# CHARTZ

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2024 · $324,415

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The intersection of unhealthy alcohol use and HIV infection is most significant in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where
HIV prevalence exceeds 20% in some populations and alcohol consumption is on the rise. Most HIV treatment
and prevention programs in SSA do not have evidence-based alcohol interventions and the professional mental
health workforce is extremely limited. Alcohol brief interventions (BI), which have been moderately effective in
other settings, were not effective in SSA for unhealthy alcohol use among people with HIV in several previous
trials. Unhealthy alcohol use is often complicated by comorbid mental illness and/or other substance use. We
previously demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a transdiagnostic model
called Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA) for people with HIV and unhealthy alcohol use. CETA
was designed for delivery by lay providers (non-professionals with limited or no previous mental health
experience) and can address a range of conditions (including unhealthy alcohol use) within a single protocol
delivered over 6-12 therapy sessions. CETA was evaluated in 3 previous randomized trials and found to be
effective for a range of conditions in trauma-affected and marginalized populations. CETA HIV Alcohol Reduction
Trial in Zambia (CHARTZ), a research project within the Zambia Alabama HIV Alcohol Comorbidities Program,
is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial to evaluate the effects of CETA, and a novel alcohol BI, on HIV,
alcohol, and comorbidity outcomes. Adults (18+ years old) with HIV, unhealthy alcohol use, and suboptimal
engagement in HIV care at public sector HIV clinics in Lusaka will be enrolled and randomized to the standard
of care (ART adherence counseling), BI alone, or BI plus CETA. The BI and CETA will be provided by HIV peer
educators, a cadre of lay counselors who are embedded at HIV clinics across Zambia. Patient reported outcome
measures (for alcohol use, mental illness, and other substance use) and HIV electronic medical records (for ART
adherence, retention in HIV care, viral suppression) will be used to assess trial eligibility and evaluate outcomes
at 6 and 12 months. Phosphatidylethanol, a direct alcohol biomarker, will be measured to strengthen assessment
of trial outcomes. Implementation factors related to the integrated delivery of CETA and the BI will be evaluated
including cost and cost effectiveness. In summary, CHARTZ will generate evidence on psychological treatments
for unhealthy alcohol use that have strong potential for implementation in low-resource settings and can address
complex and overlapping behavioral issues that undermine HIV treatment and prevention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915740
- **Project number:** 5P01AA029540-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Jeffrey Vinikoor
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $324,415
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-10 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915740

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915740, CHARTZ (5P01AA029540-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10915740. Licensed CC0.

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