California HIV/AIDS Research Program Funded Publications

Since its founding in 1983 by California State Legislature, the California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP) has supported excellent, timely, and innovative research that is attentive to the needs of California, accelerating progress towards prevention, care and treatment for HIV/AIDS. During this time over $250M has been awarded for over 2,000 research projects.

CHRP provides start-up funds for the development of cutting edge research in California, providing critical leverage to bring in federal and private dollars to the state. A 2006 survey of California investigators found that more than five dollars in federal and other grant support was generated for every dollar invested by CHRP in California-based research.

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Managing HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Help-Seeking Behaviors on a Social Media Forum

(2024)

Although numerous editorials claim the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations, particularly those affected by HIV, these claims have received limited empirical evaluation. We analyzed posts to Reddit's r/HIVAIDS from January 3, 2012 through April 30, 2022 to (a) assess changes in the volume of posts during the pandemic and (b) determine the needs of HIV affected communities. There were cumulatively 100% (95%CI: 75-126) more posts than expected since the US declared a pandemic emergency. The most prevalent themes in these posts were for obtaining an HIV + diagnosis (representing 34% (95%CI:29-40) of all posts), seeking HIV treatment (20%; 95%CI:16-25), finding psychosocial support (16%; 95%CI:12-20), and tracking disease progression (8%; 95%CI:5-11). Discussions about PrEP and PEP were the least common, representing less than 6% of all posts each. Social media has increasingly become an important health resource for vulnerable populations seeking information, advice, and support. Public health organizations should recognize how the lay public uses social media and collaborate with social media companies to ensure that the needs of help-seekers on these platforms are met.

Cover page of Determinants of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Retention among Transgender Women: A Sequential, Explanatory Mixed Methods Study

Determinants of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Retention among Transgender Women: A Sequential, Explanatory Mixed Methods Study

(2024)

Transgender women (TW) face inequities in HIV and unique barriers to PrEP, an effective biomedical intervention to prevent HIV acquisition. To improve PrEP retention among TW, we examined factors related to retention using a two-phase, sequential explanatory mixed methods approach. In Phase I, we used data from a trial of 170 TW who were provided oral PrEP to examine predictors of 24-week retention. In Phase II, we conducted 15 in-depth interviews with PrEP-experienced TW and used thematic analysis to explain Phase I findings. In Phase I, more participants who were not retained at 24 weeks reported sex work engagement (18% versus 7%) and substantial/severe drug use (18% versus 8%). In Phase II, participants reported drug use as a barrier to PrEP, often in the context of sex work, and we identified two subcategories of sex work. TW engaged in "non-survival sex work" had little difficulty staying on PrEP, while those engaged in "survival sex work" struggled to stay on PrEP. In Phase I, fewer participants not retained at 24 weeks reported gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) use (56% versus 71%). In Phase II, participants prioritized medical gender affirmation services over PrEP but also described the bidirectional benefits of accessing GAHT and PrEP. TW who engaged in "survival sex work" experience barriers to PrEP retention (e.g., unstable housing, drug use) and may require additional support to stay in PrEP care.

Harnessing Digital Data and Data Science to Achieve 90-90-90 Goals to End the HIV Epidemic

(2019)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Effective public health interventions depend on timely, accurate surveillance. Harnessing digital data (including internet searches, social media, and online media) and data science is an emerging approach to complement traditional surveillance in public health but has been underutilized in HIV prevention and treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: We highlight recent examples that illustrate how social media data can be applied to HIV surveillance and prevention interventions. SUMMARY: To achieve 90-90-90 goals to end the HIV epidemic, we encourage traditional public health researchers to partner with data scientists to supplement HIV surveillance programs with social media analytics to refine estimates of HIV infections and key populations at risk and to identify subgroups and regions where prevention and treatment efforts need to be bolstered. We also encourage interdisciplinary teams to design interventions to promote HIV prevention and linkage to care by leveraging digital media, such as search engines and social media, that have the potential to reach millions of people instantaneously.

