# To Reach Unrestricted Services for Transgender Women (TRUST)

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA · 2020 · $248,940

## Abstract

ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
Background: Transgender women are disproportionally affected by substance abuse and HIV. Evidence-based
interventions that can address both issues simultaneously may efficiently improve the overall health of transgender
women and reduce burdensome health and societal costs associated with substance abuse and HIV. In South Florida, the
majority of transgender women identify as Black or Latina, and can be grouped together as transgender women of color
(TWOC). TWOC are at highest risk for substance abuse and HIV acquisition, due to multiple external stressors arising as
a consequence of being a gender minority and a racial/ethnic minority. Studies have demonstrated Screening, Brief
Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to be effective in mitigating development of substance use disorders
(SUDs) in other at-risk, marginalized populations. An adapted culturally-tailored SBIRT focused on linkage to substance
use services and HIV pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP/nPEP) may effectively reduce the odds of individuals in
this special population developing a SUD and also facilitate their voluntary election of HIV screening and use of
PrEP/nPEP for HIV prevention. Objectives: K99 –In preparation for the independent phase, the career development phase
will include training in qualitative research methods and intervention development. R00 – In the independent phase, the
study objectives will be to (a) use a mixed-methods approach to obtain formative data among 40 transgender women that
will aid in adapting and developing an adapted culturally tailored SBIRT intervention (SBIRT-A), (b) pre-test and refine
SBIRT-A in 15 transgender women based on formative work and, (c) pilot test SBIRT-A in a sample of 76 transgender to
assess feasibility and acceptability. Pilot Design: Randomized trial among 76 adult (18 years or older) HIV uninfected
transgender women at moderate risk for developing a substance use disorder who will be randomized to either SBIRT-A
or the control condition (INFO-C). The INFO-C group will be a time-matched comparison control where information will
be provided on substance use and PrEP services in a non-SBIRT format via printed and audio-visual study material. There
will be a follow-up visit, three months after baseline, to assess linkage, and barriers and facilitators, to substance use
services and PrEP/nPEP. Analysis: Bivariate difference tests (chi square and t-tests) will be used to test differences
between SBIRT-A and INFO-C participants for the primary outcome measures (linkage to substance use services, PrEP,
and nPEP) at the 3-month visit. Multivariate binary logistic regressions (post- and pre-intervention) will be used to
determine substance use as a predictor of (1) HIV/STI screening in the past three months and (2 & 3) PrEP and nPEP
uptake in the past three months. Significance: Results derived from this study will help elucidate the relationship between
substance use and HIV among transgender women,...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10175277
- **Project number:** 4R00DA046311-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Elena Cyrus
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $248,940
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10175277

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10175277, To Reach Unrestricted Services for Transgender Women (TRUST) (4R00DA046311-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10175277. Licensed CC0.

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