Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Study by the Program on Client-Centered Research
Professor Iván Balán, Ph.D., Researcher Onna Brewer, Ph.D., and Senior Research Associate Rebecca Giguere, MPH, from the Program on Client-Centered Research and Care at the CTBS are collaborating on an exciting new rectal microbicide study that has recently launched via the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN). The RevUP study compares the safety and acceptability of two HIV prevention methods: a tenofovir rectal microbicide douche and an oral on-demand pre-exposure prophylaxis in tablet form.
Sexual minority men who have regular douching habits will be enrolled to try both regimens. The FSU-based behavioral team will be assessing adherence to and acceptability of both products as well as participants' experiences using the study products. The team is also implementing an adherence counseling intervention to support participants with using the products during the study.
If the data indicate high adherence and acceptability, the rectal microbicide douche could advance to efficacy trials and would represent a critical development for on-demand HIV prevention.