CHIPTS at Adherence 2023

The 18th International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence was held June 11-13, 2023, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Learn more about Adherence 2023 and the exciting work of our CHIPTS scientists featured at the conference below.

What is Adherence 2023?

Adherence 2023 marked the 18th iteration of this engaging conference that supports researchers, practitioners, advocates, and policy makers from around the world to share, support, and sustain scientific advances in improving HIV medication adherence. The conference focuses on leveraging available social-behavioral and biomedical treatments to promote the health and well-being of people affected by and those living with HIV. This year’s conference theme was Advancing Equity and Innovation for Impact. The theme was woven throughout the conference program, which featured a keynote address, memorial lecture/colloquium, four topical tracks (Optimizing ART Adherence; PrEP Uptake, Adherence, and Persistence; HIV Care Continuum; and Implementation Science), oral abstracts sessions (including late-breakers), and an e-poster abstracts session.

The conference’s learning objectives included:

  • Employing interventions to enhance linkage to and retention in and sustained engagement in HIV care.
  • Applying strategies to optimize antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence.
  • Utilizing implementation science to inform evidence-based approaches to implement optimized HIV responses.
  • Integrating community participatory engagement into clinical practice to support patient-focused care environments.

CHIPTS at Adherence 2023

CHIPTS Development Core Co-Director Dr. Dallas Swendeman was featured during the Three Top-Rated Abstracts session on the opening day of Adherence 2023. Dr. Swendeman presented his Adolescent HIV Medicine Trials Network (ATN) randomized controlled trial evaluating the independent and synergistic effects of three “disruptive innovation” intervention approaches to support HIV prevention outcomes among youth at risk for HIV (oral abstract 1278).

CHIPTS Project Director Elena Rosenberg-Carlson presented on Monday, July 12, during the oral abstract session on Implementation Strategies for HIV Treatment and Prevention. Ms. Rosenberg-Carlson’s presentation detailed the methods and key findings from a study led by CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Scientist Dr. Ronald Brooks that used a concept mapping approach to develop implementation strategies to enhance PrEP delivery to immigrant Latino men who have sex with men in Los Angeles County (oral abstract 1205). Ms. Rosenberg-Carlson also presented a poster on behalf of Dr. Brooks’ study team discussing the preliminary findings from a qualitative study with immigrant Latino men who have sex with men in Los Angeles County that aimed to assess the effects of intersecting socially disadvantaged identities and structural factors on the use of HIV prevention services (poster abstract 1262).

CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Scientist Dr. Laura Bogart presented a poster at Adherence 2023, as well, describing her successful pilot test of the multi-level adherence intervention “Mopati” for people living with HIV and their treatment partners in Botswana (poster abstract 1047). Her work was also featured as part of the study team presenting poster abstract 1031, which discussed findings from their study to understand the sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates of Black adults living with HIV who are lonely, and the implications of loneliness for their health outcomes.

To learn more about Adherence 2023 and access the conference materials, visit: https://www.iapac.org/conferences/adherence-2023/

HIV Declines Among Young People and Drives Overall Decrease in New HIV Infections

This content originally appeared on CDC Newsroom. View the full article here.

Estimated annual new HIV infections were 12% lower in 2021 compared to 2017—dropping from about 36,500 infections to about 32,100—according to new CDC data published today. The decline was driven by a 34% decrease in new infections among 13- to 24-year-olds, mostly among gay and bisexual males. HIV prevention efforts must go further and progress must be faster, however, for gains to reach populations equitably and for national goals to end the HIV epidemic to be reached.

According to CDC’s latest estimates, annual HIV infections dropped from 9,300 in 2017 to 6,100 in 2021 among 13- to 24-year-olds. Declines among young gay and bisexual males (who account for roughly 80% of new infections in this age group) drove the trend, falling from an estimated 7,400 infections to about 4,900 during the timeframe.

“Our nation’s HIV prevention efforts continue to move in the right direction,” said CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H. “Longstanding factors, such as systemic inequities, social and economic marginalization and residential segregation, however, stand between highly effective HIV treatment and prevention and people who could benefit from them. Efforts must be accelerated and strengthened for progress to reach all groups faster and equitably.”

