Projects

Family Health International (FHI) is engaged in many research programs, networks, and projects in collaboration with a wide variety of partners. Some of these are described briefly below.

CRTU: The Contraceptive and Reproductive Health Technologies Research and Utilization (CRTU) program is a five-year agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). It seeks to increase the number of family planning and reproductive health methods and promote the use of research results and best practices. It includes research on microbicides. Read more»

FEM-PrEP: The FEM-PrEP clinical trial -- led by FHI and funded by USAID -- is testing the safety and effectiveness of a pill for HIV prevention. Read more»

HIV Incidence Assay Development: FHI is working to guide the development of improved laboratory tests ("assays") that can detect recent HIV infections. These assays can be used to estimate the incidence of new HIV infections in a population. This information is essential to reveal trends in the HIV epidemic and the effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies. Read more»

Hormonal Contraceptives/HIV/Genital Shedding and Disease Progression: FHI is studying women with primary HIV infection who use hormonal contraception to learn whether such methods affect genital shedding of the HIV virus (thus increasing the risk of transmission to uninfected partners). We are also examining whether hormonal contraception increases the rate of progression of HIV disease (both to AIDS and to antiretroviral initiation). Read more»

HPTN: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) is an international clinical research network funded by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that evaluates non-vaccine and non-microbicide interventions to prevent the spread of HIV. FHI serves as the network's coordination and operations center. Read more»

ICSSC: The U.S. National Institutes of Health relies upon FHI to serve as the International Clinical Sciences Support Center (ICSSC). The ICSSC trains and supports clinical investigators who are working on the treatment, prevention, and control of infectious diseases -- including malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, and leishmaniasis -- in developing countries. Read more»

MCC: The Male Circumcision Consortium (MCC) is working with the government of Kenya to integrate safe, voluntary male circumcision into existing programs for HIV prevention. FHI leads a group of three partners in this effort, which is supported by a grant to FHI from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more»

MTN: The Microbicide Trials Network (MTN) is a worldwide, collaborative clinical research network -- sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) -- that examines the use and effectiveness of microbicides to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV infection. FHI serves as a coordinator and operations center. Read more»

Nonsurgical Sterilization: A method of nonsurgical sterilization that is safe, effective, inexpensive, and easy to administer would be an advantage for women who do not have access to surgical sterilization or who prefer a permanent nonsurgical method. One candidate -- erythromycin -- is the subject of study at FHI.

PROGRESS: Program Research for Strengthening Services (PROGRESS) focuses on family planning and reproductive health services, with an emphasis on improving their quality, increasing demand for them, and streamlining access to them. Read more»

Rotavirus Vaccine: FHI is conducting clinical trials in Asia and Africa to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a vaccine to help protect infants against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. Read more»

SEAICRN: The Southeast Asia Infectious Disease Clinical Research Network is working to advance scientific knowledge of many infectious diseases. Currently, FHI is supporting the network's clinical trials relating to the prevention and treatment of avian and severe human influenza. Read more»

Sino-Implant (II): Sino-Implant (II) is a safe, highly effective subdermal contraceptive implant. FHI is working with the manufacturer, Shanghai Dahua Pharmaceutical, and other partners to make the implant available at low cost to service-delivery programs in developing countries. Read more»

STI-CTG: For the Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinical Trials Group, FHI serves as the operations center and provides data management to support research on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Read more»