ATN Era #3
2011-2016
In this funding cycle, ATN expanded its research to focus on helping youth access more HIV prevention tools. The network generated key evidence that supported the use of PrEP and other HIV prevention strategies for adolescents and young adults.
A note on study titles: Some ATN studies use language that’s now outdated or have long titles full of scientific jargon because they were named for researchers instead of young people. In more recent eras of the ATN, we try to create youth-friendly titles.
To stay true to our history, we’ve kept the original study names but included plain-language study descriptions to make them easier to understand.
2011
2011
ATN Funding Cycle 3 Begins
ATN Funding Cycle 3 Begins
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funds the ATN in cycles that last for about 5-7 years. In each cycle, NIH determines the structure of the network and areas of focus for research studies that will occur in the cycle.
Innovation
During this time, the ATN expanded its research to focus on helping young people access more HIV prevention tools. The network generated key evidence that supported the use of PrEP and other HIV prevention strategies for adolescents and young adults.
ATN 090
2011-2012
ATN 090
2011-2012
Study Title
Development of a Secondary Prevention Intervention Targeting HIV-Positive Black Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
ATN 090 worked with young Black men living with HIV to create a program that reflected their real-life experiences and challenges. The goal was to help participants stay engaged in care, take medications consistently, build confidence, strengthen support systems, and make healthy decisions.
Researchers used focus groups and lessons learned from earlier ATN studies to create an intervention focused on health, self-worth, and long-term well-being.
ATN 095
2011-2016
ATN 095
2011-2016
Study Title
Connect to Protect (C2P): Building a Community-Based Infrastructure for HIV Prevention
ATN 095 continued the work of the ATN’s Connect to Protect® (C2P) initiative, focused on changing communities—not just individuals—to help prevent HIV. Community coalitions worked together to improve local policies, systems, and resources that affect young people’s access to HIV prevention, testing, healthcare, and support services.
ATN 095 evaluated how community mobilization and structural change efforts influenced the environments where young people live and access services. Researchers assessed coalition achievements, completed structural changes, HIV testing patterns, and community conditions related to HIV risk and prevention. The project demonstrated that community coalitions can serve as an effective vehicle for pursuing long-term structural changes that support youth HIV prevention efforts.
ATN 096
2011-2013
ATN 096
2011-2013
Study Title
Identifying Undiagnosed Asymptomatic HIV Infection in Hispanic/Latino Adolescents and Young Adults
ATN 096 looked for better ways to reach young Hispanic/Latino people who might have HIV but didn’t know it yet. The study compared different outreach and testing methods to see which were best at finding undiagnosed HIV and helping young people get connected to healthcare services.
ATN 101
2011-2013
ATN 101
2011-2013
Study Title
Assessment of Inflammatory Markers Associated with Neurocognitive Impairment in HIV-infected Adolescents, a Sub-study of ATN 071
ATN 101 looked at whether inflammation in the body might be connected to problems with memory, attention, learning, or other thinking skills in young people living with HIV. Researchers wanted to better understand why some youth experience changes in brain function and whether biological markers in the blood could help explain these differences.
ATN 105
2011-2016
ATN 105
2011-2016
Study Title
Enhancement of Connect to Protect (C2P) to Increase Structural Change and Reduce HIV Risk: Phase IV
ATN 105 was the fourth phase of the ATN’s Connect to Protect® (C2P) initiative, a community mobilization effort focused on reducing HIV risk among youth through structural and systems-level change.
The study evaluated how community coalitions could strengthen local HIV prevention infrastructure by creating lasting changes in systems, organizations, and policies. Researchers documented coalition activities, structural-change accomplishments, and community-level outcomes to understand how community mobilization can influence HIV prevention efforts.
ATN 106
2011-2012
ATN 106
2011-2012
Study Title
Network-Wide Assessment of Current Health Status and Behavioral Risk Factors: An Expanded Study for New Sites in ATN III
ATN 106 was an expansion of ATN 086 that extended the network-wide assessment to clinics that joined the ATN during its third funding cycle.
The study helped researchers better understand the lives and health needs of young people living with HIV at new ATN clinics across the country. The study looked at medication use, mental health, substance use, sexual health, and other factors that may affect overall well-being and HIV care.
ATN 114
2011-2012
ATN 114
2011-2012
Study Title
Behavioral, Immunologic, and Virologic Correlates of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection in Adolescents and Young Adults with Behaviorally Acquired HIV-Infection
ATN 114 was a sub-story of ATN 106 that looked at HPV infections in the mouth and throat among young people living with HIV. Researchers wanted to learn who was most likely to have oral HPV and whether factors like immune health, HIV status, or HPV vaccination affected the likelihood of acquiring HPV.