Targeting host deoxycytidine kinase mitigates Staphylococcus aureus abscess formation

(2023)

Host-directed therapy (HDT) is an emerging approach to overcome antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms. Specifically, HDT targets host-encoded factors required for pathogen replication and survival without interfering with microbial growth or metabolism, thereby eliminating the risk of resistance development. By applying HDT and a drug repurposing approach, we demonstrate that (R)-DI-87, a clinical-stage anti-cancer drug and potent inhibitor of mammalian deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), mitigates Staphylococcus aureus abscess formation in organ tissues upon invasive bloodstream infection. Mechanistically, (R)-DI-87 shields phagocytes from staphylococcal death-effector deoxyribonucleosides that target dCK and the mammalian purine salvage pathway-apoptosis axis. In this manner, (R)-DI-87-mediated protection of immune cells amplifies macrophage infiltration into deep-seated abscesses, a phenomenon coupled with enhanced pathogen control, ameliorated immunopathology, and reduced disease severity. Thus, pharmaceutical blockade of dCK represents an advanced anti-infective intervention strategy against which staphylococci cannot develop resistance and may help to fight fatal infectious diseases in hospitalized patients.

Impact of post-incarceration care engagement interventions on HIV transmission among young Black men who have sex with men and their sexual partners: an agent-based network modeling study

(2023)

Background

Understanding the impact of incarceration on HIV transmission among Black men who have sex with men is important given their disproportionate representation among people experiencing incarceration and the potential impact of incarceration on social and sexual networks, employment, housing, and medical care. We developed an agent-based network model (ABNM) of 10,000 agents representing young Black men who have sex with men in the city of Chicago to examine the impact of varying degrees of post-incarceration care disruption and care engagement interventions following release from jail on HIV incidence.

Methods

Exponential random graph models were used to model network formation and dissolution dynamics, and network dynamics and HIV care continuum engagement were varied according to incarceration status. Hypothetical interventions to improve post-release engagement in HIV care for individuals with incarceration (e.g., enhanced case management, linkage to housing and employment services) were compared to a control scenario with no change in HIV care engagement after release.

Finding

HIV incidence at 10 years was 4.98 [95% simulation interval (SI): 4.87, 5.09 per 100 person-years (py)] in the model population overall; 5.58 (95% SI 5.38, 5.76 per 100 py) among those with history of incarceration, and 12.86 (95% SI 11.89, 13.73 per 100 py) among partners of agents recently released from incarceration. Sustained post-release HIV care for agents with HIV and experiencing recent incarceration resulted in a 46% reduction in HIV incidence among post-incarceration partners [incidence rate (IR) per 100 py = 5.72 (95% SI 5.19, 6.27) vs. 10.61 (95% SI 10.09, 11.24); incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 0.54; (95% SI 0.48, 0.60)] and a 19% reduction in HIV incidence in the population overall [(IR per 100 py = 3.89 (95% SI 3.81-3.99) vs. 4.83 (95% SI 4.73, 4.92); IRR = 0.81 (95% SI 0.78, 0.83)] compared to a scenario with no change in HIV care engagement from pre-to post-release.

Interpretation

Developing effective and scalable interventions to increase HIV care engagement among individuals experiencing recent incarceration and their sexual partners is needed to reduce HIV transmission among Black men who have sex with men.

Funding

This work was supported by the following grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01DA039934; P20 GM 130414; P30 AI 042853; P30MH058107; T32 DA 043469; U2C DA050098 and the California HIV/AIDS Research Program: OS17-LA-003; H21PC3466.

Cover page of The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV

The associations between HIV stigma and mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV

(2023)

Purpose

With the advancement of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS has become a manageable illness, similar to other chronic conditions. This study examined the associations between HIV stigma and patient-reported outcomes including mental health symptoms, life satisfaction, and quality of life among Black sexual minority men with HIV.

