Expanding the Reach of HIV Prevention

Ashley Buchanan studies how social networks can amplify the impact of HIV prevention strategies

Despite major advances in HIV treatment and prevention, young Black men who have sex with men continue to face one of the highest risks of HIV infection in the United States. Addressing this disparity requires new approaches that consider not only individuals but also the communities and social networks in which they live.

At the University of Rhode Island, Ashley Buchanan, Dr.P.H., associate professor, is leading a $3.5 million study funded by the National Institutes of Health to better understand how HIV prevention strategies can extend beyond the individual and protect entire communities.

Buchanan’s research focuses on a concept known as “spillover,” in which the benefits of a health intervention spread through social and sexual networks. For example, when someone uses pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to prevent HIV infection, it protects that individual while also reducing transmission risk among partners and others within their network.

“Her research highlights a critical shift in public health: Moving from individual-level interventions to strategies that strengthen entire networks and communities.”

Ashley Buchanan, Dr.P.H.

Working with collaborators from the University of Chicago, Brown University, New York University, and Boston University, the research team is analyzing data from multiple studies involving young Black men in Chicago. By examining social connections, sexual networks, and neighborhood factors, the team aims to understand how prevention strategies can have a broader impact across communities.

The study also examines barriers that often limit access to care, including stigma, substance use and lack of access to healthcare services. Through advanced data analysis and collaboration with community organizations, the project seeks to identify more effective and culturally responsive HIV prevention strategies.

Buchanan’s work supports the national goal of ending the HIV epidemic by designing interventions that reach beyond traditional health care settings. By understanding how prevention spreads through communities, researchers hope to expand the impact of life-saving tools and ensure that advances in HIV prevention reach those who need them most.

Her research highlights a critical shift in public health: Moving from individual-level interventions to strategies that strengthen entire networks and communities.

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