Clinical Research Directory

C-3002: Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening Access and Follow-up Care at 'CASCADE' Clinical Sites in the United States

The purpose of the CASCADE-3002 project is to improve access to cervical cancer screening among women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) receiving care at U.S.-based CASCADE clinical sites. This study will assess the cervical cancer screening cascade and identify multilevel factors that impede access to screening among women with HIV attending Infectious Disease clinics in Georgia and Maryland. In parallel, the study will explore and develop implementation strategies for human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection to increase screening uptake, adherence, and appropriate clinical follow-up in this population at elevated risk for cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains a preventable malignancy; however, women with HIV are at substantially increased risk and experience higher rates of cervical cancer compared with women without HIV. The World Health Organization has called for the global elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, defined as fewer than 4 incident cases per 100,000 women annually, with targets for vaccination, screening, and treatment coverage. Although the United States has the tools to approach near-elimination, disparities in healthcare access and screening persist, particularly among women with HIV.

Persuasive Health Communication Intervention for HIV/HCV

A major impediment to emergency department (ED)-based HIV/HCV screening success is that often ED patients at risk for, or later diagnosed with, HIV and HCV decline testing. In this R01 project, the research team will assess how well a promising, easy-to-use, one-time, minimal-training-needed, very brief persuasive health communication intervention (PHCI) increases acceptance of testing among adult ED patients who either currently, formerly or never injected drugs and initially declined HIV/HCV screening. The research team will conduct a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) at EDs within the Mount Sinai Health System to compare the efficacy of the PHCI when delivered by a video vs. an HIV/HCV counselor. Patients who initially declined HIV/HCV screening will be stratified by injection-drug use (IDU) history cohorts: (1) current/former PWIDs, (2) never/non-PWIDs. Within each IDU history cohort, the research team will randomly assign participants (1:1:1) to a PHCI delivered by: (1) a video with captions, (2) a video without captions, (3) an HIV/HCV counselor. This R01 project will be conducted at Mount Sinai affiliate hospitals EDs. For Aim 2, the research team will determine if screening acceptance is similar across IDU history cohorts. For Aim 3, the research team will further compare the two delivery forms of the PHCI through a health economics assessment, both independent of IDU history and within each IDU history cohort.

A Clinical Study of MK-8527 to Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (MK-8527-011)

Researchers are looking for new medicines to prevent HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1) infection. The goals of this study are to learn: * If taking MK-8527 once a month works to prevent HIV-1 infection as well as or better than a standard (usual) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken once a day * About the safety of MK-8527 and if people tolerate it

A Study of MK-8527 to Prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (MK-8527-010)

Researchers are looking for new medicines to prevent HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1) infection. The goals of this study are to learn: * If taking MK-8527 once a month works to prevent HIV-1 infection better than a standard (usual) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) taken once a day * About the safety of MK-8527 and if people tolerate it

The Trans-Led Care Study

This study is testing a new mutual-help group called "the TLC program" for transgender adults who use substances or are recently in recovery. The TLC Program is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or "ACT" which is a type of mental health counseling that focuses on using mindfulness skills to connect a person to their values and improve their mental health. The TLC Program was developed by transgender and gender diverse community members, mental health providers, and researchers.

The Effects of Chiropractic Care on Inflammation and Quality of Life in People Living With HIV

The main aim of this pilot trial is to investigate the feasibility of undertaking a randomized controlled trial involving adults living with HIV. Additionally, this trial will explore potential change differences in self-reported quality of life and blood-derived immune markers between a chiropractic care group and no treatment controls.

Voluntary HIV Screening in the General Population in France

Since 2020, an increase in positive screenings for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, has been observed. Voluntary early screening plays an important role in the national strategy for HIV care in France. There are currently several methods that allow patients to undergo voluntary screening.

Quitting Matters Human Immunodeficiency Virus Hybrid Trial

The purpose of this study is to compare the advantages and disadvantages of two approaches for quitting smoking among people living with HIV (PWH). Participants will complete a 24- week (\~6-month) study where the Participants will be assigned to one of two smartphone apps to help with quitting smoking. Regardless of the group participants are assigned to, they will also receive a combination of nicotine replacement therapy (patches and gums) that have been shown to help people quit smoking. The main questions this study aims to answer are: Participants will complete 5 video call visits over about 6 months. Participants will install their assigned smoking cessation app onto their phone and will be asked to use the app for the duration of the study along with their provided Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products. During the study visits, participants will meet with study staff to complete questionnaires and interviews. Participants may be asked to provide breath and saliva samples to measure the level of carbon monoxide and nicotine.

Reducing Systemic Inflammation in People on Antiretroviral Therapy

This randomized, open-label clinical trial will evaluate whether adding fostemsavir to current antiretroviral therapy can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with well-controlled HIV. Researchers will compare imaging, clinical and biomarker outcomes between participants who receive fostemsavir in addition to their existing treatment and those who continue with standard care alone.

Project neuroARTEMIS

The purpose of this research is to understand how chronic stress affects the way our brain and immune systems function, and in turn how this affects the way people feel, think, and behave. By learning more about how these processes work, the hope is to be able to develop better treatments to help with problems like depression and substance use. This study is intended for individuals that are HIV positive, currently taking prescription antiretroviral medications, and use stimulants. Through this intervention, the aim is to determine if this positive affect intervention can lead to reductions in stimulant use and depressed mood.

HIV Testing Counselor-led Care to Catalyze Integration of PrEP Delivery in Family Planning Clinics

This is a cluster randomized, stepped wedge implementation study to introduce HIV testing services (HTS) counselor-led PrEP care in public health clinics in Kenya.

Using Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize a Cost-effective, Sustainable and Scalable Smoking Cessation Package for Smokers in HIV Clinical Care

This study's long-term goal is to improve clinical outcomes among smokers living with HIV (SLWH) by providing smoking cessation interventions in HIV clinical care that will increase the chances of quitting smoking, limits costs and burden on staff and reach many smokers living with HIV.

Kentucky Outreach Service Kiosk (KyOSK): Reducing HIV, HCV, and Overdose Risk

This study will test the effectiveness, implementation outcomes, and cost effectiveness of a community-tailored, harm reduction kiosk in reducing HIV, hepatitis C, and overdose risk behavior in rural Appalachia. The proposed project will take place in two counties in Appalachian Kentucky, an epicenter for the intertwined national crises of injection drug use, overdoses, and hepatitis C.