ARCH REACH: ARCH Center for Research at the intersection of Equity, Alcohol, Community and HIV

About This Grant

ABSTRACT The Alcohol Research Consortium in HIV Center for Research at the Intersection of Equity, Alcohol, Community and HIV (ARCH REACH) seeks to optimize well-being among PWH and accelerate progress towards Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) by addressing co-occurring unhealthy alcohol use (UAU). Grounded in health equity and with careful attention to social and structural drivers of health, we will expand the scope and relevance of scientific knowledge and treatment interventions at the intersection of the HIV Care Continuum, the Alcohol Care Continuum, and HIV-related comorbidities. We will do this by developing, tailoring, and implementing evidence- based interventions (EBIs) for alcohol reduction that are accessible to PWH with UAU; addressing syndemic conditions in our intervention, implementation, and epidemiology work; actively engaging PWH with diverse lived experiences in our Center; and expanding the diversity and inclusion of project researchers and trainees. Our scientific goals are to: 1) increase the reach of alcohol EBIs through implementation science and epidemiological research at the intersection of UAU and HIV, 2) expand our HIV research to incorporate new definitions of alcohol use disorder recovery, and 3) increase inclusivity/diversity of perspectives in ARCH REACH through community engagement and mentoring of trainees. We propose a highly interactive and synergistic Center with three projects supported by Administrative, Methods, and Dissemination Cores. ARCH REACH is embedded in and capitalizes on the research and clinical infrastructure of the Center for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems (CNICS), a multi-site clinical cohort representing ten university-based HIV clinics across the United States (US)—with many located in high priority regions for EHE. The first project leverages CNICS data to examine the relationship between UAU, UAU treatments, and new definitions of AUD recovery on HIV treatment outcomes and comorbidities among PWH in the context of social determinants of health. Our second project, using human centered design methods, will adapt, tailor, and pilot test an alcohol EBI for telephone delivery in a Hybrid Type 1 Effectiveness-Implementation study. Lastly, our third project, a Hybrid Type 2 Effectiveness-Implementation design, will tailor and implement a syndemic conditions intervention for UAU and co-occurring mental health disorders using an AUDIT and Feedback implementation strategy. An Administrative Core will provide the structure and processes to support collaboration and synergy across ARCH REACH projects and investigators. A Methods Core will support implementation science aims of projects and develop novel analytic methods. Lastly, a Dissemination Core will assemble a Transdisciplinary Community Partner Board and support the dissemination of project findings to ensure the equitable uptake, receipt, and delivery of EBIs for UAU. Capitalizing on a strong organizational structure, the extensive resources and infrastructure of CNICS, and a transdisciplinary team inclusive of community members, ARCH REACH addresses issues of high relevance to US EHE goals by addressing the intersection of HIV, alcohol use, and health equity.