HPTN Black Caucus members have co-authored an article entitled, “Development of a Black Caucus within the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN): Representing the Perspectives of Black Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM)” in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Black MSM have a disproportionate burden of HIV in the U.S. and have been underrepresented in biomedical research, including HIV clinical trials, due to socio-structural, socio-cultural, and psychosocial factors. The article discusses the formation and implementation of the Black Caucus from the perspective of Black MSM key community stakeholders to address these issues, and the major themes that emerged from the qualitative narratives.
These themes include:
- The role of the Black Caucus in shaping the HPTN
- How the Black Caucus addresses the needs of Black MSM communities regarding the influence of race and sexual identity
- Socio-cultural needs of Black MSM
The findings from these themes have implications for the recruitment and retention of Black MSM in clinical trials, study design, and implementation, and the role Black MSM researchers play in HIV prevention research.
The HPTN Black Caucus is a highly knowledgeable interdisciplinary group of dedicated professionals with unique expertise in conducting research related to the lives of Black MSM living with or at increased risk for acquisition of HIV. Since forming to support the HPTN 061 study, the group continues to provide technical assistance and community engagement practices for HPTN studies, including the HPTN 073, HPTN 078, HPTN 083, and HPTN 096 protocol teams.