and the final 100 receiving the intervention in a single-arm continuation, alongside implementation-focused data collection from partner staff. The primary emphasis is on implementation outcomes and tailoring MEPS for broader settings, with effectiveness (e.g., PrEP uptake and testing) as a secondary aim.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, MEPS could increase PrEP uptake, routine HIV/STI/HCV testing, and engagement with prevention and substance use services among people reentering the community after incarceration.

How similar studies have gone: A prior randomized trial in Los Angeles showed MEPS increased PrEP uptake and HIV testing among English-speaking participants, but applying and adapting the package across diverse agencies and populations is novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

RCT Participants

* Assigned male at birth
* Ages 18 - 59
* Was released from incarceration in the previous 12 months (incarceration is defined as a stay in jail, prison, or detention centers for over 24 hours)
* Reports an SUD diagnosis or seeking SUD services at any time in the 24 months prior to enrollment
* During the 24 months prior to enrollment, either:

  1. Reports intercourse with a person assigned male at birth
  2. Reports injection drug use
* Has not received an HIV diagnosis (based on self-report)
* Possesses a smartphone or plans to obtain one
* Plans to reside within designated jurisdictions (counties) for the 9 months following enrollment

CBO and agency staff participating in implementation surveys or interviews

* \>=18 years of age
* Employed at a study site or otherwise involved with intervention implementation and/or maintenance OR works at an agency in the counties where the study is taking place (Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Alameda counties, California).
* Willing to provide informed consent for participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

RCT Participants:

* Does not have a smart phone and is not willing to obtain one
* Is not able to speak and understand English
* Has insufficient reading skills to operate a mobile application on a cell phone

CBO participating in implementation interviews

\- n/a

Where it's running

  • Cal-Pep
    Oakland, California, United States     Recruiting
  • Kindful Restoration
    Riverside, California, United States     Recruiting
  • Starting Over, Inc
    Riverside, California, United States     Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ Find more trials like this →
Browse more
HIV Prevention 282Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) 2Incarceration 5Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) 3Substance Use Disorder (SUD) 35University of California Los Angeles 1874
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.