Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health: Peer support to connect Baltimore MSM to PrEP and HIV care

Expanding Safe Spaces 4 Sexual Health, a Mobile Van HIV/STI Testing and Care Linkage Strategy, for MSM in Online Spaces

NA · Johns Hopkins University · NCT07133555

This project tests whether pairing Baltimore-area men who have sex with men (ages 18–49) with a peer health navigator helps them start PrEP or link to HIV care after mobile testing, compared with referrals-only.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 49 Years
SexMale
SponsorJohns Hopkins University (other)
Locations2 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07133555 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The study builds on a pilot that used local public health data and community input to advertise mobile van HIV/STI testing in online partner-seeking spaces used by mostly Black MSM. Eligible English-speaking men aged 18–49 who live in the Baltimore area and report sex with men in the past 12 months are recruited and tested via the mobile van. Enrolled participants are assigned to either receive help from a peer health navigator to support PrEP initiation or HIV care linkage, or to receive standard referrals-only. The trial compares the two approaches to see if peer navigation improves timely initiation of prevention or treatment services.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking men aged 18–49 who live in the Baltimore area and report sex with men in the past 12 months.

Not a fit: People already engaged in consistent HIV care or already taking PrEP, those who do not identify as male, are outside the Baltimore area, or cannot attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the peer navigation approach could increase timely PrEP starts and HIV care linkage among at-risk Baltimore MSM, reducing infections and improving health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Peer navigation and mobile testing approaches have shown promise in improving linkage and retention in HIV services in prior work, and this study builds on a pilot that successfully reached MSM through online outreach and mobile vans.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Male
* 18-49 years of age
* Ability to read and speak English
* Baltimore area resident
* Report sex with a male in the past 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* not male-self identified individual

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: HIV Counseling and Testing, HIV Risk Behavior, HIV Prevention, geosocial networking application, peer health coach, peer health navigator, hiv mobile testing, black msm

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.