Data suggest that improved reach of HIV testing, treatment, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has contributed to progress in HIV prevention among young gay and bisexual males.

HIV Treatment and Preventing are Improving Among Youg Gay and Bisexual Males

“In prevention, patience is not a virtue.” said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. “Decreasing HIV incidence among youth, including young gay and bisexual males, shows us what is possible. But ending the HIV epidemic and achieving equity requires we expand this progress to all.”

HIV PrEP and treatment outcomes improve, though longstanding factors limit gains among Black people and Hispanic/Latino people

The decline in annual HIV infections among young gay and bisexual males was not even across all racial and ethnic groups. Declines were lower among young Black/African American (subsequently, Black) and 13- to 24-year-old Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual males than young White gay and bisexual males, suggesting that HIV prevention and treatment are not reaching everyone in this group equitably—and reflecting broader disparities that hinder HIV prevention.

Among Young Gay and Bisexual Males, HIV Treatment and Prevention are Not Reaching Everyone Equitably

Among key HIV prevention indicators, the greatest improvement was in the number of people taking PrEP to prevent HIV. In 2021, about 30% of the 1.2 million people who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it—a notable improvement compared to about 13% prescribed PrEP in 2017. However, although most people who could benefit from PrEP are Black or Hispanic/Latino people, estimates suggest relatively few Black people or Hispanic/Latino people were prescribed PrEP in 2021.

While Nearly One-Third of People Eligible for Prep Were Prescribed it in 2021, Stark Disparities Remain

There were also small increases in other key prevention measures, but not at the pace needed to reach national goals. More people with HIV were aware of their status in 2021 than 2017, with an uptick from 86% to 87%. Though data aren’t directly comparable due to reporting differences, the portion of people with diagnosed HIV who were virally suppressed due to effective treatment was slightly higher in 2021 than in 2017, up from 63% to 66%. Viral suppression was lower among Black people and Hispanic/Latino people than White people.

HIV Treatment is Not Reaching All Equitably

Deeply entrenched social determinants of health continue to drive these disparities and their outcomes. Most new HIV infections in 2021 were among gay and bisexual men, the majority of whom were Black or Hispanic/Latino. About one-fifth of new HIV infections in 2021 were among women, and over half of those were among Black women.

New HIV Infections Continue To Show Disparities in HIV Treatment and Prevention

“At least three people in the U.S. get HIV every hour—at a time when we have more effective prevention and treatment options than ever before,” said Robyn Neblett Fanfair, M.D., M.P.H., Acting Director of CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention. “These tools must reach deep into communities and be delivered faster to expand progress from some groups to all groups.”

To realize this goal and end the HIV epidemic, we must:

  • Increase investments in proven HIV prevention programs through the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative.
  • Maximize innovations by expanding HIV self-testing and growing the number and type of settings to reach people with HIV services, like STI clinics.
  • Center equity in every aspect of our work so that HIV prevention interventions better reach people who are disproportionately affected by HIV.

Tools to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. are available now, but our nation will not succeed until they equitably reach the people who need them to stay healthy.

Additional Data (CDC estimates)

