Omar Martinez

Research topics

Matched from this investigator's NIH project titles and abstracts.

• Human Factors and Attention

Active NIH awards

• A couples-based HIV biobehavioral prevention intervention

  5R01MD018963-03

  NIMHD · FY 2025 · $767K

  PROJECT SUMMARY or ABSTRACT Despite increased attention to couples-based HIV prevention strategies, interventions specifically designed for adult couples have not been rigorously evaluated in large-scale trials. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a couples-based HIV prevention intervention. The intervention builds on extensive formative research conducted by the investigative team, including remote delivery of study procedures and the use of objective biomarkers to assess adherence to HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The intervention consists of three sessions grounded in social cognitive theory and a relationship-oriented ecological framework. It has demonstrated strong feasibility and acceptability in a pilot RCT, along with promising preliminary evidence of changes in targeted behavioral mechanisms. The intervention is innovative in that it: (1) integrates biomedical prevention strategies, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevention (TasP), with psychoeducational skill development; (2) provides clear and accessible information about HIV prevention and treatment options; (3) applies a prevention and treatment framework appropriate for couples regardless of HIV status; (4) uses a validated composite algorithm to assess HIV protection beyond condom use alone; and (5) addresses relational and contextual factors associated with HIV transmission risk. The primary objective is to determine whether participants assigned to the intervention condition demonstrate a greater proportion of HIV-protected sexual acts compared to those assigned to a time- and attention-matched Wellness Promotion control condition. HIV protection is defined using a validated composite measure that includes condom use, PrEP use, TasP, or a combination of these strategies to reduce risk of HIV transmission within and outside the primary partnership. The study will enroll 150 adult couples (N=300 individuals) from multiple U.S. jurisdictions with elevated HIV prevalence. Participants will complete follow-up assessments every three months over a nine-month period. Data collection will include biological measures (self-administered HIV testing and hair biomarkers for PrEP and antiretroviral therapy adherence), as well as behavioral and psychosocial assessments. The findings from this study will inform practical recommendations for broader implementation of evidence-based HIV prevention interventions. This trial will provide rigorous evidence regarding the efficacy of a scalable couples-based intervention designed to increase sustained HIV protection among adult male couples.

• Connecting Latinos en Pareja: A Couples-based HIV Prevention Intervention for Latino Male Couples

  5R01MD018963-02

  NIMHD · FY 2024 · $770K

  Project Summary Despite recent emphasis on couples-based HIV prevention interventions, efficacious interventions for Latinx male couples have yet to be tested. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an HIV prevention couples-based intervention - Connecting Latinxs en Pareja (CLP). CLP is based on our team’s extensive formative work with couples, including remote delivery of study protocols and the use of biomarkers of adherence to HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis. CLP was specifically tailored to the needs of Latinx male couples. CLP, a four-session intervention grounded in social cognitive theory and a relationship- oriented ecological framework, has demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability in a recent pilot RCT and promising evidence of changes in key intervention mechanisms and outcomes. CLP is novel in that it (1) integrates both biomedical prevention techniques (i.e., pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] and treatment as prevention [TasP]) and psycho-educational skill building; (2) offers culturally competent and linguistically appropriate information and education about options for PrEP and ART; (3) is driven by an HIV status-neutral prevention and treatment approach designed to address HIV prevention and care needs among seroconcordant (positive and negative) and serodiscordant couples; (4) employs an innovative algorithm for measuring HIV protection that goes beyond condom use as the sole indicator of HIV protection; and (5) is culturally tailored to Latinx couples to address social, environmental, and contextual factors that intensify HIV risk in this population including HIV-related stigma and discrimination. We will examine whether participants assigned to CLP report an increase in the proportion of HIV protected anal sex acts to those assigned to a Wellness Promotion (WP) time and attention matched control condition. The primary outcome, HIV protection, is operationalized with a validated composite algorithm as protected acts of anal intercourse (i.e., anal sex acts in which condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment as prevention (TasP), or a combination thereof, are used to reduce risk of HIV transmission) within the couple and with outside partners. We will recruit 150 Latinx male couples (N=300 individuals) from 50 Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) jurisdictions and an additional 17 jurisdictions with high HIV burden among Latinos. Follow-up will occur every 3 months over 9 months, and biological (self-testing for HIV and hair biomarkers for PrEP and ART adherence) and behavioral and psychosocial data will be collected. We will derive practical recommendations and considerations for key stakeholders to expand and improve implementation of CLP or other next steps as indicated by study results. To our knowledge, this study will be the first to examine the efficacy of a couple-based intervention to increase HIV protection for Latinx male couples capable of being scaled up to provide continuous support and protection for this heavily impacted group.

• Connecting Latinos en Pareja: A Couples-based HIV Prevention Intervention for Latino Male Couples

  1R01MD018963-01A1

  NIMHD · FY 2023 · $798K

  Project Summary Despite recent emphasis on couples-based HIV prevention interventions, efficacious interventions for Latinx male couples have yet to be tested. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of an HIV prevention couples-based intervention - Connecting Latinxs en Pareja (CLP). CLP is based on our team’s extensive formative work with couples, including remote delivery of study protocols and the use of biomarkers of adherence to HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis. CLP was specifically tailored to the needs of Latinx male couples. CLP, a four-session intervention grounded in social cognitive theory and a relationship- oriented ecological framework, has demonstrated high feasibility and acceptability in a recent pilot RCT and promising evidence of changes in key intervention mechanisms and outcomes. CLP is novel in that it (1) integrates both biomedical prevention techniques (i.e., pre-exposure prophylaxis [PrEP] and treatment as prevention [TasP]) and psycho-educational skill building; (2) offers culturally competent and linguistically appropriate information and education about options for PrEP and ART; (3) is driven by an HIV status-neutral prevention and treatment approach designed to address HIV prevention and care needs among seroconcordant (positive and negative) and serodiscordant couples; (4) employs an innovative algorithm for measuring HIV protection that goes beyond condom use as the sole indicator of HIV protection; and (5) is culturally tailored to Latinx couples to address social, environmental, and contextual factors that intensify HIV risk in this population including HIV-related stigma and discrimination. We will examine whether participants assigned to CLP report an increase in the proportion of HIV protected anal sex acts to those assigned to a Wellness Promotion (WP) time and attention matched control condition. The primary outcome, HIV protection, is operationalized with a validated composite algorithm as protected acts of anal intercourse (i.e., anal sex acts in which condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), treatment as prevention (TasP), or a combination thereof, are used to reduce risk of HIV transmission) within the couple and with outside partners. We will recruit 150 Latinx male couples (N=300 individuals) from 50 Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) jurisdictions and an additional 17 jurisdictions with high HIV burden among Latinos. Follow-up will occur every 3 months over 9 months, and biological (self-testing for HIV and hair biomarkers for PrEP and ART adherence) and behavioral and psychosocial data will be collected. We will derive practical recommendations and considerations for key stakeholders to expand and improve implementation of CLP or other next steps as indicated by study results. To our knowledge, this study will be the first to examine the efficacy of a couple-based intervention to increase HIV protection for Latinx male couples capable of being scaled up to provide continuous support and protection for this heavily impacted group.