#nimhd

dfusion has received national attention for its National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded work to advance HIV prevention in communities disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic, including transgender women and young Black gay and bisexual men. We are pleased to have federal support for these innovative projects, and would like to clarify some misinformation that has been presented in the media.

The Promoting Sexual Health Project [1] (also referred to as 3T) is developing a science-based mobile app to provide young Black gay, bisexual and same-gender loving men, ages 14-17, with information and skills to make healthy sexual decisions, develop healthy relationships and prevent the spread of HIV. Far from a “sex app” or “hook-up app,” the health promotion intervention will be comprised of several activities, including a social media simulation which mimics social and dating apps, to allow the users to practice healthy and prevention-oriented communication skills related to safer-sex practices and healthy relationships.

The Transwomen Connected Project [2] is developing a mobile app using a strengths-based approach to building transgender women’s ability to protect their sexual health. It will include a variety of educational activities and provides networking capabilities so women can connect with each other to share ideas, facilitate access to services and support healthy behavior.

dfusion, a small woman-run business in the San Francisco Bay Area, is committed to developing science-driven innovations to improve health and well-being for a variety of audiences. dfusion’s products are informed by the latest scientific research about what works for heightened relevance and impact. Staffed by a team of nationally recognized public health and social and behavioral scientists, the organization leverages technology to bring science-based research to practice.  

For more information, contact Regina Firpo-Triplett at [email protected].

[1] Funded by the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities, under grant #2R44MD010324. The views expressed here and content presented within the project do not necessarily reflect the views of NIH or NIMHD.