Training in Research Program on Alcohol Use by Persons with our at Risk for HIV
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Investigator: Judith Hahn, PhD, MA
Sponsor: NIH National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Location(s): United States
Description
Alcohol use is the leading risk factor for premature disability and death for those aged 15-49, and seriously impacts HIV via increased risk for transmission and interferes with HIV treatment via reduced pill taking. Researchers and clinicians wanting to intervene on alcohol use need objective measurement tools such as alcohol biomarkers and biosensors. The first aim of this proposal is to train new investigators on these tools and to expand their use to studies of HIV-comorbidities and to populations at high risk for HIV. The second aim is to improve the field of alcohol/HIV research by focusing training on persons from populations that are under- represented in research fields, populations that are also disproportionately affected by alcohol and HIV.
This grant will expand my alcohol/HIV research mentoring by including training in the use of alcohol biomarkers and biosensors. This includes mentoring scholars to study alcohol measurement via biomarkers or biosensors (e.g. exploring combinations of biomarkers with biosensors, examining biosensor and point-of-care biomarker use in the real world, etc.). It also includes mentoring investigators conducting research in HIV comorbidities (e.g. tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, polysubstance use) and in vulnerable populations (i.e. adolescents, infants of HIV- infected women, those experiencing intimate partner violence) to incorporate the role of alcohol use into their research, using biomarkers or biosensors. The grant will expand the workforce of HIV researchers from populations that are disproportionately affected by substance use (including alcohol) and HIV. Training will address the rapidly evolving alcohol biomarker/biosensor fields in a culturally responsive manner.