# Implementation Science to Strengthen the Integrated Care Continuum in Getting to Zero Contexts

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · 2020 · $170,611

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In this career development proposal, I aim to use implementation science strategies for evaluation of the
integrated care continuum within a Getting to Zero (GTZ) Framework. GTZ frameworks propose expansion and
scale-up of effective HIV treatment and prevention interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and
treatment as prevention (TasP), with the goal of eliminating new HIV transmission events. GTZ initiatives are
most commonly operationalized through integrated care continuums. The integrated care continuum describes
HIV care and prevention steps for HIV positive and HIV negative, but susceptible, persons: both critical to
ending HIV transmission. Many jurisdictions have undertaken systematic efforts to end HIV transmission
through Getting to Zero initiatives. Challenges in implementation have occurred, with a primary one being
monitoring, evaluating, and providing timely feedback for iterative improvements in the implementation
strategy. In order to be efficient within constrained resources, GTZ efforts need to be systematically and
routinely assessed to provide feedback for successful implementation – a data-driven cornerstone of
implementation science. Developing and organizing monitoring and evaluation systems has been recognized
as a discrete implementation strategy. There is a clear need to develop rigorous methods of evaluation within
an implementation science framework that can provide public health implementers of GTZ plans clear and
contemporary feedback, and serve as a tool driving cyclical improvements in integrated care continuum
outcomes. For this career development proposal, I will use the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and
Sustainment (EPIS) model to explore adoption of a GTZ evaluation tool in Illinois in collaboration with public
health partners. Therefore, this proposal will 1) use an implementation framework to examine capacity,
readiness and feasibility of key stakeholders to adopt diverse data sources to evaluate GTZ HIV elimination
efforts, 2) demonstrate the appropriateness and feasibility of candidate data sources in evaluating the
integrated care continuum through a case example, and 3) develop tools for evaluation of the integrated care
continuum through data monitoring and feedback. The knowledge from this proposal will fill important gaps in
how to provide context-specific implementation support in the form of monitoring, feedback, and evaluation
within multi-pronged jurisdictional programs for HIV elimination. The resulting knowledge has the potential to
drive service improvements for elimination efforts both in Illinois and other jurisdictions. This K award will
provide advanced training in implementation research, health services, and mixed methods that will build on
my background in epidemiology and HIV prevention. I will bring my research experience together with that of
my strong mentorship team to develop the skills necessary to become an independent investigator. These
e...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9883843
- **Project number:** 5K23MH118969-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Moira McNulty
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $170,611
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-03-01 → 2023-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9883843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9883843, Implementation Science to Strengthen the Integrated Care Continuum in Getting to Zero Contexts (5K23MH118969-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9883843. Licensed CC0.

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