  • As of 2021, 1.2 million people in the United States have HIV, and that 87% of them had received a diagnosis. This means that 1 of 8 people with HIV in the United States do not know they have it.
  • About two-thirds of new HIV infections in 2021 were among gay and bisexual men. By age, most (9,100) of those were among 25- to 34-year-olds; followed by 13- to 24-year-olds (4,900); and 35- to 44-year-olds (4,000).
  • More than half (52%) of new HIV infections in 2021 were in the U.S. South. The U.S. South was also the only region with a decline in overall estimated new infections in 2021 when compared to 2017 (down 12%).
    • 16,700 in the South
    • 6,600 in the West
    • 4,400 in the Northeast
    • 4,400 in the Midwest
  • 2 million people could benefit from PrEP for HIV prevention. The majority are Black people (468,540) or Hispanic/Latino people (312,820). However, in 2021, estimates suggest less than a quarter of the Black people or Hispanic/Latino people who could benefit were prescribed PrEP, while over three-quarters of White people who could benefit got a prescription. The data on PrEP prescriptions by race and ethnicity are limited, and findings are estimated. In 2021, CDC estimates:
    • 11% of Black people who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it.
      • 51,878 of 468,540
    • 20% of Hispanic/Latino people who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it.
      • 64,018 of 312,820
    • 78% of White people who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it.
      • 234,318 of 300,650
    • 12% of people of other races/ethnicities who could benefit from PrEP were prescribed it.
      • 15,779 of 131,180
    • The United States made remarkable strides in eliminating perinatal HIV between 2010 and 2019.In 2021, the downward trend continued with 0.6 cases of perinatal HIV per 100,000 live births, down from the 2010 rate of 1.9 cases per 100,000 live births.
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services coordinates the federal Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which aims to reduce new HIV infections by 90% from 2017 levels by 2030. Early challenges, including resource allocation and the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 (the first year of EHE implementation nationwide) have hindered desired pace toward U.S. goals. The FY24 President’s Budget requested $850 million in funding across CDC, HRSA, IHS, and NIH to support continued EHE scale-up and implementation. This represents a $277 million (48%) increase over the FY23 enacted funding level. The President’s Budget also proposed $237 million for a national PrEP program. These are critical resources to help propel the nation’s HIV prevention efforts forward.
  • HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report: Estimated HIV Incidence in the United States, 2017-2021
    https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-28-no-3/index.html
  • Monitoring Selected National HIV Prevention and Care Objectives by Using HIV Surveillance Data, U.S. and 6 Dependent Areas, 2021
    https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/library/reports/hiv-surveillance/vol-28-no-4/index.html

Spotlight: CHIPTS Community Advisory Board (CAB)

CHIPTS recognizes the importance of community involvement in HIV prevention and treatment research. This community involvement ensures that our work remains relevant and meaningful to the diverse communities affected by HIV. The CHIPTS Community Advisory Board (CAB) plays a crucial role in contributing community perspectives and expertise to the work of the Center. Led by current CAB Co-Chairs Luckie-Alexander Fuller and Eddie Sanders, the CAB focuses on three key activities: advising CHIPTS scientists, disseminating research findings, and amplifying voices and perspectives.

Advising CHIPTS Scientists:
The primary goal of the CAB is to provide guidance and advice to our CHIPTS scientists. The CAB members contribute their valuable perspectives, drawing from their lived experiences, cultural insights, and knowledge of community dynamics. The CAB ensures that research topics, study designs, and methodologies are relevant and reflect the needs and experiences of the communities impacted by HIV. This relationship between the CAB and CHIPTS scientists enhances the scientific rigor and cultural sensitivity of our CHIPTS research, making the Center more effective in addressing the unique challenges faced by diverse populations.

Disseminating Research Findings:
The CAB plays a crucial role in the dissemination of research findings to the broader community. They provide input on strategies for effectively communicating research outcomes in ways that are accessible, culturally appropriate, and inclusive. By working closely with CAB members, we ensure that findings are disseminated through channels that reach various communities, including hardly reached communities. This proactive approach facilitates community engagement, encourages knowledge sharing, and empowers individuals with information to make informed decisions about HIV prevention and treatment.

Amplifying Voices and Perspectives:
People with HIV or at-risk for HIV who experience mental health and/or substance use disorders face unique challenges and barriers. The CAB actively engages and represents the perspectives of these communities, recognizing the intersectionality of their experiences. This inclusive approach promotes a more comprehensive understanding of the complex factors impacting HIV prevention and treatment, and it helps shape our research and inform the implementation of interventions and policies that are sensitive to the lived realities of those affected.

