# Leveraging Networks, Epidemiology, and Epidemic Modeling: Creative Approaches for HIV Elimination

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $189,497

## Abstract

Abstract
New HIV infections in the U.S. are beginning to decline, but marginalized groups such as
substance using populations continue to experience new infections. Individuals with acute and
early HIV (AEH) and those who are HIV infected, but out of care, are key drivers of ongoing
transmission. Biological interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that reduces
HIV acquisition by >90% can curtail transmission, but marginalized groups have low utilization
rates. Social network factors have been noted as contributing to the difference in rates of HIV
acquisition. Public health departments traditionally used contact tracing (asking newly HIV
diagnosed clients to identify their sex or drug contacts) to identify individuals who are unaware
of their HIV infection, but this information is often incomplete due to underreporting. Experts are
now turning toward molecular network data (individuals linked by similar HIV-1 pol sequences)
in conjunction with contact tracing information for HIV epidemic response. While informative,
sampling challenges limit the reliance on these sources alone for making inferences about HIV
transmission. Social network data, in contrast, are more complete than sexual contact data and
often include substance use and sexual partners in networks. Despite indication of the benefits
of combining these data, little research has been conducted on how they can be integrated for
HIV prevention and care. The overall goal of this project is to better understand the complex and
overlapping social and molecular network dynamics involved in HIV transmission in order to
more effectively prioritize interventions to reduce HIV incidence.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10450822
- **Project number:** 5K01DA049665-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Britt Skaathun
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $189,497
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10450822

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10450822, Leveraging Networks, Epidemiology, and Epidemic Modeling: Creative Approaches for HIV Elimination (5K01DA049665-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10450822. Licensed CC0.

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