CDC is contributing $500,000 in grants to researchers who use the Internet to survey MSM about their sex habits, particularly when it comes to HIV/AIDS. The primary purpose of the project is to determine if Internet surveys are an adequate alternative to more traditional research methods like face-to-face or telephone interviews, according to CDC documents about the grants.

Grants range from $125,000 to $250,000 each, and are earmarked for approximately four research teams. The application deadline was July 9, but no information was available at press time about how many research teams applied. The awards could be distributed as early as Aug. 1.

The project also considers whether the Internet is a viable way to reach men who do not frequent gay venues like clubs or community organizations. "While several studies suggest that venue-based sampling is representative of most [MSM], an increasing proportion of [MSM] may be using the Internet to meet sex partners and may not be available for sampling through a more traditional, venue-based approach," the grant application states.

"Similar to other high-risk venues of the 1970s and 1980s, the Internet may be a setting in which to meet new sex partners and potentially transmit HIV," according to research released in February by the Medical & Health Research Association in New York City.

Eric Rofes, an author and gay health activist, said the grants may signal a positive change for CDC. Internet-based sex research could provide important information, but the quality of results vary greatly and depend on the researcher's experience, methodology and overall understanding of the gay Internet culture, he said. "There are many, many different methodologies," Rofes said. "Everything from going into a chat room, to having a Web page to attract people to, to studying profiles and taking information from those." Profiling is particularly prone to inaccurate results, as Web users may list and seek fantasies online that do not match their actual behavior, Rofes said.

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