The involvement of our CAB in the Center’s research and dissemination activities has had an important impact on HIV prevention and treatment efforts in Los Angeles. The CAB’s input has facilitated the development of HIV interventions that address specific challenges faced by disproportionately impacted communities, and the CAB’s advocacy efforts have contributed to policy changes and resource allocation that have helped ensure marginalized populations receive equitable and comprehensive care. CHIPTS scientists and the CAB have also worked together to help increase awareness, access, and utilization of HIV prevention services in Los Angeles. We thank the CHIPTS CAB for their continued commitment to the CHIPTS mission as we work together to help end the HIV epidemic in Los Angeles and beyond.

Addressing Stigma and Unique Health Needs of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam

May 19, 2023 – Today, CHIPTS honors National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day  (#APIMay19), a day dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of HIV and exploring strategies to combat HIV in Asian & Pacific Islander communities. Last year, CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Scientist Dr. Wei-Ti Chen shared an illuminating reflection highlighting challenges faced by many Asian Americans and Pacific Americans living with HIV, and interventions to help address those challenges. This year, we are excited to feature a reflection by CHIPTS Methods Core Associate Director Dr. Chunqing Lin on her global efforts to identify and address the unique needs of women living with HIV in Vietnam. View Dr. Lin’s reflection below.

In Vietnam, there are 223,000 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, with women making up 31% of this population. HIV/AIDS and its related risky behaviors have long been portrayed as social evils in Vietnam. Similar to other countries, women living with HIV (WLHA) in Vietnam are facing substantial stigma and discrimination, which discourages them from seeking not only general medical services and HIV treatment but also vital reproductive care and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Furthermore, WLHA in Vietnam are facing unique challenges stemming from the long-standing Confucian principles in the Vietnamese culture, where Vietnamese women are expected to obey female ethical criteria and sacrifice their own needs for the benefit of their children, husbands, and families. WLHA in Vietnam are more vulnerable to domestic violence and family rejection. Additionally, Vietnamese women often internalize such shame and form a sense of inferiority and a loss of self-worth, and they are in urgent need of support. However, the Vietnamese government’s responses to HIV have mainly focused on other key populations, such as people who use drugs and men who have sex with men, while the needs of WLHA remain largely unaddressed.

I recently collaborated with Hanoi Medical University (HMU) to study the unique challenges and needs of WLHA in Vietnam. Our study team conducted formative studies with WLHA to describe the social/family role of being a female with HIV in the context of Vietnamese culture and social context. Through these studies, our team identified the gender-based needs and challenges experienced by WLHA in Vietnam.

In the Vietnamese culture, women are often expected to shoulder a variety of responsibilities within the family. They are commonly responsible for taking care of both their own family and their husband’s family, managing household chores, and taking care of their children’s education and well-being. At the same time, women may also engage in work or run a business to share the financial burden of the family. Despite the heightened responsibilities, WLHA are more vulnerable to stigma due to the deeply rooted gender inequality in society. It is commonly believed that extramarital sex and substance use behaviors are more accepted in men than in women. Women with HIV are assumed to have been involved in sex work or promiscuous sexual relationships, which is considered to be lacking female virtue. Although women who contracted HIV from their husbands are regarded relatively sympathetically, they still face stigma due to people’s fear of being infected. Regardless of how they contracted HIV, WLHA frequently encounter the belief that their health is compromised, and they are unable to perform regular work duties. Unfortunately, many WLHA internalize this belief, which undermines their self-efficacy in applying for jobs and achieving financial independence.

