Grant: Cat Gr: STBBI Research in Canada: Beyond HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C- Syphilis

Syphilis rates are increasing rapidly in Canada. One reason for the spike in infections is the delays in testing and treatment. It's especially important to address these issues for people who are homeless, in unstable housing, or using drugs because their social and economic challenges make them more likely to get infected and harder for them to get tested and treated on time. Recently, Health Canada approved a rapid test called INSTI®, which can identify syphilis and HIV infections in just 60 seconds. This approval is a big step in reducing the spread of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Canada. However, simply having new technology is not enough. We need to make sure it's effectively used in real-life situations. One way to reach more undiagnosed people is by using these rapid tests outside healthcare settings. But there haven't been many studies on how well this approach works. The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health Unit (KFL&APH) is taking the lead by implementing a rapid test and treat program targeting underserved communities. Other nearby Public Health Units are also interested in doing similar programs in the next year. This will create an opportunity to gather evidence on how well these programs work and support their implementation in other populations. Our research proposal has three main objectives. First, we want to identify the things that make it easier or harder for decision-makers and implementers to use rapid testing and treatment programs. Second, we want to evaluate how effectively these programs reduce syphilis rates. And third, we want to estimate the long-term impact of these programs on reducing syphilis cases using mathematical models. Our team includes experts in epidemiology, public health, infectious diseases, mathematics, and biostatistics. This collaboration has the potential to generate valuable insights, tools, and knowledge that will benefit public health in the long run.