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Electronic Partner Notification for STIs: A Syndemic Approach to Improve HIV and STI Service Access in MA

Award Number: R01MH138281
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/13/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2030

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Electronic Partner Notification for STIs: A Syndemic Approach to Improve HIV and STI Service Access in MA - Suffolk County, an Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) priority area in Massachusetts, has seen a dramatic increase in bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Although diagnosis of bacterial STIs is an indication to consider HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), uptake of PrEP remains inconsistent across patient populations, often not reaching those at greatest risk for HIV acquisition. To address the rising rate of STIs, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) is implementing a provider-initiated electronic partner notification (ePN) platform for STIs, through which index patients can anonymously alert their sexual partners about STI exposure and link them to care resources. The goals of this platform, which, to our knowledge, is the first state-sponsored, statewide ePN intervention in the US, include not only an increase in the number of people tested and treated for STIs, but also the promotion of HIV testing and PrEP. ePN has the potential to overcome barriers to STI/HIV services by increasing awareness and linking notified individuals to accessible, low-cost care. How best to design and implement ePN to promote integrated STI/HIV services that serve populations at increased risk for STIs and HIV in community settings is unknown. In collaboration with MDPH and three high-volume sexual health clinics in Suffolk County, we propose to leverage this statewide natural experiment through the following three specific aims: 1) To evaluate the impact of ePN implementation on number of partners notified and engaged in care statewide when: 1a) used by field epidemiologists as an adjunct for assisted partner notification services for people diagnosed with syphilis; and 1b) initiated by clinicians at STI clinics for people diagnosed with gonorrhea and chlamydia; 2) To identify determinants of ePN implementation for STIs via qualitative interviews with index patients, partners, field epidemiologists, and clinicians and use the ADAPT implementation process to develop enhancements that incorporate HIV services; and 3) To implement and evaluate the impact of ePN platform enhancements on PrEP uptake and HIV care re-engagement at three selected high-volume MDPH-funded STI clinics deploying ePN and statewide, including an assessment of reach into different patient populations. We hypothesize that ePN will increase the number of partners notified and engaged in sexual health care and that enhancements to ePN will increase PrEP uptake and HIV care re-engagement among notified individuals, thereby helping to address both the STI and HIV epidemics. This proposal is directly responsive to the NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities to improve uptake of multi-level HIV prevention interventions, develop prevention strategies for HIV-relevant coinfections, and address high HIV incidence populations. It is also responsive to the NIH Director's strategic priority to use implementation science to advance EHE efforts in the US. This work will shift the paradigm of HIV and STI care by reimagining partner notification for the digital age and expanding its reach to enable more effective linkage to HIV services.


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: 2026 ( Subtotal = $855,983 )
2026	2026	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	3/19/2026	NEW	$855,983
														Subtotal = $855,983

Grand Total All Awards = $855,983

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Electronic Partner Notification for STIs: A Syndemic Approach to Improve HIV and STI Service Access in MA

Award Number: R01MH138281

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 03/13/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 12/31/2030

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