Stigma significantly impacts WLHA’s general healthcare and, more specifically, every step of their reproductive decision-making and service utilization. In-depth interviews revealed that many WLHA desired to have more children to fulfill their partner’s wishes or strengthen their family bond. However, despite the availability of PMTCT, the slight risk of transmitting HIV to their child was reported to be a major concern for some women, leading them to decide against having children. Additionally, some women faced discouragement from doctors or family members against taking risks. WLHA’s concerns about health, financial constraints, unstable family relationships, and future uncertainties also deterred them from deciding to have children. Pregnant WLHA reported feeling desperate and lacking information and support during pregnancy and delivery, with stigma and discrimination from healthcare providers being common. Some WLHA were denied prenatal care or referred to other facilities upon disclosing their HIV status, while others had to terminate their pregnancies due to stigma, fear of transmission, and lack of support. Regarding postpartum care, although PMTCT of HIV services have become more readily available in recent years, WLHA still experienced delayed antiretroviral prescriptions due to breakdowns in communication between providers. A significant concern for these mothers is the inability to breastfeed, which can lead to feelings of disconnection from their babies and unintentional disclosure of their HIV status. Parenting poses substantial challenges for WLHA, starting with the fear of not being present for their children due to disease progression and uncertain health conditions. They worried about their children’s well-being after their passing and were concerned about their inability to provide adequate care or support because of their HIV status and financial difficulties. Fortunately, some WLHA received family support in various aspects of child-rearing, including financial assistance, emotional support, and help with daily childcare. This support helped alleviate some of the stress and burden faced by WLHA. At the same time, other WLHA experienced stigma and discrimination from family members, who distanced themselves from the WLHA and their babies due to fear of infection or societal judgment. In some cases, babies were taken away from WLHA to prevent HIV infection. Lastly, children of WLHA faced social isolation and discrimination at school due to their mother’s HIV status, leading to emotional distress and negatively impacting WLHA’s parenting abilities.

In response to the identified health challenges and unique needs of WLHA, the study team collaborated with local WLHA, service providers, and researchers to develop an online-offline hybrid approach to empower WLHA in Vietnam. This intervention incorporates evidence-based strategies to reduce the negative impact of stigma and promote service-seeking. To allow flexibility, the intervention is designed to be conducted in three formats: in-person, Zoom, and Zalo (the most popular social networking platform in Vietnam). In-person sessions focus on reducing internalized stigma, learning active coping strategies to promote mental health, practicing effective communication strategies in service-seeking and disclosure, and improving family relationships while encouraging family and peer support. Zoom sessions promote health service-seeking, holistic health, and general well-being. Zalo group discussions serve as check-ins to evaluate participants’ physical and mental well-being, review content from in-person and Zoom sessions, share information and resources, and provide relaxation and games. The intervention is currently being tested among 90 WLHA in Hanoi. We will assess the feasibility of the online-offline strategy, the acceptability of in-person/Zoom/Zalo formats, the sustainability of discussion and mutual support without investigator influence, and the preliminary outcomes of the intervention on WLHA’s internalized stigma, mental health, social and family support, health/social service seeking, and HIV treatment adherence.

 

 

HHS Awards $147 Million to Support Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States

This content originally appeared on HHS.Gov. View the full article here.

On April 27, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded more than $147 million to 49 recipients to advance the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by at least 90 percent by 2030. This funding will help states and metropolitan areas with the highest levels of HIV transmission link people with HIV to essential care, support, and treatment, as well as support training and other resources for these jurisdictions.

“Ending the HIV epidemic requires us to reach people living with the virus where they are, and that’s exactly what this program allows us to do,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Through this program and others, we will continue our work to destigmatize this deadly disease and ensure equitable access to testing and treatment.”

“HRSA is proud to build on our thirty years of experience in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to help lead the fight to end the HIV epidemic in the United States,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson. “We are expanding treatment and partnering with communities to address critical health-related needs like housing and mental health. These awards expand our efforts to ensure that we can reach people with HIV and connect them with the care they need to not just survive but thrive.”

The awards include:

  • Nearly $139.1 million to metropolitan areas and states to implement strategies and interventions to provide medical and support services to reduce new HIV infections in the U.S.; and
  • $8 million to two non-profit organizations to provide training and other resources to recipients of EHE funds.

The Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative focuses on four key strategies:

  • Diagnose all people with HIV as early as possible.
  • Treat people with HIV rapidly and effectively to reach sustained viral suppression.
  • Prevent new HIV transmissions by using proven interventions.
  • Respond quickly to potential HIV outbreaks.

These strategies build on the continued success of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which supports medical care, medications, and other essential support services to help more than 576,000 people stay in care. Nearly 90 percent of Ryan White clients who receive care reach viral suppression, meaning they cannot transmit HIV, and can also live healthier lives. This rate exceeds the national viral suppression average of 64.6 percent.

