The UNC Center for AIDS Research congratulates Sarah Rutstein, MD, PhD, a CFAR member and implementation scientist with the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, on receiving a multi-year NIH R34 grant to study field-based HIV care delivery for people with HIV (PWH) in North Carolina who are currently out of care.
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is highly effective in suppressing viral replication and preventing transmission, yet nearly half of all new HIV infections stem from individuals who know their HIV status but are not in care.
In North Carolina, that number may be as high as 75%. Dr. Rutstein’s project aims to evaluate the feasibility of bringing HIV care directly into communities, pairing long-acting injectable (LAI) ART, administered every two months, with field-based delivery strategies to improve access and adherence for this high-priority population.
Working alongside co-investigators Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, and Lauren Hill, PhD, Dr. Rutstein will partner with community and public health organizations to co-design and pilot these interventions. The outcomes will help lay out the groundwork for future regional and statewide implementation efforts to reach those most in need of care.