Reflecting on the Missouri HIV Prevention Vending Machine Project Designathon

June 10, 2026

Designathon teams pose for a photo.

The Midwest D-CFAR recently partnered with the Light Institute for Global Health and Transformation to host the Missouri HIV Prevention Vending Machine Project, which brought together community organizations, public health professionals, and innovators from across Missouri to develop creative solutions for expanding access to HIV and STI prevention resources through vending machines. The initiative challenged teams to design community-based interventions to reduce barriers to care, including stigma, cost, and transportation.

Five finalist teams were selected to participate in a three-day Designathon, where participants worked with mentors to refine their ideas. The Designathon culminated in pitches of innovative concepts ranging from anonymous HIV testing and PrEP navigation services to harm reduction supplies and community-based resource hubs.

Trey Cavazos and Elizabeth McQuaid from Vivent Health team.

The winning proposal, developed by a team from Vivent Health, focused on providing free, 24/7 access to HIV/STI testing kits, prevention supplies, and educational resources through strategically placed vending machines across the St. Louis region.

The Designathon highlighted the power of community-driven innovation to advance Missouri's efforts to end the HIV epidemic and improve equitable access to prevention services. All participating teams will receive seed funding and vending machines to implement their ideas over the next year. On behalf of everyone on the Midwest D-CFAR and Light Institute team, we are proud of each of the teams and look forward to supporting them as they turn their ideas into real public health prevention across the state.

To learn more about the event, participating teams, and intervention ideas, read the full recap here: Event Recap: The Missouri HIV Prevention Vending Machine Project Designathon.

Written by Kate Gershwin