For a list of the FY 2023 HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau EHE award recipients, visit:
https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/about/parts-and-initiatives/fy-2023-ending-hiv-epidemic-awards.

For more information about HRSA’s role in the EHE initiative, visit: www.hrsa.gov/ending-hiv-epidemic.

For more information about HRSA’s RWHAP, visit: https://ryanwhite.hrsa.gov/.

For more about the EHE initiative, visit: https://www.hiv.gov/federal-response/ending-the-hiv-epidemic/overview.

Mobility and ART Retention Among Men in Malawi

Dr. Marguerite Thorp recently published an assessment of access to HIV treatment in Malawi in the Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS). This study was supported by CHIPTS global seed funds. To access the publication, click here. Learn more about Dr. Thorpe’s work below.

Malawi’s robust national HIV treatment program offers free antiretroviral treatment for nearly one million people living with HIV. Though the program has delivered success for many, UCLA faculty members Dr. Thomas Coates (Global HIV Co-Director, CHIPTS Administrative Core) and Dr. Kathryn Dovel work with Partners in Hope, a medical and research organization based in Lilongwe, Malawi, to study vulnerable groups who continue to face barriers to care. The recent publication, led by GloCal Health postdoctoral fellow Dr. Marguerite Thorp, focused on highly mobile men enrolled in two parent trials led by Dr. Coates and Dr. Dovel.

“Mobility is essential for many people in Malawi – to find work, to care for family members, and to buy and sell goods,” Dr. Thorp said. “Men living with HIV have the same need to travel – maybe even more so – but mobility makes it difficult to access treatment.”

The study combined survey data from participants in the parent trials and in-depth interviews with mobile men. Researchers found that, although mobility was crucial for men to support their families, it often conflicted with accessing care for HIV. Men often had less than a day to prepare for a trip that may last weeks or months, but felt they had no choice but to accept such unpredictable work arrangements.

As a result, mobile men missed appointments to refill their antiretroviral medications, and returning to care after a missed appointment was difficult. Survey data showed that men who spent more time away from home in the year before trial enrollment also had longer interruptions in their HIV treatment. Researchers highlighted problems with the health system – from inflexible appointment scheduling to restrictions on when and where men can refill medications to unwelcoming providers – that worsened the conflict between mobility and HIV care.

Dr. Thorp and her colleague Kelvin Balakasi, Junior Data Scientist at Partners in Hope, are now leading a subsequent study supported by a CHIPTS pilot grant and UCLA’s Center for AIDS Research. They will design and test a screening tool to identify people living with HIV that may be at risk of stopping treatment due to mobility or other risk factors, including alcohol use and depression. The researchers hope to eventually study interventions that can reduce the risk of treatment interruption for vulnerable people living with HIV.

Apply Now: Opportunities to Support Research and Career Development

CHIPTS is excited to share funding announcements for the 2023 Mentored Pilot Grant Program, the 2024 Community-Research Kickstart Grant, and the 2023 William E. Cunningham And Mark A. Etzel Scholars Award Program that are designed to prompt new science and support research among emerging investigators. We encourage applications expressing interest in HIV prevention, substance use, and/or mental health services. Learn more about this year’s funding announcements and important dates below.

2023 Mentored Pilot Grant Program

The pilot grant for emerging and new investigators (ranging from doctoral students to assistant professors) provides mentorship from engaged and committed faculty mentors/sponsors on a well-defined research project that can last up to 12 months. The successful completion of the proposed mentored research project is expected to enhance emerging and new investigators’ potential to develop into productive, independent research scientists. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals of innovative and transformative domestic and international social, behavioral, policy, and combination prevention pilot studies that will produce data and experiences that will support future funded grants and career development.

Application Deadline: Friday, June 30, 2023 by 5:00pm PT

Funds Deadline: Sunday, December 31, 2023

Visit the Mentored Pilot Grant page on the CHIPTS website to learn more about submission requirements. We also invite you to review the full 2024 CHIPTS Mentored Pilot Grant - Call for Applications

Questions about the mentored pilot program or requests for assistance in identifying a CHIPTS faculty mentor can be directed to:

The application packet should be submitted via email to Damilola Jolayemi: OJolayemi@mednet.ucla.edu.

