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Friends Community Center
Recently Completed Research Projects
Biobehavioral Interventions for HIV-negative Methamphetamine-using MSM (lay title: Friends Care 1)
| Principal Investigator: | Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D. |
| Co-Investigators: | Steven Shoptaw, Ph.D. (UCLA School of Medicine) Raphael Landovitz, M.D. (UCLA Center for AIDS Clinical Research and Education) |
| Program Coordinator: | Galina Inzhakova, M.P.H. |
| Funded by: | Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy |
| Contract Number: | H-2702632 |
| Total Project Period: | 3/08 – 12/10 |
The majority of new HIV infections across Los Angeles County continue to be found among men who have sex with other men (MSM). Within MSM, stimulant abuse, particularly methamphetamine abuse, is the major factor in driving new infections, primarily via behavioral disinhibition contributing MSM methamphetamine users to engage in extremely high-risk sexual transmission behaviors. Friends Care combines the biomedical intervention of Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention with the behavioral intervention Contingency Management (CM), which targets reduction of methamphetamine use as a way of reducing concomitant high-risk sexual behaviors for HIV-negative, methamphetamine-using MSM. Friends Care enrolled 53 HIV-negative, methamphetamine-using MSM into the CM component of the dual intervention. Participants received a baseline assessment including urine analysis for the presence of methamphetamine metabolites, a rapid oral HIV antibody test, a physical examination including a comprehensive metabolic panel and complete blood count, HIV/STI prevention information, and medication adherence information. Following baseline assessments, participants began an 8-week, 3x/week, CM intervention and were given a 4-day starter pack of tenofivir with emtricitabine (i.e., Truvada). Participants earned vouchers for methamphetamine metabolite-free urine samples, which were redeemable for goods and services. In the event of an unexpected high-risk sexual exposure to HIV, i.e., unprotected anal intercourse with an HIV-positive or status unknown partner, participants were instructed to immediately call the clinic and begin the 4-dose starter pack of Truvada. An appointment with the physician was scheduled within 96 hours of the participant’s first dose of Truvada; participants then received a second rapid oral HIV antibody test and were given the additional 24-day pack of Truvada. Participants returned to the clinic at 3-months post baseline for a follow-up evaluation and a third rapid oral HIV antibody test. sess the feasibility and efficacy of interventions that may prove beneficial in preventing hepatitis A, B, C and HIV infections.
Network of AIDS Researchers in Los Angeles (NARLA), Project 1: The Innovative Health Research Intervention (IHRI)
| Principal Investigator: | Ronald Mitsuyasu, M.D. (UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education) |
| Project Principal investigator: | Gail Wyatt, Ph.D. (UCLA Dept. of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences) |
| Site Principal Investigator: | Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D. |
| Program Coordinator: | Galina Inzhakova, M.P.H. |
| Funded by: | California HIV/AIDS Research Program |
| Grant Number: | CH05-FRII-611 |
| Total Project Period: | 7/05 – 6/09 |
Hematopoietic stem cell therapy is a new and evolving field of HIV therapy. There are significant misconceptions in the population, especially in low income and minority communities, about stem cell and gene therapy research. The Innovative Health Research Intervention (IHRI) for HIV treatment is designed to increase knowledge about hematopoietic adult stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) and to decrease medical mistrust regarding participation in novel clinical trials. Phase I uses qualitative research with focus group participants to gather information regarding knowledge and current opinions about stem cell and gene therapy. This phase included gender and ethnic specific focus groups of African American/black, Caucasian/white and Hispanic/Latino HIV-positive males and females, 18 and older; a focus group of religious, civic and community leaders, and; a focus group of health providers and community based organization (CBO) representatives. Findings from Phase I were used to develop the intervention phase. Phase II is a randomized, controlled clinical trial to test the efficacy of;the IHRI to a standard HIV Attention Control Intervention (ACI);with HIV-positive African American/black, Caucasian/white and Hispanic/Latino males (n=181) and females (n=89). Active recruitment occurs through WeHo Streets and The G.U.Y.S. Program. Findings from this study will help to better understand factors influencing the willingness of diverse populations of HIV infected individuals to participate in clinical trials of novel HIV therapeutic strategies such as HSCGT.