Methods

We analyzed baseline data from a randomized comparison trial of a mobile app intervention aimed to address the social work and legal needs of Black sexual minority men with HIV in Los Angeles County. We used validated scales including the Berger HIV stigma scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 & the General Anxiety Disorder-7, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Ladder Scale to assess HIV stigma, depressive symptoms, anxiety, life satisfaction, and quality of life, and we conducted multivariable linear regression to examine their associations.

Results

Participants experienced HIV stigma especially about disclosure concerns (e.g., 81.9% participants indicated "I am very careful who I tell that I have HIV") and public attitudes (52.3% believed "Most people with HIV are rejected when others find out"). In the multivariable models, higher overall stigma scores were associated with higher likelihood of experiencing depression (adjusted b = 0.235, p < 0.001) and anxiety (adjusted b = 0.188, p = 0.002), and lower life satisfaction (adjusted b = - 0.236, p < 0.001) and quality of life (adjusted b = - 0.053, p = 0.013), adjusting for clinical characteristics including ART initiation, viral load suppression, and medication adherence. In addition, being attacked or harassed in the past year were significantly associated with lower life satisfaction and quality of life (adjusted b = - 3.028, p = 0.046; adjusted b = - 1.438, p = 0.002).

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the need for focused HIV stigma reduction interventions to promote the overall well-being of Black sexual minority men with HIV. Strategies to promote the patient-reported outcomes may benefit from trauma-informed approaches.

Cover page of Efficacy of Daily Text Messaging to Support Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Stimulant-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men

Efficacy of Daily Text Messaging to Support Adherence to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Stimulant-Using Men Who Have Sex with Men

(2023)

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) who use stimulants are at increased risk for HIV infection. Adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) reduces the risk of HIV infection. We evaluated the efficacy of the individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) intervention for PrEP adherence compared to standard of care (SoC) among 119 MSM who use stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine and/or other amphetamine) from the California Collaborative Treatment Group 595 randomized control trial.Method: Three ordered levels of PrEP adherence (non-adherence, adequate adherence, and near-perfect adherence) were compared between intervention arms across study visits (weeks 12 and 48) using ordinal logistic regressions.Results: The effect of intervention arm was not significant in the final model; however, there was a 38% decrease in odds (OR = 0.62, p=.023) of having near-perfect adherence (versus non-adherence or adequate adherence) at week 48 compared to week 12, indicating a significant effect of time. In a follow-up analysis examining week 48 only, logistic regression examining PrEP adherence showed that receiving iTAB (compared to SoC) trended toward higher odds of near-perfect adherence relative to adequate adherence (OR = 2.48, p=.061). Higher HIV knowledge resulted in higher odds (OR = 1.72, p=.020) of near-perfect adherence (versus non-adherence or adequate adherence).Conclusion: HIV knowledge may influence PrEP adherence, and most notably, the iTAB intervention may support near-perfect adherence relative to adequate adherence.

Cover page of Evidence for the Role of State-Level Economic Policy in HIV Risk Reduction: State Earned Income Tax Credit Generosity and HIV Risk Behavior Among Single Mothers

Evidence for the Role of State-Level Economic Policy in HIV Risk Reduction: State Earned Income Tax Credit Generosity and HIV Risk Behavior Among Single Mothers

(2023)

We investigated the impact of State-level Earned Income Tax Credit (SEITC) generosity on HIV risk behavior among single mothers with low education. We merged individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2002-2018) with state-level data from the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and conducted a multi-state, multi-year difference-in-differences (DID) analysis. We found that a refundable SEITC ≥ 10% of the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit was associated with 21% relative risk reduction in reporting any high-risk behavior for HIV in the last year, relative to no SEITC. We also found that a 10-percentage point increase in SEITC generosity was associated with 38% relative risk reduction in reporting any high-risk HIV behavior in the last year. SEITC policy may be an important strategy to reduce the burden of HIV infections among women with low socioeconomic status, particularly single mothers.