2024 CHIPTS Kick Start Grant

The kick start grant provides support for workshops, planning meetings, symposia, or other activities that are designed to promote new science, foster new collaborations, or increase capacity-building. The purpose of the program is to “kick start” the development of new research ideas and other projects to address emerging issues and needs of communities most impacted by HIV. The proposed activities must contribute towards the CHIPTS scientific theme of addressing the intersection of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention and mental health and/or substance use co-morbidities.

Application Deadline: Friday, June 2, 2023

Notification of Awards: Friday, June 23, 2023

Funds Deadline: Sunday, December 31, 2023

Visit the Kick Start Grant page on the CHIPTS website to learn more about submission requirements. Access the complete call for applications here: 2023 CHIPTS Community Research Kickstart Grant

Questions as well as the application packet should be submitted via email to Damilola Jolayemi: OJolayemi@mednet.ucla.edu.

2023 William E. Cunningham And Mark A. Etzel Scholars Awards Program

The award program aims to provide opportunities and support for early stage investigators, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and community researchers in efforts to promote science, foster networking, and support capacity-building in HIV research. There is one award of $1,500 available for each. Themes for both the William E. Cunningham and Mark A. Etzel Scholars Awards focus on health disparities and inequities, social/structural determinants, medical mistrust, policy impact, structural factors, and/or implementation science.

Application Deadline: Friday, June 9, 2023

Notification of Awards: Wednesday, June 19, 2023

Funds Deadline: Sunday, December 31, 2023

Visit the William E. Cunningham and Mark A. Etzel Scholars Award Program page on the CHIPTS website to learn more about submission requirements. Access the complete call for applications here: 2023 William E. Cunningham and Mark A. Etzel Scholars Award Program - Nomination Form

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day 2023

April 10 is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of HIV among youth and adolescents. This annual observance offers an opportunity to highlight the importance of promoting HIV prevention, treatment, and care among youth and adolescents in the U.S.

The U.S. National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2022-25 emphasizes a critical need to improve HIV outcomes among youth. The Strategy summarizes key issues and considerations related to youth, noting that:

Youth experience worse HIV outcomes on status awareness, pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake, and health outcomes. Children and young adults with HIV need tailored and often more intensive medical and support services to support them as they grow and become young adults. Schools play an important role in the primary prevention of HIV in youth by offering comprehensive sexual health education and on-site sexual health services through school-based health centers and school nurses, or in collaboration with community partners that provide services, such as periodic, school-wide HIV and STI screening events or mobile clinics. Schools that cannot provide direct sexual health services can establish integrated referral systems that link students to youth-friendly providers in the community. There is a need for both primary prevention approaches and HIV care models that are tailored to groups of youth at disproportionate risk of HIV, including young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs (p. 54).

Several CHIPTS faculty have pursued research to better understand the contextual factors contributing to HIV infection and test strategies to improve HIV outcomes among youth. Recent publications reflecting this work include:

In addition to these publications, we invite you to check out our EHE Regional Learning Collaborative session on Strategies to Engage and Serve Youth. This session highlighted effective strategies being implemented by different California organizations to help address HIV among youth. Presenters emphasized the importance of linkage to services (e.g. HIV testing, PrEP), including family members in care (e.g., counseling, care management), and establishing healthy behavior patterns (e.g., peer to peer groups, interacting with other HIV+ youth).

 

 

Learn more about how the HIV epidemic is impacting U.S. youth and available tools:

 

 

 

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: HISstory, HERstory, THEIRstory, OURSTORY: Storytelling as Resilience

This content originally appeared on HIV.Gov. View the full article here.

March 20 marks National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD), which coincides with the first day of Spring, and this year we are highlighting two videos featuring Brad Lum and Lisa Tiger, from HISstory, HERstory, THEIRstory, OURSTORY: Storytelling as Resilience, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of HIV and breaking down the barriers of HIV/AIDS stigma in indigenous communities through the tradition of storytelling.

