# Using Longitudinal Research to Engage African American and Latinx Sexual- and Gender-Minority Youth in the HIV Prevention and Care Continua and Reduce HIV/AIDS-Related Disparities

> **NIH NIH U01** · CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $2,814,849

## Abstract

The U.S. has set a goal to end the HIV epidemic by the year 2030, which can be achieved but only if targeted
approaches are implemented with at-risk populations to address known barriers of engagement along the HIV
prevention and care continua. Populations of greatest concern include young men who have sex with men
(YMSM), especially YMSM of color, who now account for the vast majority of new HIV infections each year.
Transgender and gender non-conforming/non-binary youth are also at high risk for HIV acquisition, accounting
for an increasing proportion of new infections each year. In 2015, we were awarded a grant from NIDA to
establish a new cohort of 448 African American/Black (AA/B) and Latino YMSM, called the Healthy Young
Men’s (HYM) Cohort. We also received an administrative supplement to collect two waves of data from a
smaller cohort of B/AA and Latinx 108 transgender and gender nonconforming/non-binary youth (TGMY),
called the TRUTH Cohort. Both HYM and TRUTH participants were 16 to 24 years of age at the time of
recruitment. The overarching aim was to conduct longitudinal research focused on these youths’ engagement
in the HIV prevention and care continua in an effort to prevent new HIV infections, reduce transmission, and
reduce HIV/AIDS-related disparities. Mixed methods research is conducted using qualitative interviews, a self-
report survey, drug screening, and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Biospecimens
(plasma, buffy coat, rectal swabs) are also collected and banked. Analyses performed to date provide clear
evidence that participants in both cohorts are at high risk for HIV, drug use, and mental health/psychiatric
conditions. Intersectional stigma—i.e., experiences of stigma stemming from multiple, intersecting identities1-
5—also appears to discourage AA/B and Latinx YMSM and TGMY from engaging in care and perhaps may
impact their developmental arcs of risk, transmission, and health. Building on this work, we are proposing to
longitudinally: i) examine B/L-YMSM’s engagement in the HIV prevention and care continua, as well as their
developmental transitions and trajectories in drug use, STI/HIV infection, health, and psychiatric/mental health
comorbidities (Aim 1); ii) examine TGMY’s engagement in the HIV prevention and care continua and identify
shared and unique transitions and trajectories with respect to TGMY’s use of drugs, infections with STI/HIV,
health and psychiatric/mental health comorbidities (Aim 2); and iii) serve as a local and national resource for
collaborations and dissemination. We will actively participate in and contribute to the Collaborating Consortium
of Cohorts Producing NIDA Opportunities (C3PNO), the Coordinating Center for NIDA’s U01 cohorts. We will
also partner with key stakeholders (e.g., community organizations, policy makers) and collaborate with
trainees, early career faculty and investigators across the translational spectrum (Aim 3).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10200724
- **Project number:** 5U01DA036926-07
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Michele D. Kipke
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,814,849
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-08-15 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10200724

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10200724, Using Longitudinal Research to Engage African American and Latinx Sexual- and Gender-Minority Youth in the HIV Prevention and Care Continua and Reduce HIV/AIDS-Related Disparities (5U01DA036926-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10200724. Licensed CC0.

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