Cover page of Randomized Trial of Individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) Plus Motivational Interviewing for PrEP Adherence in Transgender Individuals: The iM-PrEPT Study

Randomized Trial of Individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) Plus Motivational Interviewing for PrEP Adherence in Transgender Individuals: The iM-PrEPT Study

(2022)

Background

Transgender and nonbinary individuals at risk for HIV may benefit from adherence support for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Methods

Between June 2017 and September 2020, 255 transgender and nonbinary individuals received daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine for 48 weeks randomized 1:1 to receive individualized Texting for Adherence Building (iTAB) or iTAB plus motivational interviewing (iTAB + MI) through phone for nonadherence. The primary end point was dried blood spot tenofovir diphosphate concentrations at weeks 12 and 48 (or last on-drug study visit) ≥1246 fmol/punch consistent with ≥7 doses/week (ie, near-perfect adherence). Secondary outcomes included dried blood spot tenofovir diphosphate concentrations ≥719 fmol/punch consistent with ≥4 doses/week (ie, adequate adherence) and self-reported adherence by daily text messages.

Results

Adherence for the outcome ≥1246 fmol/punch and ≥719 fmol/punch, respectively, was 49.1% and 57.9% for transgender men, 37.7% and 47.2% for nonbinary individuals, and 31.0% and 44.1% for transgender women. No difference was seen in iTAB + MI compared with iTAB alone by drug levels except where it approached significance in transgender women for the outcome of ≥719 fmol/punch in the iTAB + MI group compared with iTAB only (52% versus 35.7%, P = 0.065). There was a significant difference in self-reported daily dose adherence in the iTAB + MI group compared with iTAB alone (57.9% of days versus 46.4%, P = 0.009). In transgender women, the mean percentage of daily doses taken was 58.5% with iTAB + MI and 37.3% with iTAB alone ( P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In addition to automated approaches to adherence promotion, phone-based MI triggered by repeatedly missing doses may improve pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence among transgender women.

Cover page of Community engagement to improve access to healthcare: a comparative case study to advance implementation science for transgender health equity

Community engagement to improve access to healthcare: a comparative case study to advance implementation science for transgender health equity

(2022)

Background

Recent calls to action have been made for Implementation Science to attend to health inequities at the intersections of race, gender, and social injustice in the United States. Transgender people, particularly Black and Latina transgender women, experience a range of health inequities and social injustices. In this study, we compared two processes of transgender community engagement in Los Angeles and in Chicago as an implementation strategy to address inequitable access to care; we adapted and extended the Exploration Planning Implementation and Sustainment (EPIS) framework for transgender health equity.

Methods

A comparative case method and the EPIS framework were used to examine parallel implementation strategies of transgender community engagement to expand access to care. To foster conceptual development and adaptation of EPIS for trans health equity, the comparative case method required detailed description, exploration, and analyses of the community-engagement processes that led to different interventions to expand access. In both cities, the unit of analysis was a steering committee made up of local transgender and cisgender stakeholders.

Results

Both steering committees initiated their exploration processes with World Café-style, transgender community-engaged events in order to assess community needs and structural barriers to healthcare. The steering committees curated activities that amplified the voices of transgender community members among stakeholders, encouraging more effective and collaborative ways to advance transgender health equity. Based on analysis and findings from the Los Angeles town hall, the steering committee worked with a local medical school, extending the transgender medicine curriculum, and incorporating elements of transgender community-engagement. The Chicago steering committee determined from their findings that the most impactful intervention on structural racism and barriers to healthcare access would be to design and pilot an employment program for Black and Latina transgender women.

Conclusion

In Los Angeles and Chicago, transgender community engagement guided implementation processes and led to critical insights regarding specific, local barriers to healthcare. The steering committee itself represented an important vehicle for individual-, organizational-, and community-level relationship and capacity building. This comparative case study highlights key adaptations of EPIS toward the formation of an implementation science framework for transgender health equity.