Meet Octavio Vallejo, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of  Octavio Vallejo, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Octavio is one of five new bios posted this week.

Octavio Vallejo
Los Angeles, California, USA

Octavio Vallejo has been working in the HIV prevention field for more than 22 years. As an HIV+ gay Latino man, Octavio has long recognized the need for additional methods of protection for young gay men and other men who have sex with men. His involvement with rectal microbicides came through his interactions with scientists such as Dr. Ian McGowan and Dr. Ross Cranston. Their passion for this issue was contagious and soon Octavio became involved with IRMA's active body of passionate researchers and advocates.


Octavio was drawn to IRMA by its spirit of inclusion and the resolve, resilience, and passion shown by the advocates connected with IRMA. He works for the Capacity Building Assistance program at AIDS Project Los Angeles as a Biomedical Prevention Specialist. This role have given Octavio more opportunities to share evidence-based information to all parties interested in changing the course of the HIV epidemic and educate them about the new generation of prevention tools and approaches.

Currently, Octavio and his fellow staff members are in the process of creating the platform to bring microbicide advocacy to the forefront of all their trainings, educational endeavors and prevention discussions.

Thank you Octavio for your continued dedication to HIV/AIDS prevention advocacy! 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Javier Lopez, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out Javier Lopez's mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Javier is one of five new bios posted this week.

 

Javier Lopez

New York City, USA

Javier Lopez first learned about rectal microbicides when his partner worked for Project Gel in Puerto Rico. Javier was immediately impressed by the creativity of this approach to HIV prevention as promotion of condoms alone is often difficult in all populations.

Soon after, he attended a talk on rectal microbicides by IRMA's Jim Pickett at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City. Then he was hooked and snatched up a few "Rectal Pride" stickers that now fabulously adorn his Ipad cover.

Javier has long been an advocate for HIV testing and for years has been involved in the HIV prevention fight in Puerto Rico. During his undergraduate studies he took part in numerous educational sessions for HIV/STI prevention in gay men. Currently, Javier is working as an assistant research scientist at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies that seeks to improve intervention screening practices for acute HIV infection in primary care setting in New York City. Soon Javier will be taking his education further as he enters the Masters of Public Health program at Hunter College in New York City.

Javier is also proud to have been a part of the recently launched HIV testing campaign for the CDC called "Reasons/Razones" which targets Latino gay and bisexual men to consider their reasons for getting tested. More information about this exciting campaign is available here.

Javier is excited to be a rectal microbicide advocate because he believes that it is important for this research to continue and that youth of all backgrounds should get involved.

Thank you Javier!

 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Stephen McGill, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Find out a little about Stephen McGill in his mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Stephen is one of five new bios posted in the past week.

 

Stephen McGill

Monrovia, Liberia 

Stephen McGill, with an extensive background in public health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and human rights advocacy, first came into contact with rectal microbicide advocacy when he joined the highly-active IRMA listserv through the help of ACT UP Philadelphia and Health GAP. As an active member on the listserv, Stephen is able to engage with experts, researchers, and activists on the potential of rectal microbicide research in combating HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, notably his native Liberia.

Stephen is founder of Stop AIDS in Liberia (SAIL), one of three organizations that received small Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) grants to advocate for improved access to safe, condom- compatible lubricant So far, Stephen and SAIL have organized stakeholders meetings to promote condom compatible lubricants with other local organizations in Liberia, Sierra  Leone, Guinea, Gambia, and Cote d'Ivoire. In Liberia, Stephen has met with many organizations and media outlets including the Ministry of Gender and Development and the Ministry of Justice.

Stephen would also like to tell IRMA's followers to keep up the great work promoting diversity in advocacy, policy, and research. We are all looking forward to hearing more about Stephen and SAIL's advocacy efforts to improve lube access.

Thanks Stephen! 

 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Hailey Gilmore, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Find out a little about Hailey Gilmore in her interesting mini-bio, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Hailey is one of five new bios we are featuring.
 

Hailey Gilmore
San Francisco, California, USA

Hailey Gilmore studied international development in college and was always interested in sexual health promotion and education. While in school she interned at a local non-profit and developed a sex-ed workshop for youth in trade school. During this time she also became a volunteer HIV test counselor. This introduction to sexual health work opened the door for her current position as the Assistant Director of HIV Prevention Intervention Studies at Bridge HIV at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She has been with Bridge HIV, supporting and coordinating clinical trials, for over four years.

Her organization conducts HIV prevention clinical trials testing HIV vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and soon, rectal microbicides. Bridge HIV also studies behavioral interventions.

A little over a year ago, her organization was approached by the Microbicide Trials Network about conducting MTN-017, a phase II safety and acceptability study of rectally applied tenofovir gel among gay men, men who have sex with men, and transwomen in the US, Peru, Thailand, and South Africa. Hailey and her colleagues are incredibly excited for the MTN-017 launch later this year.

Hailey is also busy with the HPTN 069 study, or NEXT-PrEP, which is looking at the safety and tolerability of four daily oral regimens of PrEP. She is also analyzing qualitative data about people's motivations to take PrEP to better address advocacy strategies.

