# PrEP Implementation Science with Hard to Reach Populations in India

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2023 · $182,088

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Anne E. Fehrenbacher, PhD, MPH is a social epidemiologist in the Department of Psychiatry and
Biobehavioral Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles and a Fogary GloCal Fellow at the Public
Health Research Institute of India. Dr. Fehrenbacher’s long-term career goal is to become an independent
investigator with expertise in implementation science for HIV interventions with stigmatized populations. The
proposed K01 research and training plan will provide Dr. Fehrenbacher with the methodological and practical
skills to meet this goal. The present study will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and sustainability of an
adapted WHO E-PrEP Implementation Tool to increase PrEP uptake, retention, and adherence.
 Dr. Fehrenbacher’s research plan will address three specific aims guided by the EPIS Framework of
Implementation Science: 1) to model barriers and facilitators at the policy, structural, and organizational levels
for adopting the WHO E-PrEP Implementation Tool to support PrEP rollout in targeted interventions in India; 2)
to assess patient and provider preferences for bundled intervention components to inform the adaptation,
localization, and tailoring of the WHO E-PrEP Implementation Tool; and 3) to evaluate the acceptability,
feasibility, and sustainability of the adapted WHO E-PrEP Implementation Tool. The first aim will be addressed
through concept mapping and bottleneck analysis with policymakers, health officials, and targeted intervention
staff to visualize stakeholder priorities for PrEP implementation. The second aim will be addressed using
conjoint analysis experiments conducted with patients and providers assessing bundled intervention attributes
to elucidate the relative importance of each attribute on the likelihood of successful implementation. The third
aim will involve a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate implementation processes and outcomes
along the HIV prevention continuum for testing, linkage, PrEP uptake, retention, and adherence.
 Dr. Fehrenbacher’s training objectives correspond with each of these specific aims, as follows: 1) to
gain expertise in implementation science methods; 2) to gain expertise in the design and adaptation of eHealth
interventions; and 3) to gain expertise in monitoring and evaluation of longitudinal interventions. The findings
from this implementation science study will aid in the scale-up of sustainable biobehavioral interventions to
reduce HIV disparities among stigmatized groups across India.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10694796
- **Project number:** 5K01TW012173-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Anne Elizabeth Fehrenbacher
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $182,088
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10694796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10694796, PrEP Implementation Science with Hard to Reach Populations in India (5K01TW012173-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10694796. Licensed CC0.

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