On December 1 we remember the 25 million people who have died from AIDS since 1981 and commit ourselves to ending the global HIV epidemic.

Transcription

1 Subscribe Unsubscribe World AIDS Day On December 1 we remember the 25 million people who have died from AIDS since 1981 and commit ourselves to ending the global HIV epidemic. In 1988, World AIDS Day was the first global health day ever created. Since that time there have been many advances in HIV/AIDS research, from the development of drugs to treat people living with HIV to achieving the first signal of an effective vaccine. Several recent studies have given scientists reason for new hope in the search for effective prevention methods that could produce an AIDS-free generation. The success of AIDS research was exemplified when earlier this year, in a tribute to the contributions of PEPFAR (the U.S. President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) on the program s 10th anniversary, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the one-millionth baby would be born HIV-free in June While this was the direct result of PEPFAR-supported programs for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, this great achievement was possible because of two landmark clinical trials launched by the National Institutes of Health a number of years ago. The first study, conducted in the United States, was the AIDS Clinical Trial Group 076 study (ACTG 076), which in 1994 found that a drug used to treat AIDS (zidovudine) could reduce perinatal transmission of HIV. The Calendar of Upcoming Events and Awareness Days World AIDS Day December 1, 2013 Get more information about World AIDS Day National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day February 7, 2014 Get more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Articles of Interest Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy for the Success of Emerging Interventions to Prevent HIV Transmission: A Wake up Call The most successful biomedical interventions to prevent HIV have been the use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT), and sexual transmission via microbicides, PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment of the infected person within discordant

2 second study known as HIV Prevention Network 012 or HIVNET 012 was conducted in Uganda and in 1999 it showed that a simple, inexpensive regimen of the drug nevirapine could effectively block mother-to-infant HIV transmission. Now, years later, the investment in research continues to pay rich dividends with the continued and significant reduction of HIV-infected babies globally. Today, scientists working with NIH are conducting research to demonstrate that the use of powerful combinations of HIV medicines are effective in preventing a person living with HIV from transmitting the virus when they are on treatment (treatment as prevention or TasP, HPTN 052) and that pills (pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP) or gels (microbicides) can also be used to prevent HIV-negative people from becoming infected. Yet despite all of this progress, UNAIDS estimates that 33.4 million men, women and children around the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Around 95 percent of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations where treatments are often out of reach to many due to geography, lack of healthcare infrastructure, or cost. In the U.S., HIV continues to disproportionately affect African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, gay and bisexual men and people living in poverty. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 15,529 people in the U.S. with an AIDS diagnosis died in 2010 and there continue to be 50,000 new infections each year. couples. However, new successes in HIV prevention research have been tempered by suboptimal adherence. There is a critical need to define practical and effective adherence monitoring strategies as well as controlled trials of adherence interventions in the era of PrEP, Treatment as Prevention (TasP), and PMTCT to maximize their benefit. Nachega JB, Uthman OA, Mills EJ, Quinn TC (2013). Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy for the Success of Emerging Interventions to Prevent HIV Transmission: A Wake up Call. J AIDS Clinic Res S4:007. doi: / S4-007 For more information, visit the National Center for Biotechnology Information website. We are living in an exciting time for HIV/AIDS prevention; research efforts continue to bring us closer to identifying more effective prevention strategies and closer to the goal of finding a preventive vaccine that is safe and effective for all populations. Greater investment and community involvement in the field will only speed up the pace of discovery. The theme of this year s World AIDS Day is Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation. Working together, we look forward to future discoveries with renewed hope that someday we will be able to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS as we reap the benefits of our research efforts. Be The Generation Bridge Partners: World AIDS Day Events Many of our BTG Bridge partners are hosting events to commemorate World AIDS Day. The events are listed in

3 chronological order. All times are local. REACH LA Event: Red Ribbon Battle Night Date: November 27, 2013 at 7 10pm PST Location: REACH LA Studios, 1400 E. Olympic Blvd, Suite 207, Los Angeles, CA Collaborators: BTG/Ballroom Community Outreach Team (BCOT) and LA County PrEP Work Group (including members of HPTN, HVTN and MTN) Description: LA County PrEP Work Group will conduct outreach activities including community education on biomedical prevention, research project information, recruitment and social media photo opportunities for Facebook and Instagram throughout the evening. BCOT members will be conducting evaluation surveys for project impact. For more information: Call x100. Gay City Health Project Radio Program: Un Futuro Sin VIH Date: November 30, 2013 at 1pm PST Location: 1360 AM El Rey Latino Radio Station Collaborators: Latino SEA-MAR Clinic Description: A brief biomedical update 101 in Spanish. Nashville CARES Event: World AIDS Day Observance Date: December 1, 2013 at 8 11pm CST Location: Canvas Lounge, 1707 Church St, Nashville, TN Collaborators: Nashville CARES nform MSM Program Description: Outreach education table and HIV testing. Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force Event: World AIDS Day Interfaith Celebration of Hope Date: December 1, 2013 at 4 6pm EST Location: East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, PA Collaborators: (Pittsburgh) RED Description: An interfaith service to engage the faith community to get tested. The event will involve pastors, speakers, music, fellowship, education, food, and fellowship. This event is held as a part of a larger series of events held by (Pittsburgh) RED, a consortium of local non-profits and corporations charged by the mayor of Pittsburgh to bring awareness of HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Day. Us Helping Us, People Into Living