Network of AIDS Researchers in Los Angeles (NARLA), Project 2: Enrollment in Research Registry for Microbicide Clinical Trials
| Principal Investigator: | Ronald Mitsuyasu, M.D. (UCLA Center for Clinical AIDS Research and Education) |
| Project Principal investigator: | Pamina Gorbach, Ph.D. (UCLA Dept. of Public Health) |
| Site Principal Investigator: | Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D. |
| Program Coordinator: | Galina Inzhakova, M.P.H. |
| Funded by: | California HIV/AIDS Research Program |
| Grant Number: | CH05-FRII-611 |
| Total Project Period: | 7/05 – 6/09 |
Anal intercourse is a widely practiced behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM). Receptive anal intercourse is clearly associated with a higher risk of HIV transmission than either insertive anal intercourse or oral sex, making it probable that much HIV transmission occurs via this route. Rectal microbicides to inhibit the rectal transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, are in development. The public knows little about microbicides and even less about rectal microbicides. Clinical trials of rectal microbicides will require that the individuals likely to benefit from them can be recruited into those trials. Given the sensitive nature of this novel approach to HIV prevention, specially designed materials may be required for their introduction both in a clinical trial setting and to enhance the acceptance of microbicides as medical prevention for HIV transmission. In order to provide the background information necessary to begin clinical trials of rectal microbicides as soon as they are developed, this study is designed to develop educational materials (video and brochure) for MSM about rectal microbicides; assess the best format in which to deliver such information; consider potential barriers to microbicide trial participation by analyzing factors that facilitate enrollment in a microbicide trial registry; and assist in building the capacity of the community organizations to serve as coordinating sites for future clinical trials and to describe the participant population (including incidence of HIV/STIs) which the community organizations could recruit for enrollment in future clinical trials. This study is conducting a randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of two patient information formats describing rectal microbicides and evaluating the effectiveness of each information format on participants’ willingness to enroll in the registry, knowledge of microbicides, attitudes about clinical trials for novel methods of HIV prevention, and their HIV-related sexual and drug risk behaviors. The study is recruiting 225 HIV-positive MSM and 225 individuals at high risk for infection with HIV (e.g., HIV-negative partners of HIV-positive men, drug-using MSM) from three Los Angeles sites which provide HIV services. At Friends Community Center, recruitment occurs through WeHo Streets and The G.U.Y.S. Program. A two-group experimental design randomly assigns participants to one of two conditions: a patient-centered video about rectal microbicides (n=225) or a standard information condition in which a study coordinator provides a brochure about microbicides (n=225). Outcomes will include attitudes and beliefs about microbicides, HIV risk, and clinical trials; in addition, participants are asked if they are willing to be included in a research registry to participate in future microbicide clinical trials.
Project Tech Support
| Principal Investigator: | Cathy J. Reback, Ph.D. |
| Co-Investigators: | Steven Shoptaw, Ph.D. (UCLA School of Medicine) Michael Green, Ph.D. (Los Angeles County, Department of Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy) |
| Program Coordinator: | Deborah Ling, M.P.H. |
| Funded by: | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| Grant Number: | 7UR6PS000312 |
| Total Project Period: | 9/06 – 10/08 |
Out-of-treatment, methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM) are at extreme risk of HIV acquisition and transmission, predominantly through high-risk sexual behaviors that are facilitated by use of the drug. Project Tech Support study enrolls 52 out-of-treatment, methamphetamine-using MSM into an information technology (IT) communication intervention. Field workers conduct outreach in identified venues in the natural settings where out-of-treatment, methamphetamine-using MSM congregate. Over the course of two weeks, participants engage in a variety of communication technologies (e.g., text messaging, emails, instant messaging) and receive real-time HIV prevention messages, social support and referrals for healthier, prosocial choices regarding drug- and sexual-risk behaviors. The study aims to (1) conduct formative work to assist in the development of an IT communication intervention for reducing methamphetamine use and high-risk sexual behaviors among out-of-treatment MSM; (2) assess the feasibility and utility of the behavioral intervention on the target population; and (3) gather indicators of the mechanism of action for this intervention, a dose-response association will be evaluated between the extent of use of IT communication system and the degree of reduction in methamphetamine use and concomitant sexual risk behaviors. Evaluations, including biological markers for drug use and HIV serostatus are collected at baseline and two months post intervention. Cognitive and behavioral outcomes are measured. Findings from this study will inform the field on the feasibility of adapting an IT communication intervention for reducing sexual risk behaviors and HIV acquisition and transmission among out-of-treatment, methamphetamine-using MSM.
Also see www.projecttechsupport.org