# San Francisco-Rio de Janeiro collaborative research on HIV prevalence, risk, and biomedical prevention interventions among young men who have sex with men

> **NIH NIH R01** · PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION ENTERPRISES · 2022 · $110,454

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
As San Francisco’s HIV epidemic is set to reach zero infections, Rio de Janeiro is experiencing
a resurgence in new reported HIV cases among MSM. San Francisco’s success can be
attributed to effective biomedical interventions, namely: rapid diagnosis, immediate ART,
sustained viral load suppression, wide uptake of PrEP, and interrupting new clusters of
transmission. In Brazil, however, uptake of these biomedical interventions has so far been
insufficient to reverse the epidemic, despite being the first low/middle income country to provide
free ART to all persons with HIV, participation in clinical trials proving PrEP efficacy, and
national policy to provide free PrEP. Meanwhile, young MSM, particularly Black/Afro-Brazilians,
have high HIV incidence, low viral suppression, and poor PrEP adherence. We therefore
propose collaborative research between the San Francisco Department of Public Health and the
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) in Rio de Janeiro. We will focus on identifying the drivers of
HIV infection, ways to address barriers to biomedical interventions, and identifying the hurdles
to including young MSM in biomedical research. Methods include a cross-sectional survey of
MSM age 18-24 using respondent-driven sampling adapted for social media-based sampling;
development of a technology-based rapid ART and PrEP engagement and retention
intervention; and a qualitative study of MSM age 15-17, their parents, and providers of sexual
health services to better understand the onset of risk and the feasibility of increasing inclusion of
minors in biomedical HIV research and intervention programs. San Francisco stands as an
American test case for the elimination of HIV, yet remaining challenges exist in reaching young
and minority MSM. Rio de Janeiro is an engine of HIV research in South America, yet faces
challenges in reaping the benefit of proven biomedical interventions for MSM. The proposed
US-Brazil research collaboration will provide mutual benefit in increasing the effectiveness of
biomedical interventions to reverse the HIV epidemic among MSM in Brazil and address
remaining disparities in the US.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10375409
- **Project number:** 5R01AI149627-03
- **Recipient organization:** PUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION ENTERPRISES
- **Principal Investigator:** BEATRIZ GRINSZTEJN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $110,454
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-04-10 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10375409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10375409, San Francisco-Rio de Janeiro collaborative research on HIV prevalence, risk, and biomedical prevention interventions among young men who have sex with men (5R01AI149627-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10375409. Licensed CC0.

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