The study found that lower CD4 counts (a marker of immune health) and recent marijuana use were associated with a greater likelihood of having oral HPV. Importantly, the study also provided evidence that HPV vaccination may help protect against some HPV types linked to cancers of the mouth and throat.
2012
2012
Oral PrEP for Adults Approved by FDA
Oral PrEP for Adults Approved by FDA
Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir) was approved for adults to take as a daily pill for HIV prevention, known as PrEP (which stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Why It Matters
FDA approval of daily oral PrEP provided adults with the first-ever medication to prevent HIV. Before this, there was nothing someone could take ahead of time for protection.
However, teens were excluded from approval because at that time there hadn’t been enough research on PrEP’s impact on younger bodies. Adults got the green light while youth had to wait for the data to catch up.
ATN 104
2012-2014
ATN 104
2012-2014
Study Title
Testing a Secondary Prevention Intervention for HIV-Positive Black Young Men Who Have Sex with Men
ATN 104 built on the earlier ATN 090 study by testing a program created with and for young Black men living with HIV. The goal was to help participants stay connected to care, take HIV medications consistently, reduce behaviors that could affect their health, and build confidence in themselves and their future.
ATN 109
2012-2015
ATN 109
2012-2015
Study Title
Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Safety and Effectiveness of Vitamin D3 Supplement to Increase Bone Mineral Density and Decrease Tenofovir-Induced Hyperparathyroidism in HIV Positive Youth Treated with ART Containing Tenofovir
ATN 109 looked at whether taking extra vitamin D could counteract some of the bone-related side effects of an HIV medication called tenofovir.
The vitamin D group experienced a significant increase in lumbar spine bone density and increased vitamin D levels over 48 weeks, while the placebo group did not show a significant improvement. ATN 109 identified a potential strategy for protecting long-term bone health in youth living with HIV.
ATN 110: Project PrEPare
2012-2013
ATN 110: Project PrEPare
2012-2013
Study Title
Project PrEPare – An Open Label Demonstration Project and Phase II Safety Study of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men (YMSM) in the United States
ATN 110 was the first ATN PrEP demonstration project. Participants ages 18–22 received daily PrEP and regular prevention services.
The study found that PrEP was generally safe and acceptable, but adherence declined over time for some participants, highlighting the need for adherence support.
ATN 111
2012-2014
ATN 111
2012-2014
Study Title
Clinician Attitudes and Behaviors Regarding Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
ATN 111 was designed to identify clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral factors associated with prescribing PrEP. The study provided insight into how healthcare providers viewed PrEP during its early adoption and helped identify educational and implementation needs that could support wider PrEP access for youth.
ATN 116
2012-2016
ATN 116
2012-2016
Study Title
Structural Enhancements to the SMILE Program
ATN 116 built on the success of SMILE (Strategic Multisite Initiative for Identification, Linkage and Engagement in Care) by testing ways to strengthen the program and improve how youth living with HIV are identified, linked to care, and retained in care. The study focused on structural and systems-level improvements that could help more young people successfully access HIV services.
ATN 128: PEACOC
2012-2016
ATN 128: PEACOC
2012-2016
Study Title
Project for the Enhancement and Alignment of the Continuum of Care for HIV-Infected Youth: A Multi-Agency (HRSA-NIH-CDC-ATN) Collaboration (PEACOC)
PEACOC expanded the work of ATN 116. It was a multi-agency collaboration among the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the ATN that aimed to improve the HIV care continuum.
Young people often face challenges staying connected to HIV care. PEACOC helped create stronger support systems for youth living with HIV to stay engaged in care by improving coordination of services between clinics and community programs.
2013
2013
ATN 108: Project ACCEPT
2013-2015
ATN 108: Project ACCEPT
2013-2015
Study Title
Project ACCEPT: Engaging Newly Diagnosed HIV+ Youth in Care
Project ACCEPT was designed to improve engagement in care among newly diagnosed youth. The intervention focused on issues that influence long-term participation in HIV care, including stigma, disclosure, healthy relationships, social support, substance use, and future planning.
The study showed that young people newly diagnosed with HIV benefit from support, connection, and practical skills for managing their health. Project ACCEPT helped youth build confidence, increase social support, stay engaged in HIV care, and better navigate the challenges that can follow an HIV diagnosis.
