# Social networks and STIs as an indicator of potential HIV transmission and acquisition among PWID

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $158,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Social networks (i.e. social, sexual and substance use contacts) impact the spread of HIV and sexually
transmitted infections (STIs) and can be used as a tool for public health prevention efforts. PWID are
embedded in social networks that may influence their HIV risk as well as their risk reduction behaviors and
engagement with the HIV care cascade. Clinical data and diagnoses of infectious diseases can be used to
inform the networks. In the U.S., STI incidence rates are the highest they have been in over 25 years. STIs can
increase the risk of HIV acquisition and among those who are living with HIV, STIs can increase the risk of
onward HIV transmission. In addition, STI diagnoses may predict future incidence of HIV. Studies are needed
to better understand the prevalence of STIs among PWID and the potential impact of STI screening on risk of
HIV among PWID.
Sex and drug tourism from the U.S. to Mexico has played an important role in HIV spread in the border region,
as these factors drive bidirectional cross-border mobility. Recent work provides evidence of extensive HIV viral
exchange between San Diego, CA and Tijuana, Mexico, with the direction recently reversing to viral migration
now being predominantly from Tijuana toward San Diego.
In Aim 1, we will assess the prevalence of STIs (syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria
gonorrhoeae (NG) infections) in San Diego among PWID living with and at risk for HIV and will assess the
potential additional risk of those infections among sex and drug tourists. In Aim 2 we will identify where STI and
HIV infections are within a social network of PWID and assess whether they can be used to understand the
HIV risk context. We will leverage an ongoing cohort study among PWID in San Diego, California, La Frontera
(R01DA049644, PI: Strathdee) which uses field based mobile testing and survey methods. The proposed study
aims meet the A-START goals of facilitating the entry of an early career investigator into the intersection of
drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research and will provide pilot data for a future longitudinal R01 proposal aimed at
using social and transmission network in combination to predict HIV and prioritize prevention activities. The
results of the proposed study will additionally provide evidence for public health researchers and practitioners
on best practices for STI screening among PWID and potential HIV prevention. This study addresses the
Trans-NIH plan of the OAR, by conducting multidisciplinary research to inform implementation of timely
interventions to reduce incidence of HIV.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10548693
- **Project number:** 1R03DA057142-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Britt Skaathun
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $158,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10548693

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10548693, Social networks and STIs as an indicator of potential HIV transmission and acquisition among PWID (1R03DA057142-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10548693. Licensed CC0.

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