Study aims to halt further isolation of people aging with HIV during COVID-19 pandemic The School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, has received a grant aimed at halting further isolation of people aging with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-year, $245,000 grant from the multinational pharmaceutical company Merck will enable a study, starting later this month, involving the participation of people living with HIV, or PLWH, in Riverside County, Los Angeles, and the Tampa Bay area in Florida. This is a very timely study with enhanced isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. High levels of social isolation, anxiety, and depression during this pandemic differentiates PLWH from others. We are interested in finding out ways to keep people engaged with each other and with care while isolated and identifying low-intensity methods for reducing depression. Importantly, the idea for this study came from the HIV community itself and builds upon our previous PCORI-funded work engaging the community."