Using Client Centered Care Coordination to Improve HIV Treatment Outcomes among Men with Highest Incidence of HIV in the United States

PROJECT SUMMARY Career Goal: My career goal is to become an independent academic researcher conducting high-impact scientific studies that aim to improve HIV treatment outcomes in the United States (U.S.). This NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) will provide the training and resources that I need to be able to conduct a hybrid efficacy-implementation trial of a multi-level, multi-component theory-driven intervention to optimize HIV treatment outcomes among men with the highest incidence of HIV (MHIH) in the U.S. Career Development: The training plan outlined in this proposal will increase my understanding of the landscape of emerging HIV treatment products and prepare me to transition from my original training in HIV prevention research to HIV treatment research. During the mentored phase, my learning goals will be to 1) develop an understanding of the lived sociocultural and healthcare experiences of MHIH who are living with HIV, 2) improve my knowledge on clinical advances in HIV treatment, 3) gain skills in multi-level intervention design and implementation, 4) learn hybrid efficacy-implementation science approaches that use randomized controlled trial designs, and 5) improve my grant writing and teaching skills. Research Project: HIV care retention is a consistently strong predictor of viral load suppression; however, some men, are less likely to be retained in HIV care and reach viral suppression. This is because of multi-level individual, health system and structural factors. I propose the use of the client-centered care coordination (C4) intervention to help improve treatment adherence and retention in HIV care among MHIH in the U.S. and ultimately their state of viral suppression. I will gain knowledge and skills learned in the K99 mentored training phase to: 1) conduct a qualitative study that aims to understand implementation strategies and adaptations relevant for C4 use within HIV treatment practice in the U.S., and 2) conduct a hybrid efficacy-implementation trial that aims to assess the effect of C4 on treatment adherence, HIV care retention and viral suppression among MHIH who are living with HIV as well as assess intervention implementation using the Implementation Research Logic Model. Mentorship: A multidisciplinary team will mentor me through the K99 phase including Drs. LaRon E. Nelson, Zhao Ni, Leo Wilton, Onyema Ogbuagu, and Sangchoon Jeon whose complementary expertise and experience will support my transition to research independence.