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Using mobile technology to prevent HIV and related Youth Health problems: Sexual health, Mental health, and Substance use in southwest Uganda (Youth Health SMS)

Award Number: K01MH122319
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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Using mobile technology to prevent HIV and related Youth Health problems: Sexual health, Mental health, and Substance use in southwest Uganda (Youth Health SMS) - The proposed K01 Award will provide the candidate, Dr. Kreniske, with the skills to achieve his long-term goal of being an independent HIV investigator and an international leader who leverages digital technology to improve adolescent and young adult (AYA) uptake of HIV prevention (including PrEP and HIV testing) and linkage to behavioral health care. The candidate is a developmental psychologist with experience in qualitative and cross- sectional research, domestically and internationally. The proposed training and research experience will expand the candidate’s ability to design and evaluate interventions for AYA at high risk for HIV infection and address the high priority topic of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR) of reducing the incidence of HIV. To achieve his overall goals, Dr. Kreniske will receive additional training in: (1) longitudinal data analysis for the purposes of interpreting associations between mobile phone use and protective and risk factors for HIV infection in under-resourced settings; (2) adapting mobile phone-based interventions to address multiple HIV risk factors as they relate to HIV prevention and the HIV care cascade; (3) evaluating mobile phone- based interventions for AYA in under-resourced settings using randomized controlled trials (RCT); and (4) professional skills for a successful independent research career, including grant and manuscript writing. The candidate has assembled a mentorship team of national and international leaders who will support his successful transition to independence through coursework, directed readings, one-on-one meetings, hands-on research activities, and completion of an independent research project. Dr. Kreniske’s work is based in East and Southern Africa (ESA) where AYA have the highest rates of HIV infection worldwide. Mental health and substance use affect decision making about sexual and reproductive health and thus function as critical barriers to prevention of HIV infection. AYA, particularly in this socio-cultural context, face unique challenges in accessing counselors who can provide mental health and substance use assessment and treatment. To address these challenges the candidate will identify how technology is related to known HIV risk factors (e.g. sexual behaviors, mental health symptoms, substance use) and adapt and evaluate a mobile phone-based intervention. This will serve as proof of concept for an R01 proposal to evaluate a scalable mobile phone-based intervention to reduce HIV infection by targeting at risk AYA. Research and training will occur at NYSPI/ Columbia University as well as international sites, in affiliation with two NIH-funded studies, (1) SSTAR, a study of AYA social transitions and determinants (R01HD091003; PI Santelli), which will provide secondary data from the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), and (2) SUUBI4Her (R01MH113486; PI Ssewamala), an HIV prevention study for AYA girls in Uganda that will provide secondary data on mental health. Research findings and skills obtained during the K01 will position Dr. Kreniske to become an independent investigator who can contribute to the efforts to end the HIV epidemic through innovative interventions tailored to at risk AYA.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	8/28/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $178,064 )
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	4	9/26/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	8/10/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$178,064
														Subtotal = $178,064

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $181,563 )
2022	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	6/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$181,563
														Subtotal = $181,563

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $181,036 )
2021	2021	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	7/9/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$181,036
														Subtotal = $181,036

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $180,496 )
2020	2020	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	6/15/2020	NEW	$180,496
														Subtotal = $180,496

Grand Total All Awards = $721,159

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Using mobile technology to prevent HIV and related Youth Health problems: Sexual health, Mental health, and Substance use in southwest Uganda (Youth Health SMS)

Award Number: K01MH122319

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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