# Characterizing Sleep, ART Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Black Sexual Minority Men

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2022 · $785,876

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
To address the aims of the proposed research and RFA-HL-21-018, we will use a syndemics and multi-level
approach to investigate relationships between sleep and HIV treatment outcomes and behaviors (e.g., viral
suppression and retention in care) cross-sectionally and longitudinally among Black gay, bisexual and other
sexual minority men (SMM) followed over one year to inform interventions. We will enroll 250 Black SMM from
the NIH-funded Neighborhoods and Networks (N2) Cohort Study in the proposed N2 Sleep Health Study to
address the aims of the research. Eligibility requirements include: HIV-seropositive and self-reported
willingness to wear a wrist actigraph for two-weeks at three points over the course of a year. In this longitudinal
study, after completing the initial 2-week wrist actigraphy protocol, participants will carry the wrist actigraph for
an additional 2-weeks every six-months over the one-year study period—for a total of three times. Objectively
measured sleep data at baseline could potentially influence decision-making regarding HIV treatment (e.g.,
antiretroviral treatment [ART] outcomes) over time, providing a clear temporal ordering and an ability to
consider potential time-lags. Multi-level factors – e.g., individual-level obesity, intimate partner violence, and
spatial proximity to healthcare services – may modify these relationships. The proposed study will be the first
objective sleep health study among any population of Black SMM. Findings from the proposed research have
significant implications for targeting contextually appropriate sleep and HIV interventions as there is a need for
new approaches to inform the next generation of HIV interventions (i.e., long-acting injectables), especially for
Black SMM.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10489387
- **Project number:** 5R01HL160325-02
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Dustin T Duncan
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $785,876
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10489387

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10489387, Characterizing Sleep, ART Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Black Sexual Minority Men (5R01HL160325-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10489387. Licensed CC0.

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