From March 23–28, 2025, MU-JHU facilitated a week-long site visit to multiple study locations to engage Community Advisory Board (CAB) members, PrEP service providers, PrEP ambassadors, and other key stakeholders on the CUPID Study.

Leading the visit was National Site Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Brenda Gati Mirembe, alongside a distinguished team that included Principal Investigators Dr. Alexander Minnis, Dr. Carolyne Akello, Dr. Elizabeth Montgomery, Dr. Ginny Fonner, Dr. Andrew Mujugira, Juliane Etima, and Dr. Joel Maena (MBChB, MPH). The team travelled to study sites in Mbarara, Ibanda, Mbale, Tororo, and Malaba to introduce and orient stakeholders on the study objectives.

Throughout the week, the team held high-level discussions, and facility visits to strengthen engagement on the CUPID Study:

• Mbarara: Discussion with the Chief Health Officer (CHO) and Community Advisory Boards (CABs); travel to Mbarara Municipal Centre (MMC) HCIV for a facility tour and discussions with health care providers and PrEP ambassadors.
• Ibanda: Meeting with the District Health Officer (DHO) and CABs, followed by a visit to Bufunda HCIII for a facility tour and discussions with health care providers and PrEP ambassadors.
• Tororo: Meeting with the District Health Team and CABs, travel to Bison Health Centre III, and discussions with the Bison HCIII team and PrEP Ambassadors.
• Malaba: Travel to Malaba Health Centre IV for a meeting with the Malaba HCIV team and PrEP ambassadors.
• Mbale: Meeting with the City Health Team and CABs, followed by travel to Namakwekwe HCIII for a meeting with the facility team and PrEP ambassadors.

About the CUPID Study

CUPID—Couples United in HIV Prevention & Informed Decisions—is an implementation science project building on the success of the CATALYST Project, which expanded PrEP options for women, including oral PrEP, long-acting PrEP, and the vaginal ring. Through CUPID, researchers seek to empower couples to make informed choices together, strengthening the fight against HIV.