ATN Youth
At the ATN, young people aren’t just study participants—you’re integral partners driving meaningful change in adolescent health research.
We believe that authentic youth partnership produces better science. When young people are centered throughout our research process, studies are more relevant, recruitment strategies are more effective, and findings are more actionable for the communities that we serve.
Our commitment to youth engagement extends beyond traditional models, creating two complementary pathways for young voices to contribute your expertise, lived experiences, and fresh perspectives to shape HIV prevention and care research while also supporting the next generation of public health researchers through the ATN scholars program.
Subject Matter Research Consultants (SMRC)
Subject Matter Research Consultants are young professionals across the U.S. with varied backgrounds, experiences, and identities that bring their unique expertise to enhance ATN projects. Rather than serving as a traditional advisory board, the SMRC are part-time employees at the Institute on Digital Health and Innovation at Florida State University.
This group is deeply embedded into all structures in the ATN, including as members of research study teams and Scientific Leadership Groups, where they provide ongoing consultation and services to improve the quality of ATN research in areas such as study design, effective recruitment strategies, content creation, and data analysis.
This innovative approach is revolutionizing how research institutions engage and prioritize youth in their research studies.
National Community Advisory Board
In addition to the SMRC, youth from each of the ATN’s recruitment sites represent their community as paid volunteers serving on the ATN’s National Community Advisory Board (NCAB).
The NCAB plays a key role in guiding and informing research in the ATN. The NCAB aims to be a platform that gives voice to the concerns and ideas of young people, supports young people to grow as public health leaders, and provides opportunities for collaboration with researchers, providers, and other stakeholders in HIV research.
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
Bridge HIV
San Francisco, CA
Children’s National Hospital
Washington, D.C.
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
University of Illinois Chicago
Chicago, IL
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
ATN Scholars Program
The ATN Scholars Program provides under-represented scientists with the skills, knowledge, and network to excel as independent investigators in adolescent HIV prevention. They might not be youth, but they are the next generation of researchers!