For the community, this is a ceremonious time of year that brings new beginnings and rebirth. The observance of NNHAAD, which is planned each year by the National Native HIV NetworkExit Disclaimer, recognizes the impact of HIV among Native people (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) and encourages individuals within these communities to get educated, get tested, get involved in HIV prevention, and get treated for HIV.

The observance is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative by sharing information about HIV and its impact on indigenous communities, as well as to promote accessible HIV testing options and counseling and help decrease the stigma associated with HIV.

OURSTORY – Oral Tradition & Storytelling

As we are often reminded, in Native communities, stories connect people to place, time, and community and are a protective factor in resilience and often offer messages to guide, teach, and provide perspective and inspiration.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, and HHS provided support to Kua`aina Associates, which partnered with the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board to produce OURSTORY, a celebration of life told through tradition oral/storytelling—the backbone of indigenous knowledge transfer.

HISstory: Brad Lum – HIV Long-term Survivor & Community Leader

Born and raised in Mō`ili`ili, O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Brad Lum is an HIV long-term survivor who is a community leader for the Native Hawaiian and Two-Spirit/LGBTQ+ communities. Brad is a Kumu Hula, a dedicated master teacher in the art of hula, and a teacher in the Hawai’i Department of Education system for the past 23 years.

In HISstory, Brad shares that he can “show you what a survivor looks like” as someone with HIV and cancer that is in remission after two chemotherapy treatments. In the opening of HISstory, Brad asks a powerful question in poetic form: “what if I told you I win when I open my eyes every morning? Cancer and HIV, you will not triumph over me, because I am possible!” Watch his video to hear him discuss dialogue and talk story—a Hawaiian term that means to converse, orally share experiences, and exchange stories—which he promotes as a means of HIV education and better understanding the virus.

HERstory: Lisa Tiger – HIV and AIDS Educator & Advocate

A member of the Muscogee Nation and of Creek, Seminole, Cherokee, and Irish descent, Lisa Tiger received an HIV diagnosis in the early 1980s and has served as an HIV/AIDS educator ever since. She’s raised four children, lives with Parkinson’s disease, and is a fierce advocate for crime victims and the HIV and AIDS community.

Lisa shared in HERstory that she’s proud to be a mother because she thought that HIV would not allow her that privilege. Prior to pregnancy, Lisa was resistant to start HIV treatment and notes that “if I got pregnant, I’d have to get on the [HIV] medication, if not for myself, but for my child’s sake. So, this child literally saved my life, because I was too stubborn [to start] the HIV medicine until there was a reason.” Watch Lisa’s video to hear her discuss her love for exercise and gymnastics, her HIV diagnosis, and her resilient spirit.

Building a Budget – Financial Basics for Research Proposals (Recap)

Thursday, March 9, 2023 – CHIPTS hosted a career-development webinar entitled “Building a Budget – Financial Basics for Research Proposals,” featuring Laura Sheehan, Manager of Research Administration for the Department of Family Medicine in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Ms. Sheehan reviewed the basics of how to create a budget that will meet the needs of a research proposal while remaining within the confines of sponsor restrictions. Ms. Sheehan was joined by over 50 graduate students, post-doctoral students, early/mid-career investigators from academic institutions, and others interested in learning about budgeting for research proposals.

She began the workshop by identifying and describing common elements of a research budget, and then proceeded by sharing tips about how to dissect sponsor guidelines to glean important information needed to create a strong budget proposal. The majority of her presentation focused on essential considerations when preparing a budget for a research proposal, including determining how project needs might affect specific budget line items and utilizing best practices for crafting a budget justification. She left participants with a key take-home message: “read the guidelines.” If you follow proposal guidelines closely and include a strong budget, your research will get funded.

View the recorded webinar here: https://youtu.be/hVaL7sttiF8

Download the webinar slide set here: Building a Budget: Financial Basics for Research Proposals - Slides

 

Check out these great resources from Ms. Sheehan’s presentation: