New HIV infections in the U.S. are beginning to decline, but marginalized groups such as substance using populations continue to experience new infections. Individuals with acute and early HIV (AEH) and those who are HIV infected, but out of care, are key drivers of ongoing transmission. Biological interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) that reduces HIV acquisition by >90% can curtail transmission, but marginalized groups have low utilization rates. Social network factors have been noted as contributing to the difference in rates of HIV acquisition. Public health departments traditionally used contact tracing (asking newly HIV diagnosed clients to identify their sex or drug contacts) to identify individuals who are unaware of their HIV infection, but this information is often incomplete due to underreporting. Experts are now turning toward molecular network data (individuals linked by similar HIV-1 pol sequences) in conjunction with contact tracing information for HIV epidemic response. While informative, sampling challenges limit the reliance on these sources alone for making inferences about HIV transmission. Social network data, in contrast, are more complete than sexual contact data and often include substance use and sexual partners in networks. Despite indication of the benefits of combining these data, little research has been conducted on how they can be integrated for HIV prevention and care. The overall goal of this project is to better understand the complex and overlapping social and molecular network dynamics involved in HIV transmission in order to more effectively prioritize interventions to reduce HIV incidence.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal will develop methods to better understand the complex and overlapping social and molecular network dynamics involved in HIV transmission among substance using populations to more effectively prioritize interventions to reduce HIV incidence. Biological interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention can curtail transmission, but marginalized, substance using populations have lower utilization rates. This proposal will compare the impact of PrEP prioritization strategies by social- molecular network features identified after overlaying social and molecular network data.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
1K01DA049665-01
Application #
9846556
Study Section
Population and Public Health Approaches to HIV/AIDS Study Section (PPAH)
Program Officer
Jenkins, Richard A
Project Start
2019-08-15
Project End
2024-07-31
Budget Start
2019-08-15
Budget End
2020-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California, San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093