# Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration  on HIV/AIDS - Comorbidity Center (Boston ARCH CC)

> **NIH NIH P01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS · 2024 · $1,373,231

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Effective antiretroviral therapy has increased the lifespan of people living with HIV (PLWH). Alcohol use,
common among PLWH, plays an increasingly important role in the risk for and management of HIV-associated
comorbidities. Unhealthy drinking can exacerbate two highly prevalent HIV-related comorbidities/co-occurring
conditions, chronic pain and physical inactivity, which in turn, can intensify alcohol use and affect physical and
mental function in PLWH. We propose the Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration on HIV/AIDS –
Comorbidity Center (Boston ARCH CC) as an extension of our Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration on
HIV/AIDS (ARCH) cohort launched in 2011 and renewed in 2016 with funding from NIAAA. In Boston ARCH
CC we target in randomized trials these two modifiable conditions, pain and physical inactivity, that have a
critical impact on a variety of other HIV-related comorbidities. Boston ARCH CC contains 4 integrated
components that make unique contributions to our interdisciplinary approach: two randomized trials (Research
Project Components), an Administrative Core (AC) that coordinates the P01, and a Biostatistics and Data
Management (BDM) Core that supports the trials methodologically and provides data management and
biostatistical expertise to them, and continues secondary analyses using extant Boston ARCH data. In
Objective 1 we will conduct state-of-the-art e-health clinical trials research on scalable approaches to
address the HIV-associated conditions chronic pain and physical inactivity in PLWH with unhealthy
alcohol use. By recruiting, assessing, and intervening with participants outside of standard medical visits,
through entirely online e-health procedures, our trials address unhealthy drinking in the care of complex HIV
patients. In Objective 2 we will support secondary analyses of the existing Boston ARCH cohort, and
provide support and mentoring to trainees and investigators accessing the cohort data. The nearly ten-
year prospective Boston ARCH cohort enrolled PLWH with current or past substance use, and provides the
basis for creating a program for early stage alcohol-HIV investigators interested in scientific questions related
to pain, physical inactivity, and physical and mental functioning. To achieve the goal of addressing these two
co-occurring conditions, we bring together multidisciplinary experts in fields including alcohol and HIV, public
health, addiction medicine, clinical trials, psychology, pain, physical activity, ecological momentary
assessment, functional status measurement, and research methods and services (biostatistics and data
management). The integration across these fields provides a cohesive program where the whole is bigger than
the sum of the parts, supporting investigators whose work can be rapidly translated to community-based
population impact.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912461
- **Project number:** 5P01AA029546-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CAMPUS
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael D Stein
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $1,373,231
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912461

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912461, Boston Alcohol Research Collaboration  on HIV/AIDS - Comorbidity Center (Boston ARCH CC) (5P01AA029546-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912461. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*