Dr. Erik Storholm awarded $2.9 million by NIH

Dr. Erik Storholm, Assistant Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at San Diego State University School of Public Health (Health Promotion), has been awarded $2.9 million through a 5-year R01 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study the impact intimate partner violence (IPV) has on HIV risk, sexually transmitted infections, and the use of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of sexual minority men in Los Angeles. While there are extensive studies and information regarding the impacts of IPV among heterosexual couples in the United States, very few studies focus exclusively on sexual minorities. This is concerning given that studies that do focus on sexual minority men (MSM) have found that IPV rates occur at similar, if not higher, rates than within heterosexual partnerships. In addition, existing studies have linked IPV with increased risk for HIV among sexual minority men. However, less is known about the impact of IPV on HIV testing, PrEP uptake, and the persistence of PrEP use.
The current study will follow a longitudinal cohort of 400 sexual minority men and will examine how the perpetration and/or receipt of various forms of intimate partner violence (e.g., physical, sexual, and psychological; in the context of steady or casual intimate relationships) contribute to HIV risk and protective behaviors among them men over a 24-month timeframe. The study will include both qualitative and quantitative psychosocial assessments as well as biospecimen collection to test for HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and the use of PrEP. The investigators hypothesize that there will be increased prevalence of sexually transmitted infections, HIV risk behavior, and the use of PrEP will be associated with specific forms of IPV in relationships.
Dr. Storholm is proud that throughout this study he will be able to harness the academic talent and research acumen among SDSU students. Dr. Storholm has already secured an incoming UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program (Public Health, Health Behavior) student to help with the coordination of his ongoing projects. In addition, Dr. Storholm will be seeking undergraduate and graduate students to help with the administration and analyzing qualitative surveys, as well as in the collection and analysis of qualitative data. Dr. Storholm hopes these data can be used for student research projects, including masters or doctoral theses/dissertations.