University of North Carolina/Emory Center for Innovative Technology (iTech) for Addressing the HIV Epidemic Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: Protocol and Rationale for Center Development

• DOI: 10.2196/10365
• Publication Date: 2018-05-08T14:44:35Z
• Authors: Lisa B Hightow-We...; Kathryn Muessig; Eli Rosenberg; Travis Sanchez; Sara LeGrand; Laura Gravens; Patrick S Sullivan
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 9. Industry and infrastructure; 4. Education; Protocol; 3. Good health

Background: Over a fifth of all new HIV infections in the United States occur among persons aged 13 24 years, with most these diagnoses occurring gay and bisexual males (81%). While epidemic has leveled off for many age groups, annual number young men who have sex (YMSM; 13-24 years old) remains high. Traditional approaches to continuum improvement youth been insufficient, targeted interventions are urgently needed people at risk or infected HIV. Interventions delivered through mobile health technology represent promising approach improving outcomes this population. Mobile phones nearly reached saturation youth, making particularly tool reaching Objective: The University North Carolina/Emory Center Innovative Technology (iTech) is National Institutes Health cooperative agreement as part Adolescent Medicine Trials Network HIV/AIDS Interventions. iTech aims impact by conducting innovative, interdisciplinary research on technology-based across prevention care adolescents adults States, YMSM, providing following: (1) evaluation novel identifying undiagnosed infections; (2) multilevel, combination approaches, relevant gender- sexual-minority facing co-occurring risks; (3) uptake adherence biomedical modalities; 4) designed promote optimize engagement antiretroviral therapy HIV-positive viral load suppression. Methods: brings together multidisciplinary experts fields adolescent treatment prevention, development interventions, surveillance epidemiology, intervention design evaluation. This initiative will support 8 efficacy trials 2 exploratory projects, each led principal investigators. Taken together, studies address key steps States. Each proposal uses scientifically rigorous innovative way access, engage, at-risk youth. Nine subject recruitment venues spread US cities. Three cores (management, analytic, technology) activities form network's infrastructure, facilitating aspects study implementation Results: Formative work already begun above-mentioned trials. We expect first randomized controlled begin mid-2018. Additional details can be found individual protocol papers issue. Conclusions: Through its comprehensive portfolio, effectively advance technology-based, youth-relevant that maximize adaptability sustainability. Registered Report Identifier: RR1-10.2196/10365