4 Event: World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil Date: December 1, 2013 at 7pm EST Location: UHU, 3636 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC Description: Annual Candlelight Vigil will honor the memory of those lost in the battle to AIDS and offer reflection on the impact that HIV/AIDS has had on the world. Open to the public. For more information, contact Brandon Armani at or AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland Event: World AIDS Day Ceremony, Candlelight Vigil and New Building Dedication Date: December 2, 2013 at 5:30 pm EST Location: 2829 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH Collaborators: Cuyahoga County, City of Cleveland, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, MidTown Cleveland, and more to be announced Description: A World AIDS Day ceremony and the dedication of our new building, pharmacy and medical clinic. For more information: Garith Fulham at gfulham@clevelandtaskforce.org or (401) San Francisco AIDS Foundation Event: Getting to Zero in San Francisco: How Close Are We? Date: Monday, December 2, 2013 at 6:30-8:30pm Location: The San Francisco LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street Collaborators: UCSF HIV/AIDS Division at SFGH, Project Inform, AIDS Research Institute at UCSF Description: An informative and interactive town hall forum. For more info and tickets: Nashville CARES Event: Annual World AIDS Day Observance Date: December 3, 2013 Time: 10 am 3 pm Location: Tennessee State University, Kean Hall Gym Collaborators: Nashville CARES Brothers United & Young Brothers United MSM Program; Gay Straight Alliance at TSU Description: Outreach education table and HIV testing. The AIDS Institute/AIDS Alliance Webinar: Microbicides in 2013 and 2014: Advances and Future Research Date: December 3, 2013 at 2 3:30 pm EST Register: Collaborators: Dr. Ian McGowan, MTN Co-Director Description: The AIDS Institute/AIDS Alliance will host a

5 national webinar with featured speaker, Dr. Ian McGowan, Microbicides Trials Network Co-Principal Investigator. Dr. McGowan will discuss advances and challenges in research and development of microbicides for women and men who have sex with men. This webinar is free and open to all who are interested. Family Planning Council - SafeGuards Event: Reception and Circle of Care AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel Showcase Date: December 3, 2013 at 5:30 7:30pm EST Location: 1700 Market St, 18th Floor, Philadelphia, PA Collaborators: AIDS Fund Description: Family Planning Council will showcase its Circle of Care AIDS Memorial Quilt Panel with a reception for staff and friends of Family Planning Council. A brief biomedical HIV prevention presentation is part of the program. Light refreshments and hors d oeuvres will be served at this free reception. Latino Commission on AIDS Event: Conmemorando el Día Mundial del SIDA: Hacia un Futuro sin VIH Date: December 4, 2013 at 7 9pm PST Location: Seattle, WA Collaborators: Gay City and Entre Hermanos Description: Presentations will include information on the importance of HIV Biomedical Research and latest news. Gay City Health Project Event: Un Futuro Sin VIH Date: December 4, 2013 at 7pm PST Location: 517 East Pike St, Seattle, WA Collaborators: Latino Commission on AIDS Description: A biomedical update and 101 discussions in Spanish to mainly Latino and Latino LGBT immigrants. Latino Commission on AIDS Webinar: Breaking through Stigma: The Missing Component in Biomedical Prevention Efforts Date: December 5, 2013 at 2 4 pm EST Register: Description: A webinar that will provide an overview of stigmaspecific presentations delivered during IAS 2013, including examples from India, Australia, and the United States. Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force

6 Event: Pittsburgh Honors Ball: Galaxy Date: December 7, 2013 at 8pm 2am EST Location: Andy Warhol Museum 143 Sandusky Street, Pittsburgh, PA Collaborators: True T Incorporated and Pittsburgh Ballroom Leader Council Description: A prevention event focusing on young black MSM and the house/ball community featuring a competition in creative categories that require each individual to become a character to be judged by an esteemed panel. Local community members, non-profits, and other organizations will be honored for their contributions to the Pittsburgh LGBT community and will submit personal testimonies for inclusion in the event program booklet. Free HIV testing will be offered to everyone. Network Updates THE HIV PREVENTION TRIALS NETWORK (HPTN) Scholarship Opportunity in HIV Research for Minority Investigators The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), a global network of HIV researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health, is proud to offer an 18-month scholarship program for earlycareer U.S. minority investigators. Applicants should be U.S. investigators who have received their terminal degree (MD, PhD, etc.) and are eager for the opportunity to work with a mentor scientist to complete a research project based upon an existing HIV research study in the HPTN. Support will be provided from June 2014 through November 2015 for successful applicants, who will be selected on a competitive basis. Deadline for contacting prospective mentors is December 13, Applications are due January 15, For more information, visit the HPTN website.

7 If you have questions about the Be the Generation Bridge project, please contact us at Subscribe Unsubscribe DISCLAIMER: The BTG Bridge Project is funded by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) within NIAID, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and is a collaboration between FHI 360/HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and the Legacy Project at the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC). You received this because you joined the Be the Generation enewsletter mailing list and gave permission to send you . We will not sell or rent your name and information to any third parties outside of the project. You may unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time by ing us at bethegeneration@nih.gov.