Samuel Jenness: News https://samueljenness.org/news.html News from the EpiModel Research Lab: new publications, grants, and activities in infectious disease epidemiology. quarto-1.9.38 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT NME short course starts at SISMID 2026 https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-20-sismid-nme-2026.html Our Network Modeling for Epidemics (NME) short course starts today at the Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) at Emory University. Taught with Steven Goodreau and Martina Morris, NME covers stochastic network models for infectious disease transmission dynamics using EpiModel. NME-I: Foundations runs July 20–22 and introduces network model specification with TERGMs and epidemic simulation over dynamic networks. NME-II: Applications runs July 22–24 and extends to research-level model building with the EpiModel API, multi-layer networks, and parameterization from egocentric network data.

Course materials · SISMID

]]> teaching https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-20-sismid-nme-2026.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Le Guillou): Risks and Benefits of Low-Barrier HIV PrEP Access https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-17-low-barrier-prep.html New paper led by Adrien Le Guillou in the Journal of Infectious Diseases: Potential Risks and Benefits of Low-Barrier Access and Monitoring for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis: A Modeling Study. A network model of HIV/STI transmission among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in Atlanta compared clinic-based PrEP against over-the-counter delivery with simplified initiation and reduced monitoring. A 50% increase in PrEP coverage averted 15.4% of HIV infections, but clinical risks rose alongside it, including renal impairment exposure and TDF/FTC resistance. Sensitivity analyses indicated that confirming HIV-negative status at initiation reduced resistance by more than 90% without reducing prevention benefits.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-17-low-barrier-prep.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Onwubiko): Mental Health Integration in PrEP Programs https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-15-mental-health-prep-integration.html New paper led by Udodirim Onwubiko in BMC Health Services Research: Evaluating Mental Health Integration in PrEP Programs to Reduce HIV Incidence among US Gay and Bisexual Men: A Network Modeling Study. A network model incorporating sexual stigma and mental health factors found that improving mental health services alone averted 12% of new infections, while integrated strategies combining mental health care with expanded PrEP and ART coverage reduced HIV incidence by up to 41%.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-15-mental-health-prep-integration.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Chen): Temporal Connectivity of Social Contact Networks in India https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-06-temporal-connectivity-india.html New paper led by Dehao Chen in Epidemiology: Temporal Connectivity of Social Contact Networks in Urban and Rural India. Using empirical contact data from rural and urban Tamil Nadu, dynamic network models quantified how contacts connect individuals over time (forward-reachable paths), indicating high temporal connectivity and substantial epidemic potential for acute respiratory transmission through school, work, and community contacts.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-07-06-temporal-connectivity-india.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Gandhi): Casual Contact in Drug-Resistant TB Transmission https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-04-28-casual-contact-tb.html New paper led by Neel Gandhi in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine: Role of Casual Contact in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Transmission: A Molecular Epidemiology Study. Using whole-genome sequencing of second-line drug-resistant TB in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, casual contact in community locations accounted for roughly half of transmission among genotypic clusters.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-04-28-casual-contact-tb.html Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Traeger): Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir PrEP in Practice https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-04-15-cab-la-prep.html New paper led by Michael Traeger in JAIDS: Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir HIV PrEP Uptake, Adherence, and Persistence in Two Large US Integrated Healthcare Systems.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-04-15-cab-la-prep.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Anderson): Predicting High One-Time Partnership Rate Among MSM https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-03-01-partnerships-msm.html New paper led by Emeli Anderson in AIDS and Behavior: Predictive Models to Identify Factors Associated with a High One-Time Sexual Partnership Rate among U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men.

DOI

]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-03-01-partnerships-msm.html Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT New Merck-funded study on monthly HIV PrEP https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-02-01-monthly-prep.html New industry-funded study: Monthly HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Preferences among U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men (Merck & Co.). Modeling the population-impact of a monthly HIV PrEP formulation within the daily oral and injectable landscape.

]]> grant https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-02-01-monthly-prep.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Harrington): Social Network Analysis of University COVID-19 Contact Tracing https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-01-15-university-contact-tracing-sna.html New paper led by Kristin Harrington in Public Health: The Application of Social Network Analysis to Examine COVID-19 Contact Tracing Networks in a University Setting.

