Thursday, August 21, 2025 8/21/2025

A behavioral intervention for African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV to address stigma-related barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence

Award Number: K01MH125724
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

A behavioral intervention for African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV to address stigma-related barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence - Stigma negatively affects adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy, increasing the risk of virological failure and chronic inflammation, with subsequent impacts on morbidity, mortality, and transmission to HIV-negative partners. Stigma-related barriers to adherence are well documented among individuals living with HIV, including African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV. Yet, effective interventions targeting stigma-related barriers remain scarce. Reminder-based approaches can improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy, but their effect on viral suppression remains unclear. These approaches primarily address sporadic non-adherence (e.g., missed doses from forgetfulness), with limited impact on viral suppression. Sustained non-adherence (i.e., prolonged dose gaps), on the other hand, is associated with virological failure, chronic inflammation (e.g., elevated Interleukin-6 levels), morbidity, and mortality. Because stigma-related barriers drive sustained non-adherence, interventions to address them are urgently needed. The candidate seeks training and research experience to design and pilot-test a technology-enhanced intervention that targets both sporadic and sustained non-adherence. While the intervention will initially be evaluated with African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV, the candidate’s long-term goal is to expand the intervention so it can benefit other groups facing barriers to medication adherence across a range of chronic conditions. Training goals: Goal 1. Develop skills in behavioral intervention research; Goal 2. Gain skills in qualitative research methods; Goal 3. Acquire proficiency in the assessment and interpretation of biomarkers of antiretroviral therapy adherence and chronic inflammation. These goals, coupled with the candidate’s expertise in quantitative methods, stigma models, and clinical psychology, will support the following research aims: Aim 1. Identify stigma-related barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence and strategies to counter these barriers through in-depth interviews with ~30 African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV; Aim 2. Design a technology-enhanced intervention to address stigma-related barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence; Aim 3. Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and effect size estimates of the intervention (Aim 2) through a pilot randomized control trial with 60 African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV. The intervention will involve the adaptation and combination of 1) ARemind, a reminder-based strategy to decrease sporadic non-adherence, with 2) the Effective Skills to Empower Effective Men intervention, an approach that seeks to address stigma-related drivers of adherence. The intervention pilot test will involve participants’ randomization to either ARemind or the combined intervention. In addition to measures of feasibility and acceptability, the study will assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy based on self-report, Medication Event Monitoring System devices, and hair antiretroviral levels, viral suppression, and chronic inflammation. The pilot randomized control trial findings will inform an R01 to be submitted by the end of Year 5 of this award. This award will set the candidate on a clear path to research independence.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = $170,872 )
2025	2025	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	450 CLARKSON AVE	BROOKLYN	NY	11203	KINGS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	5	7/10/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,872
2025	2024	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	450 CLARKSON AVE	BROOKLYN	NY	11203	KINGS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	12/12/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$0
2025	2024	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	450 CLARKSON AVE	BROOKLYN	NY	11203	KINGS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	4	2/24/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$133,373
2025	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	615 W 131ST ST	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	2/24/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$133,373
														Subtotal = $170,872

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $177,413 )
2024	2024	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	450 CLARKSON AVE	BROOKLYN	NY	11203	KINGS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	4	8/30/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$177,413
2024	2023	THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK	615 W 131ST ST	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	8/30/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $177,413

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $177,180 )
2023	2023	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	202 LOW LIBRARY 535 W 116 ST MC 4309,	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	8/8/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$177,180
														Subtotal = $177,180

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $175,157 )
2022	2022	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	202 LOW LIBRARY 535 W 116 ST MC 4309,	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	8/8/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$175,157
														Subtotal = $175,157

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $177,452 )
2021	2021	TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, THE	116TH AND BDWY	NEW YORK	NY	10027	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	6/16/2021	NEW	$177,452
														Subtotal = $177,452

Grand Total All Awards = $878,074

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

A behavioral intervention for African-American gay and bisexual men living with HIV to address stigma-related barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence

Award Number: K01MH125724

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer