# Keeping it LITE: Exploring HIV Risk in Vulnerable Youth with Limited Interaction

> **NIH NIH UH3** · HEKTOEN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH · 2020 · $760,121

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
In response to RFA-AI-16-031, we propose “Keeping it LITE: Exploring HIV Risk in Vulnerable Youth with
Limited Interaction,” which will use electronic recruitment to engage young MSM and TGW in an innovative
cohort designed to monitor HIV risk and prevention behaviors and explore the socioecological factors that
influence behavior and attitudes with minimal engagement. This low-interaction strategy will allow us to
describe ongoing infection trends across the Chicago area and characterize individual and community level
factors that enhance HIV risk, while minimizing the potential intervention effects of study participation in and of
itself. Further, given the rapidly advancing state of HIV prevention technologies, we will use our large,
longitudinal cohort of HIV-uninfected youth to monitor PrEP access, uptake and adherence across time. More
intensive study of those who acquire HIV while enrolled in the cohort, as well as those “prevalent positives” at
baseline, using innovative social network and phylodynamic analysis, will identify clusters of ongoing active
transmission and test the feasibility of novel approaches to target biomedical prevention to those in the highest
risk subgroups. As the longitudinal data accumulate, we will be well-poised to design and pilot test virtual
strategies for optimal HIV prevention for young MSM and TGW. Our proposed methodologies assure the
maximum likelihood of leading to meaningful advances in HIV prevention including the development of tools
and strategies that are easily implemented and scalable for export to other communities suffering from similar
epidemics of HIV infection. We propose the following specific aims: Aim 1: To enroll and retain a large cohort
of 13-34 year-old MSM and TGW (1000/year over 3 year) at high risk of HIV acquisition using tested, novel
and cost-effective enrollment strategies through social media and targeted electronic advertisement. Aim 1a:
To capture at least 230 HIV seroconversions occurring over the course of the study and 300 previously
undiagnosed HIV-infected youth. Aim 1b: To explore behaviors, venues, sociodemographic characteristics and
socioecological influences that predict HIV acquisition. Aim 2 (UH3 Stage): To characterize real-world PrEP
use among young MSM and TGW enrolled and retained in a longitudinal cohort and explore the individual,
provider and community-level predictors of PrEP uptake, PrEP adherence and PrEP discontinuation. Aim 3
(UH3 Stage): To use social network and phylodynamic analysis to identify characteristics of ongoing
transmission networks of HIV seroconverters among young MSM and TGW enrolled in the cohort. Aim 3a: To
provide data for optimal design and targeting of enhanced partner services and novel biomedical prevention
strategies. Aim 4 (UH3 Stage): To describe the HIV care continuum among newly diagnosed young MSM/TGW
Aim 4a: Identify individual, network, community and structural predictors of eventual viral suppre...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9989019
- **Project number:** 5UH3AI133676-04
- **Recipient organization:** HEKTOEN INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Audrey French
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $760,121
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-22 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9989019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9989019, Keeping it LITE: Exploring HIV Risk in Vulnerable Youth with Limited Interaction (5UH3AI133676-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9989019. Licensed CC0.

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