Visit IRMA and check out these resources today

Are you looking for informational resources?  As you know, there is a TON of info right here on this blog, but have you visited the IRMA website lately? 

In addition to materials (in English, Spanish, Russian, and French) we have a growing catalogue of informational resources in the following sections on our site under the Resources tab: Teleconferences, Community Presentations, IRMA Materials, Other Published Materials.

Here are a few highlights from Other Published Materials, a section which highlights published research of interest to IRMA members:

"Heterosexual Anal Sexuality and Anal Sex Behaviors: A Review", Kimberly R. McBride and J. Dennis Fortenberry, Journal of Sex Research, 47(2–3), 123–136, 2010

"Perceptions of anal sex in rural South Africa" by Catherine Ndinda, Chiweni Chimbwete, Nuala McGrath, and Robert Pool in Culture, Health & Sexuality, 10:2, 205 - 212

And in the IRMA Materials section, you can find our "Rectal Microbicides: The Basics" presentation - above.

The adapatable presentation, prepared in May, 2010, comes complete with talking points. Slides may be edited as appropriate. To download the actual slide set, click here.

IRMA members and other community advocates are encouraged to use this presentation and help increase awareness and education around rectal microbicides. IRMA is available for any technical assistance needs - just send an email to rectalmicro@gmail.com.

Please plan to join us for two IRMA hosted global teleconferences in September.

*CHARMed - An update on the Combination HIV Antiretroviral Rectal Microbicide program
Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 10am eastern
More details will be available closer to the call date.

Join Ian McGowan, Principal Investigator, to learn about the status of CHARM - the Combination HIV Antitretrovial Rectal Microbicide Program - a 5-YEAR, $11 million project funded by the NIH.. The purpose of CHARM is to develop rectal-specific anitretroviral microbicides. Candidates include tenofovir, UC781, and a combination of tenofovir and UC781. Learn more in Section 2 of IRMA's report "From Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy."


*The Basics of Drug Development Science – Nothing to be scared of!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 10am eastern
More details will be available closer to the call date.

Enhance your advocacy skills and bone up on some of the basics. Jim Turpin of the Microbicide Research Branch at the National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will explain the basic science of drug discovery – the research that happens before we move on to Phase I safety testing in people. Many of us find basic science confusing, daunting, and scary. Jim will show us that it doesn’t have to be any of those things, and is in fact, fascinating!