Research Project

• Supportive interventions for HIV prevention among LGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth from an intersectional, participatory, and community-based perspective

Study focus
To develop a participatory, community-based, and intersectional model for evaluating interventions aimed at improving linkage to and retention in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) care among LGBTQIA+ adolescents and youth within the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). The study proposes a 24-month qualitative longitudinal investigation, linked to two research initiatives on PrEP implementation and access in São Paulo and Santos, targeting adolescent men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans individuals aged 15 to 19 at high risk of HIV infection.

Team
Eliana Miura Zucchi (coordinator), Alexandre Grangeiro, Dulce Ferraz, Laura Ferguson, Eduardo Araujo de Oliveira, Luiz Fabio Alves de Deus, Marcia Thereza Couto, Marie Préau, Paola Alves de Souza, Paula Massa, Ayra Zaine Urbano, Júlia Clara de Pontes, Yasmim Falleiros, Ligia Bittencourt Kiss.

Funding
São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Young Investigator Research Grant, grant number: 2024/10853-5.

• Participatory development and evaluation of a protocol for HIV prevention and care among transgender adolescents and youth – Babado Certo

Study focus
To develop and assess the acceptability of a protocol to expand access to HIV prevention and care for trans adolescents and youth, through a community-based approach and qualitative methodology.

Team
Eliana Miura Zucchi (coordinator), Alexandre Grangeiro, Dulce Ferraz, Ramiro Unsain, Ayra Zaine Urbano, Elda Oliveira, José Roberto Junior, Ana Cláudia dos Santos Vieira, Luke Ribeiro Mazzei França Barros, José Reis Junior, Yasmim Falleiros, Patrícia de Almeida Simões, Rafaela Rocha, Rosana Guarnieri, Geovana Ramalho.

Funding
National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Department of HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Ministry of Health (DATHI/SVSA/MS); Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Health (Decit/SECTICS/MS); Call 34/2024, grant number: 405861/2024-9.

• Trajectories and linkage to care processes for STI and HIV among adolescents and young MSM, travestis, and trans women participating in community-based testing and PrEP interventions

Study focus
To identify critical points in access, linkage, and retention in HIV prevention services among adolescents and youth. The study is conducted in São Paulo and Salvador and is part of a demonstration project on the effectiveness of sexual pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV among adolescents at substantial risk of infection.

Team
Eliana Miura Zucchi (coordinator), Inês Dourado, Alexandre Grangeiro, Dulce Ferraz, Fernanda Cangussu Botelho, Filipe Duarte Simões, Isa Sorrentino, Ivia Maksud, Jan Billand, Laio Magno, Laura Ferguson, Leo Pedrana, Leonara Silva, Luís Augusto Vasconcelos da Silva, Luís Fábio Alves de Deus, Marcelo Castellanos, Marcia Thereza Couto, Paola Alves de Souza, Renata Oliveira, Sandra Brasil.

Funding
Health Surveillance Secretariat, Ministry of Health, and CNPq (Call CNPq/MS-DIAHV 11/2018 – Axis 2 – Epidemiological, behavioral, and clinical studies; Grant number: 404055/2018-4).

• Effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on the sexual and mental health of adolescent and adult MSM and TGW participating in two PrEP cohort studies in Brazil (COBra)

Study focus
To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual and mental health of participants in HIV prevention cohort studies.

Team
In France, the study is based at the Groupe de Recherche en Psychologie Sociale, Université Lumière Lyon 2; in Brazil, it is conducted by Universidade Federal da Bahia, Universidade de São Paulo, and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Collaborating institutions include Universidade Católica de Santos, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, and University of Southern California.

Funding
ANRS | France REcherche Nord & sud Sida-hiv Hépatites.

• Effectiveness of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and demand generation and linkage strategies among adolescent MSM, travestis, and trans women at substantial risk of HIV infection in Brazil – PrEP 1519 Study

Study focus
To estimate the effectiveness of sexual pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV among adolescents and youth and of demand generation strategies for combination prevention. The study aims to contribute to reducing the epidemic’s impact in this population. It is the first initiative of its kind in Latin America and is conducted by Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade Federal da Bahia, and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Team
Inês Dourado (coordinator), Alexandre Grangeiro (coordinator), Dirceu Greco (coordinator), Laio Magno, Unaí Tupinambás, Marília Greco, Ana Paula Silva, Maria Mercedes Escuder, Dulce Ferraz, Laura Ferguson, Marcia Couto, Eliana Miura Zucchi, Luís Augusto Vasconcelos da Silva, Sandra Brasil.

Funding
Unitaid and Brazilian Ministry of Health.