PubMed

]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2026-01-15-university-contact-tracing-sna.html Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Nelson): Social Behavior for Infectious Disease in Four LMICs https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-10-15-social-lmics.html New paper led by Kristin Nelson in Nature Communications: Characterizing Social Behavior Relevant for Infectious Disease Transmission in Four Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2021-2023.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-10-15-social-lmics.html Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Jones): HealthMindr PrEP RCT https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-08-12-healthmindr.html New paper led by Jeb Jones in JAIDS: Randomized Controlled Trial of a HIV Prevention App to Increase Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Uptake among Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States: The HealthMindr PrEP Study. The intervention app increased the rate of PrEP initiation relative to a control app, with the strongest effect among men with PrEP indications at baseline.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-08-12-healthmindr.html Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Onwubiko): Optimizing HIV Partner Services among MSM Living with HIV https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-07-01-partner-services-plwh.html New paper led by Udodirim Onwubiko in Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Optimizing HIV Partner Services for Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Previously Diagnosed with HIV: A Modeling Study.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-07-01-partner-services-plwh.html Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Onwubiko): Depression at PrEP Initiation and PrEP Care Engagement https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-06-15-depression-prep-engagement.html New paper led by Udodirim Onwubiko in JAIDS: Impact of Depression at HIV PrEP Initiation on Sustained PrEP Care Engagement among US Gay and Bisexual Men.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-06-15-depression-prep-engagement.html Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Violette): OTC HIV PrEP Support Among Transfeminine People https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-05-15-otc-prep-tf.html New paper led by L.R. Violette in JAMA Network Open: Support for Over-the-Counter HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis among Transfeminine People.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-05-15-otc-prep-tf.html Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Wallrafen-Sam): Responsive Vaccination Decisions and SARS-CoV-2 Spread https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-04-20-responsive-vaccination.html New paper led by Karina Wallrafen-Sam in Epidemics: Modelling the Interplay Between Responsive Individual Vaccination Decisions and the Spread of SARS-CoV-2.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-04-20-responsive-vaccination.html Sun, 20 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Liu): COVID-19 Vaccination and Changes in Contact Patterns https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-04-01-covid-vaccination-contact.html New paper led by Carol Liu in Epidemics: The Effect of COVID-19 Vaccination on Change in Contact and Implications for Transmission.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-04-01-covid-vaccination-contact.html Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Schneider): SARS-CoV-2 Prevention Interventions in Jails https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-02-15-jail-sarscov2-interventions.html New paper led by Isaac Schneider in Infectious Disease Modelling: Interventions for SARS-CoV-2 Prevention among Jailed Adults: A Network-Based Modeling Analysis.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-02-15-jail-sarscov2-interventions.html Sat, 15 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Traeger): Real-World Doxy-PEP and Bacterial STIs https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-01-15-doxy-pep-realworld.html New paper led by Michael Traeger in JAMA Internal Medicine: Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections among Individuals Using HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis. A real-world cohort study of doxy-PEP uptake and bacterial STI incidence among PrEP users, complementing our earlier modeling of doxy-PEP prescribing strategies.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2025-01-15-doxy-pep-realworld.html Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Jenness): Dynamic Contact Networks of Residents of an Urban Jail in the Era of SARS-CoV-2 https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-11-15-jail-networks.html New paper in Epidemics: Dynamic Contact Networks of Residents of an Urban Jail in the Era of SARS-CoV-2.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-11-15-jail-networks.html Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Onwubiko): Sexual Stigma and Mental Distress in the PrEP Cascade https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-10-15-stigma-prep-cascade.html New paper led by Udodirim Onwubiko in Social Science & Medicine: Individual and Joint Associations of Sexual Stigma and Mental Distress with PrEP Uptake, Adherence and Persistence among US Gay and Bisexual Men.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-10-15-stigma-prep-cascade.html Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Onwubiko): Sexual Stigma, Poverty, and Mental Health among MSM https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-09-15-stigma-poverty-mental-health.html New paper led by Udodirim Onwubiko in PLOS Mental Health: Exploring the Intersections of Sexual Stigma, Poverty and Mental Health in HIV-Negative Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-09-15-stigma-poverty-mental-health.html Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Harrington): COVID-19 Lockdowns and Drug-Resistant TB in KwaZulu-Natal https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-08-01-covid-lockdowns-tb.html New paper led by Kristin Harrington in Annals of Epidemiology: The Impact of COVID-19 National Lockdowns on Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: A Spatial Analysis.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-08-01-covid-lockdowns-tb.html Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT New R01 funded: SILOS https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-07-01-silos.html Received Site PI role on the new NIH-funded SILOS: Structural Inequities across Layers of Social-Context as Drivers of HIV and Substance Use (R01 DA061247), studying social and structural factors in HIV transmission and substance use among young MSM and transgender women.

]]> grant https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-07-01-silos.html Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT New R21 funded: OFFSCRIPT (Over-the-Counter PrEP) https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-05-15-offscript.html Received Site PI role on the new NIH-funded Over-the-Counter PrEP: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Potential Impact of Access Without a Prescription (R21 MH136855). Evaluates the feasibility and impact of removing the need for a PrEP prescription.

]]> grant https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-05-15-offscript.html Wed, 15 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT New methods paper: Extending STERGM Approximations https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-03-01-stergm-approximations.html New methods paper in the Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics: Improving and Extending STERGM Approximations Based on Cross-Sectional Data and Tie Durations. Methods that underpin efficient dynamic-network simulation in EpiModel.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2024-03-01-stergm-approximations.html Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Traeger): Doxycycline PEP Prescribing Strategies on STI Incidence https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-11-20-doxy-pep.html New paper led by Michael Traeger in Clinical Infectious Diseases: Potential Impact of Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis Prescribing Strategies on Incidence of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-11-20-doxy-pep.html Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT New UG3 funded: LITE Cohort https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-09-15-lite-cohort.html Received new NIH award for the LITE Cohort to Identify Determinants of Viral Suppression in MSM and Transfeminine Individuals Living with HIV (UG3 AI176853). A mixed-methods web-based cohort study investigating drivers of HIV viral non-suppression and novel approaches to VL monitoring and treatment.

]]> grant https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-09-15-lite-cohort.html Fri, 15 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT New CDC U38 funded: CIDMATH Center https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-09-01-cidmath.html Received new CDC award for the Emory Center for Infectious Disease Modeling & Analytics and Training Hub (CIDMATH; CDC U38 75279). The Center will facilitate rapid understanding of epidemiological situations to guide public health decision-making.

]]> grant https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-09-01-cidmath.html Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Janulis): Partnership Types and Coital Frequency as STI Predictors https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-06-01-partnership-coital-sti.html New paper led by Patrick Janulis in the International Journal of STD & AIDS: Partnership Types and Coital Frequency as Predictors of Gonorrhea and Chlamydia among Young MSM and Young Transgender Women.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-06-01-partnership-coital-sti.html Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT New paper (Mann): COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on MSM Sexual Behavior and HIV Services https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-04-15-covid-msm-services.html New paper led by Laura Mann in the American Journal of Men’s Health: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior and HIV Prevention and Treatment Services among U.S. Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Post-Lockdown Era.

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]]> paper https://samueljenness.org/news/2023-04-15-covid-msm-services.html Sat, 15 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMT