ACRIA’s behavioral research program has focused attention on what was the largely ignored “aging” of the epidemic; within this decade the majority of those living with HIV will be 50 years and older.  Early studies explored the social supports  and cognitive functioning among older adults with HIV.  In 2006, ACRIA released its groundbreaking Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study .  With a 1,000 person cohort and nearly 1,000,000 data points, ROAH has shaped the debate on how to best insure adequate treatment, prevention, and care for this growing population with complex needs. Our recent and ongoing  research addresses many of the issues that emerged from ROAH - namely adequate social care, treatment of high rates of depression, and the impact of HIV on older minority populations. Our behavioral research staff also provide program evaluation support to a variety of ACRIA’s HIV Health Literacy Programs. 

ACRIA’s behavioral research has been published in leading HIV/AIDS and aging journals and featured in invited lectures, and conference workshops and symposia including:

• International Conferences on AIDS (Toronto, Bangkok, Mexico City, and Vienna)
• U.S. Conference on AIDS, the Gerontological Society of America
• American Psychological Association
• American Public Health Association

These research efforts led to the launch in 2008 of ACRIA’s Center on HIV & Aging. ACRIA’s researchers are collaborating with a number of academic institutions and community based organizations here and abroad, including:

• Terrence Higgins Trust and Chelsea Westminster Hospital (U.K.)
• Syracuse University
• Center for Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), Hunter College
• New York University College of Nursing
• Fordham University
• University of Alabama
• University of Washington-Tacoma
• Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development ,New York University
• Center on Halsted (Chicago, IL)

ACRIA’s behavioral research team is available for consultation on substantive issues affecting people aging with HIV, methodology and statistics, and program evaluation. Please contact Drs. Karpiak or Brennan (below) for more information.

Interested in participating in our research? Please see our Recent and Ongoing Research page  and contact Drs. Brennan or Karpiak (see information below) for more details on eligibility.

For additional information on our research program and consulting services, or if you are interested in being a research participant, please contact Stephen Karpiak, PhD, at SKarpiak@acria.org or on (212) 924-3934, ext. 109, or Mark Brennan, PhD, at MBrennan@acria.org or on (212) 924-3934, ext. 131.