About this Research Topic

Background

The HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) syndemics and the unmet need for modern contraceptive methods continue to pose significant health risks for women and other people worldwide. As awareness of the need to address these interlinked risks has increased, the need for new technologies that combine protection against unintended pregnancy, HIV and other STIs is a growing research priority. Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs) are products that simultaneously prevent HIV, other STIs, and/or unintended pregnancy. They have power to revolutionize women's health by providing prevention for multiple indications.

Over the past decade there has been a growing array of new MPT product candidates, with over two dozen currently in active development. As outlined a recent, comprehensive MPT landscape report developed by the Initiative for MPTs (IMPT) with support from Unitaid and CIFF, the MPT pipeline includes vaginal rings, vaginal and rectal gels, vaginal inserts and films, systemic delivery implants, subdermal microarray patches, and oral pills containing contraceptives, HIV prevention and/or other STI prevention drugs. The majority of MPT candidates are in early pre-clinical stages of development by small biotechnology companies and academic labs. These efforts are largely funded by the United States government, primarily the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). At the same time, a diverse array of supporting agencies (e.g., impact investors, foundations, and governmental agencies) are working together as part of the IMPT’s Supporting Agency Collaboration Committee (SACC) to address priority action areas and gaps to advance this field.

The goal of this Research Topic is to stimulate strategic thinking and action needed to expand MPT product development and advance the most promising MPT candidates to the market despite limited resources for the field. With this in mind, we are seeking papers from MPT product developers and other stakeholders within and external to the MPT field. We are particularly interested in innovative strategies to address the following specific areas:

1. A productive ecosystem of MPT product R&D
o Ecosystem expansion - Part 1: Expanding MPT R&D with a focus on new products
- Expanded pipeline of researchers for expanded product R&D
- Enhanced physical infrastructure for product R&D
- Geographic expansion for MPT R&D in terms of primary researchers and collaborative efforts
- Expanded generic licensing opportunities and geographically broad manufacturing base
o Ecosystem expansion - Part 2: Achieving appropriate funding to support necessary expansion of MPT ecosystem
- Novel and innovative funding and investment approaches to ensure successful development of MPTs through commercialization and scale-up
- Enhanced ability for cost-effective collaborations

2. Improved understanding of reproductive biology for the purpose of new pharmaceutical development for MPT R&D
o Enhanced focus on non-hormonal MPTs
o Enhanced focus on male contraceptive options
o Expanded understanding of cervicovaginal microbiome, pharmacogenomics, etc.
o Expanded understanding of underlying conditions in those likely to use MPTs (e.g. perimenopause; cognitive disabilities; other underlying health issues)

3. Expanded understanding of socio-behavioral research (SBR) considerations among underrepresented groups in MPT research, including
o People under the age of 18
o People with gynecological conditions
o Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations
o Older populations (e.g., perimenopausal women)
o Those known to metabolize drugs differently (e.g., obese individuals, Down syndrome patients)

4. Expanded understanding of market considerations to help ensure successful commercialization and uptake of MPTs, including
o Market segmentation and target segment identification
o Switching between products and triggers estimates
o Demand forecasting

5. Enhanced understanding of innovative approaches for MPT clinical trials that address regulatory and ethical challenges of testing multiple indications in the same trial

We welcome approaches that can stimulate innovation and address MPT field-wide challenges. These may include but are not limited to: drug combination products, long-acting delivery technologies, male contraception, toxicology, pharmacology, market research, etc. Approaches for optimizing technical capacities, enhancing collaborative approaches, and adding rigor to the development process are also sought. Findings from early and later stage clinical research, implementation science research, commentaries, mini-reviews, socio-behavioral research, and systemic reviews are welcomed.


Topic Editor Jim Turpin is a consultant for the USAID U/ Pitt. MATRIX award and NICHD. Topic Editor Ariane Van Der Straten is co-inventor on a pending patent with RTI International. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: Multipurpose Prevention Technologies, Innovative Strategies, HIV, STIs, unintended pregnancy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

  In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.