Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of South Carolina received a $721,308 Project Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) effective March 1, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2031. This award supports research examining the intersection of HIV and substance use disorder (SUD) through predictive modeling to identify current and emerging hotspots within affected communities. The research addresses a critical gap in understanding how social determinants of health shape HIV/SUD trajectories by leveraging a multidisciplinary team approach combining expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, social science, and public health.

The project will deliver comprehensive research products examining the prevalence and correlates of SUD among people living with HIV (PWH) in representative U.S. populations, with preliminary work anchored in South Carolina. Key products include integration of individual-level and community-level data using advanced analytical methods to address complex, evolving patterns of HIV and SUD; development of targeted intervention and policy recommendations informed by local contextual factors; and research findings that advance the national Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America Initiative. The grant supports translational and implementation research aimed at reducing the syndemic burden of HIV/SUD across diverse U.S. communities.