Clinical Research Directory

Evaluation of Free STI Testing Pilot Projects in Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland

The main goal of the observational study is to evaluate participants' satisfaction with free HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and counselling offered by the cities of Lucerne and Zurich, Switzerland to young people and people with low incomes. Counselling and testing can be accessed without participating in the study arm of the project.

Improving Clinic Delivery of HIV-related Anal Health Services

This project will test ways to reduce stigma in healthcare settings so that more providers offer, and more patients receive, important anal sex-related HIV services, including anorectal sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, preventive medications, and cancer screening. By evaluating these stigma-reduction strategies in eight clinics in the Mississippi Delta, a region with high rates of HIV and STIs, the research team will learn whether and how these approaches work to improve access to care. The results will help guide healthcare systems in using the most effective methods to reduce stigma, making it easier for people to get prevention services and improving public health.

Healthy Expectancy Through Routine Antenatal STI Screening

This study will evaluate whether routine screening and treatment for two common sexually transmitted infections, chlamydia and gonorrhoea, during pregnancy can reduce preterm birth and other poor birth outcomes in Botswana, and whether this approach is affordable and cost-effective for the health system. About 2,000 pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit at up to 10 government clinics in Botswana will be invited to join the study. All women will first receive the usual antenatal care services provided in Botswana, including routine health checks and HIV and syphilis testing. Women who enroll in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1. Standard of care group: Women receive routine antenatal care only. 2. Intervention group: In addition to routine antenatal care, women are screened for chlamydia and gonorrhoea using self-collected vaginal swabs at their first antenatal care visit and again in the third trimester. The main outcome of the study is whether screening and treating chlamydia and gonorrhoeae reduces preterm birth (before 37 weeks). Other outcomes include low birth weight, very preterm birth, and maternal health conditions.

The Efficacy of Doxycycline Post Exposure Prophylaxis for Preventing STIs Among MSM in Bangkok, Thailand.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of doxycycline in MSM for preventing sexually transmitted infections (gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis) in Thailand Participation in this study will last approximately 12 weeks and will include 2-3 clinic visits, along with 10-11 follow-up phone contacts over a period of 11 weeks.

Risk Assessment of Community Spread of Multiple Endemic Infectious Diseases in a One Health Perspective

RACSMEI addresses the high burden of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, including Cambodia, where limited surveillance and laboratory capacity often obscure etiologies and transmission dynamics. This knowledge gap hinders the design of effective prevention and control strategies. RACSMEI will improve understanding across multiple pathogens using a multidisciplinary One Health approach. We will answer key questions on burden, ecology, transmission and population immune status to inform targeted and culturally appropriate interventions. The project combines a nationally representative One Health survey, social-science methods, and multiplex, diverse diagnostics to efficiently test for 57 priority pathogens, including zoonotic and vector-borne agents, vaccine-preventable and elimination-targeted diseases, enteric, respiratory, and environmentally transmitted pathogens and selected neglected tropical diseases and parasites relevant to Cambodia. Mathematical modelling will reconstruct and forecast transmission dynamics and assess the potential impact of future public-health strategies. By integrating intersectoral data and innovative methods, RACSMEI will generate actionable evidence for public-health authorities, support precision One Health interventions, and help reduce disease burden in affected communities. The project also aims to ensure the transferability of methods and insights to other countries facing similar challenges.

Doxycycline Prophylaxis for Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections

The goal of this open-label, randomized trial is to assess the efficacy of doxycycline prophylaxis in reducing incidences of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescent and young adult females while also evaluating acceptability and antimicrobial resistance in order to inform public health policy.

Integrated Care Versus Usual Care for Opioid Use Disorder and Infectious Diseases in Veterans

Opioid use disorder (OUD) confers a higher risk of acquiring and transmitting infectious diseases, which may have long-term health consequences in Veterans. Treatment of OUD with medication assisted therapy is highly effective, however this often occurs independently of infectious diseases care. This project will test out a new model that combines infectious diseases and OUD care within one VA clinic appointment. This new care model may improve the health of Veterans and reduce cost and time required for Veterans who often need to attend multiple outpatient appointments.

Assessing Acceptability and Feasibiity of STI Self-swab Testing, to be Offered at the Time of Telemed Medication Abortion Provision

The goal of this interventional study is to provide more access to STI testing for patients who seek abortion care through telemedicine, particularly for those whose access to STI testing is otherwise limited. The main questions it aims to answer are: What is the acceptability, feasibility, and utilization of self-collected STI screening at the time of telemedicine medication abortion provision? How does the uptake of such a service among patients receiving telemedicine abortion care compare to the population of patients who seek in-person medication abortion care? What are the positivity rates for STIs in among patients receiving telemedicine medication abortion care compared to the positivity rates for a contemporaneous, in-clinic population? What is the average time to between testing and treatment for patients who test positive for an STI using the self-collection service? Researchers will compare the intervention group to a contemporaneous, in-clinic population on uptake of STI screening, as well as on positivity rates for the STIs tested. Participants will be asked to perform self-swab collection for STI testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomonas. They will be instructed to send their specimens to a lab using prepaid postage. Upon completion of sample collection and shipping, they will be asked to complete a survey assessing basic demographic information, as well as acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. Patients who test positive for an STI will be promptly provided/referred to treatment.

Superiority of On-demand PrEP Versus PEP on Using Doxycycline for Preventing STI in MSM

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of doxycycline taken for on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis (DoxyODPrEP) and its post-exposure use (DoxyPEP) in preventing bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI), including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is DoxyODPrEP superior to DoxyPEP? 2. Are both regimens safe? 3. Does the MSM community accept the use of doxycycline to prevent bacterial STI? Participants will be asked to take doxycycline according to the study arm they are randomly assigned to, and attend regular clinical follow-ups during the 2-year observation period. Researchers will compare the bacterial STI incidences between the two groups to see if DoxyODPrEP is superior to DoxyPEP.

A Seek, Test, and Treat Intervention to Reduce Chlamydia Trachomatis Disparities

This study includes testing for four STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV) at no cost. If positive, individual subjects will also be counseled and offered options for treatment for themselves and their sex partners that may include no cost expedited treatment and the option to be rescreened 3 months after treatment.

Vienna HIV Infection Via Sex Study

The main objective of this prospective observational cohort study is to investigate the epidemiology, the risk factors and ultimately the incidence of novel HIV infections among individuals at high risk for acquiring HIV via sex practices.