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Compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the US, black men who have sex with men (MSM), once diagnosed, are less likely to be optimally engaged in HIV care and treatment. This undermines the promise of recent prevention approaches for reducing the disproportionate effects of HIV/AIDS on Black communities, emphasizing the urgency for increased Research focus and Intervention Development. Understanding HIV care engagement in the context of the dyad may be part of a comprehensive effort to addressing multilevel influences on HIV care engagement outcomes that are unique to HIV+ black MSM towards achieving the maximum public Health benefit of treatment-as-prevention. However, the scarcity of dyad-level Research limits our understanding of couple dynamics involved in HIV care engagement to inform Intervention Development targeting the couple, underscoring the need for Couple-Based studies of relational dynamics important to the HIV care engagement of the HIV+ partner(s). Mobile technology-based strategies (mHealth) offer tremendous potential as an acceptable, feasible, and effective Intervention platform for enhancing HIV care engagement among HIV+ black MSM in couples by facilitating couple dynamics optimal to HIV care engagement. Further, mHealth offers potential in addressing limitations in previous Intervention Research with couples, one of which is the dissipation of Intervention effects over time due to absence of booster sessions. Therefore, the aims of the study are to: elucidate the effects of couple dynamics on HIV care engagement among partnered synthesize the quantitative and qualitative (mixed methods) outcomes from Aim 1 to identify the issues the Intervention will target, and to iteratively determine core components of a couple-based Intervention for HIV+ black MSM (Aim 2); and develop a novel, technology-based Intervention prototype for enhancing HIV care engagement among HIV+ black MSM in couples (Aim 3). HIV+ black MSM (Aim 1); The overall objective of this application is to achieve a better understanding of the couple dynamics involved in HIV care engagement among HIV+ Black men in same-sex relationships. The end goal is the Development of an mHealth tool that targets couple dynamics important to enhancing HIV care engagement. Through these aims, I will acquire additional Training necessary for my career Development in (a) theory and mixed methods for conducting Couple-Based Research, (b) formative Research in Intervention Development, and (c) prototype design. These Research and career Development activities will build the foundation to my becoming an independent, NIH-funded investigator with skills to conduct Couple-Based Intervention Research that is part of a comprehensive effort in HIV prevention integrating advances in technology and Behavioral Medicine to reduce racial/ethnic disparities in HIV.

This randomized phase III trial compares topical or ablative treatment with active monitoring in preventing anal cancer in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Anal HSIL is tissue in the anal canal that has been damaged by infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and is at risk for turning into anal cancer. It is not yet known if treating HSIL is more effective than active monitoring in preventing patients from developing anal cancer.

The Generation study is the first long-term, five year study to examine the health and well-being across three generations of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGB). Investigators in the Generations study will use both qualitative and quantitative methods, asking about LGB people’s sense of identity and identification with the LGB community, stressors and challenges they experience, resilience and sources of strength, and health and well-being. An innovative quantitative survey procedure will identify Black, Latino, and White LGB individuals in the United States. Respondents will participate in the study over a 5-year period to detect changes in the social environment as people age. The qualitative portion of the study will collect narrative life histories of Black, Latino, White, and Asian LGB individuals living in urban and non-urban regions of New York, California, and Arizona.

The purpose of this K24 application is to support the continuation and proposed expansions of Dr. Mallory Johnson's programs of Mentoring and patient-oriented research (POR) in social and behavioral approaches to optimizing engagement in HIV Care among drug-using populations. the candidate proposes new Mentoring, new research, and additional Training to build competency in Drug abuse research, HCV and liver disease, and advanced research methodologies. the proposed plan for Mentoring expands his current Mentoring program in new directions, including an innovative grand Mentoring program, new sources of mentees, development of online team-based Mentoring tools, and scholarship in best practices of Mentoring. These plans emphasize the importance of addressing challenges to successful transition to independence during periods of budgetary constraint through the leveraging and strategic use of data, Infrastructure, and expertise available through existing NIH-funded research networks, Training programs, and Funding mechanisms. Three aims for new research are proposed, which will provide data for future interventions to improve health Care Empowerment and Clinical outcomes for populations at risk for suboptimal engagement in HIV Care, including HIV-infected substance users (men, women, and transgender women) and HIV/HCV co-infected women. These POR activities will be conducted within the Infrastructure of the Women's Interagency Health Study (WIHS), the CFAR Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS) and a cohort of transgender women led by one of the candidate's mentees. the overriding theme of the new POR is to investigate the challenges of engagement in Care and uptake, persistence, and adherence, to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among populations at greatest risk for poor treatment outcomes. These POR activities will involve active participation by mentees and will Complement their development plans and transitions to independence. All of the new aims will be framed in the Model of Health Care Empowerment and will provide preliminary data for subsequent observational and interventional studies of engagement in Care. Through the efficient leveraging of existing resources, collaborations, data, and affiliations with NIH-funded networks, the overarching goal of this application is to support the development of early career Investigators, new mentors, and to provide opportunities for my own training/competency-building, and to catalyze new projects in the area of engagement in HIV Care among at- risk populations.

NIMH re-funds CAPS for another five years & CAPS 30th Anniversary!

Welcome to our 2nd quarterly e-newsletter! This issue highlights new research projects from CAPS VII,the CAPS 30th Anniversary Celebration, and NIMH re-funding for another 5 years. Updates include our newly funded research, updated fact sheet on stigma, the launch of the new CAPS/PRC website, awards, and new staff! In this issue:

1. CAPS 30th Anniversary
2. NIMH re-funds CAPS for 5 years
3. New California Projects
4. New International Projects
5. Featured: Updated fact sheet on stigma and HIV prevention
6. New website launch
7. Announcements