ATN 112
2013
ATN 112
2013
Study Title
Feasibility of Using a Structured Daily Diary to Assess Mood, Stressful Events, Support, Substance Use, and Sexual Behavior in HIV-Positive Young Men who have Sex with Men
ATN 112 explored whether technology-based daily diaries could be used to better understand day-to-day experiences that affect health and HIV-related behaviors among young men living with HIV. Researchers tested both web-based and phone-based diaries to see how feasible and acceptable they were for youth.
The study asked participants to complete short daily check-ins about their mood, stress, support systems, substance use, medication-taking, and sexual behavior. The study found that technology-based diaries could be useful for both researchers’ understanding of how factors impact sexual health decisions and for future interventions that provide users with personalized feedback or self-monitoring support.
ATN 113: Project PrEPare
2013-2016
ATN 113: Project PrEPare
2013-2016
Study Title
An Open Label Demonstration Project and Phase II Safety Study of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use Among 15 to 17 Year Old Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
Project PrEPare was one of the first studies to evaluate if PrEP was safe and a realistic prevention option for adolescents under age 18. The study provided daily oral PrEP (Truvada®) to HIV-negative young gay and bisexual men ages 15–17.
The study found that PrEP was safe and generally well-tolerated. However, researchers also found that adherence decreased over time, especially when clinic visits became less frequent. HIV transmissions that occurred during the study were primarily among participants with low medication adherence.
Evidence from Project PrEPare contributed to the FDA’s approval of PrEP for adolescents in 2018.
ATN 117
2013
ATN 117
2013
Study Title
Renal, Endocrine, and Bone Changes in Response to Treatment with Coformulated Emtricitabine-Tenofovir for Pre-Exposure HIV Prophylaxis (PrEP) in HIV Uninfected Young Men Who Have Sex with Men, a Sub-Study of ATN 110 and/or ATN 113
ATN 117 was a sub-study of Project PrEPare that examined how PrEP affected kidneys, hormones, and bones of young gay and bisexual men to better understand the long-term safety of PrEP in adolescents and young adults.
Data from the study contributed to the growing evidence that PrEP could be safely used by youth with appropriate monitoring.
ATN 123
2013-2014
ATN 123
2013-2014
Study Title
Structural and Partnership Factors Affecting Adherence to PrEP among Young MSM
ATN 123 was a sub-study of Project PrEPare that explored why some young gay and bisexual men took PrEP consistently while others had difficulty staying on it. The study showed that taking PrEP regularly isn’t just about remembering a pill—relationships, routines, living situations, and other life circumstances influence PrEP adherence.
2015
2015
ATN 126
2015-2016
ATN 126
2015-2016
Study Title
Provision of HIV Treatment at ATN Sites: An Evaluation for Stakeholders (PHASES)
The PHASES study looked at how well young people living with HIV were connecting to care, receiving treatment, and staying healthy over time.
Researchers studied both individual experiences and clinic practices to learn what helps youth succeed in HIV care and identified opportunities to improve services so more youth could achieve viral suppression and stay healthy.
ATN 130
2015
ATN 130
2015
Study Title
Assessing the Engagement Youth Across the HIV Continuum of Care
ATN 130 examined factors that influence how young people access, engage with, and remain connected to HIV prevention, treatment, and support services. The study helped identify opportunities to improve care and health outcomes for youth from specific populations across the HIV care continuum.
ATN 132: Epic Allies
2015-2016
ATN 132: Epic Allies
2015-2016
Innovation
Utilized gaming mechanics and social networking to support HIV care, antiretroviral therapy, and adherence.
Why It Matters
Demonstrated the value and importance of mobile health interventions for youth.
ATN 135: CATCH
2015-2016
ATN 135: CATCH
2015-2016
Study Title
Comprehensive Assessment of Transition and Coordination for HIV-Positive Youth as They Move from Adolescent to Adult Care (CATCH)
The CATCH study looked at what happens when young people living with HIV transition from adolescent-focused healthcare to adult healthcare. The study explored how youth, pediatric/adolescent providers, and adult care providers experience this transition and identified factors that support a successful transfer of care.
Providers described the value of a”warm handoff,” where adolescent and adult care teams work together to ensure youth remain engaged in care during the transition process through clear transition protocols, communication between clinics, and ongoing support for youth during the transfer to adult care.
2016
2016
ATN 137
2016-2017
ATN 137
2016-2017
Study Title
Self-Consent for PrEP Perspectives
The Self-Consent for PrEP Perspectives study asked participants what it was like to decide whether to join a PrEP research study. Researchers wanted to understand how young people made decisions about participation, whether they felt informed and supported, and how those experiences related to PrEP use during the study.
Specifically, it explored whether age, understanding of the study, decision-making, and support from others influenced participation outcomes in ATN 110 and ATN 113, two landmark PrEP studies.