# A geospatial analysis of hotspots and targeted injection settings pilot intervention for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $784,526

## Abstract

Project Summary
This resubmission of application R01DA050470 proposes to use innovative approaches to identify “hotspots,”
defined as geographic areas in which high rates of HIV or HCV infection, high HIV viral loads, or drug-resistant
HIV strains are found. We propose two novel approaches for identifying hotspots: 1) Use of web-based
mapping technology to document observed and self-reported HIV and overdose risk behaviors among PWID in
private and semi-public injection settings (SPIS) and the attributes of these risk settings; 2) Systematically
collect cookers (containers used to mix and heat drugs before injecting) from injection settings and test them
for HIV and HCV antibodies (testing cookers is a novel method developed in the Johns Hopkins Virology lab).
We will recruit 600 HIV positive and negative people who inject drugs (PWID). These PWID will complete a
survey using a software program developed by our team to locate and map the areas where they inject and
attributes of these injection settings. These data will be used to identify high-risk behaviors in SPIS within
census block groups (CBGs). These participants will be followed for 2 years.
 The findings from this observational portion of the study will then be used to inform an innovative pilot of an
injection setting targeted peer-driven intervention to reduce HIV/HCV transmission and overdose risk
behaviors. From the identified CBGs, we will select 60 non-contiguous CBGs for a pilot cluster randomized trial
(CRT) of the intervention. The CBGs will be randomized to one of 4 conditions: 1) Peer education and stocking
of SPIS with risk reduction materials, 2) Peer education only, 3) Stocking SPIS with risk reduction materials
only, and 4) The standard of care. Based on their CBG and SPIS use, 120 index PWID participants will be
selected from the 600 PWID. These index participants will receive training corresponding to the assigned
condition of their CBG. The indexes will implement the intervention targeting two specific SPIS. Each index will
also recruit PWID from their CBG to serve as data collectors. In the SPIS, the data collectors will use
Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and collect cookers for HIV/HCV testing. Data from the indexes
(N=120) and data collectors (N=120) will be used as outcomes of the 4-arm intervention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10079583
- **Project number:** 1R01DA050470-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CARL A LATKIN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $784,526
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10079583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10079583, A geospatial analysis of hotspots and targeted injection settings pilot intervention for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs in Baltimore, Maryland (1R01DA050470-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10079583. Licensed CC0.

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