Hailey and her group will also soon be hosting a screening of "The Rectal Revolution is Here" in July to engage the San Francisco community on the topic of rectal microbicides.


Hailey would like to encourage IRMA to continue to find additional community allies to partner with - rectal microbicides are just too exciting to not talk about!

Thank you Hailey! 

------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Meet Coco Alinsug, A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of  Coco Alinsug, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Coco is one of five new bios posted this week.

  
Coco Alinsung
Boston, Massachusettes, USA

A native of the Philippines and a resident of Lynn, Massachusetts with his partner, Coco Alinsug has made a lifelong commitment to devote his time and energy to social justice, HIV/AIDS prevention, and issues facing LGBT youth.

Coco started his career as an HIV Counselor and Tester at the Gay and Bi Men's Health Program in Beverly, MA and later was appointed as the Executive Director of the North Shore Alliance on GLBT Youth which is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to provide HIV/STI education to youth 14-24 years old - a position he has held for eight years.

Currently Coco works as the Clinical Trials Field Recruitment Manager at The Fenway Institute where he has been for nearly seven years. It was in this role that Coco first came into contact with rectal microbicide advocacy as he was tasked with recruitment for all clinical trials, including the rectal microbicide study called Project Gel.

In his role at Fenway, Coco oversees outreach and recruitment for research studies looking at everything from possible HIV vaccines to microbicides to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV transmission. Coco and his team travel around New England, educating people about HIV and STD transmission and safer sex practices while also recruiting potential study participants.

Coco is also Chair for Community Education and Recruitment group for both HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) and HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and sits as a member of the protocol team for two studies, HVTN505 and HPTN069. Coco also is a consultant for various HIV and STD Outreach Programs both in the North Shore and Boston, and sometimes organizes and hosts shows in several clubs.

Coco would also like to encourage IRMA to keep up the good work and always stay fabulous.

Thank you for all your work Coco, and you stay fabulous too!


------------------- *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content. -------------------

Soooooooo..... Are Lubes Safe?

via Positive Lite, by Marc-André LeBlanc

"This situation is unacceptable. We’re in 2013, for the love of all that is wet and wild! How can we not know the answer to such a fundamental question—are lubes safe?" 

 Here I am again, standing in front of a giant wall of lube options at a local store.

• Water-based, silicone-based, oil-based, hybrid.
• Bottles, tubs, tubes, vats, vials, sachets, packets, pouches, pillows, mix-it-at-home kits.
• Pumpable, flippable, squeezable, scoopable, squirtable, spritzable, speadable.
• Regular, warming, cooling, tingling, numbing.
• Thick, thin, goopy, watery, greasy, sticky, slippery, silky, slick.
• Long lists of unpronounceable chemicals, claims of being organic or all-natural.
• Scents. Flavours. Colours.
• Formulated to look like cum!
• And of course, wildly varying prices.

I’m glad I’m not meeting that guy for another three hours. 

So which lube should I get? Which ones are safe? Which ones should I avoid? 

Who knows!

No, seriously. Who knows? If I don’t, I can only assume nobody else does. After all, I coordinate the global Lube Safety Working Group for IRMA—International Rectal microbicide Advocates. 

This is the shocking reality: more than 30 years into the HIV pandemic, we still have no clear answers on whether sexual lubricants (lubes) increase, decrease, or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs sexually transmitted infections (STIs). 

Many men, women and transgender individuals all across the globe use sexual lubricants for both vaginal and anal intercourse. We have long promoted the use of male or female condoms with condom-compatible water-based or silicone-based lubes to prevent HIV and other STIs. Lubricants help ensure that condoms don’t break, and that condoms stay on during sex. So, it’s pretty critical we understand if any of these condom-compatible lubes could actually be putting people in harm’s way. 

One thing is clear: we will not get an answer to the lube safety question without advocacy.

Read the rest.

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  *Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

  -------------------

IRIN PlusNews: Lack of lube hurts HIV prevention

via IRIN PlusNews

“Key populations - such as MSM and sex workers - who need the lubricant the most, often get their health-related services from local NGOs, which are not often included in [HIV/AIDS] policies or broader [health] programmes,” explained Bidia Deperthes, a senior HIV adviser with UNFPA’s Comprehensive Condom Programming division in New York.

KATHMANDU, 21 February 2013 (PlusNews) - Safer-sex messaging on condoms is universal but the generally poor availability of lubricants, and awareness of them, is hindering HIV prevention, health activists warn.

Some personal lubricant - or “lube”- has been shown to lower the risk of HIV transmission by decreasing the risk of condoms breaking.

Despite preliminary proof of lube’s efficacy, far less of the product is procured and distributed than condoms, leading people to use alternative, sometimes harmful, substances during intercourse such as butter or petroleum jelly; oil-based lubricants weaken latex, making the condom more likely to break.

Activists say, however, that a blind spot in research on lubricants as a part of HIV prevention programmes means not enough is known about their impact on HIV risk.

Read the rest.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

  *Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.

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Challenges for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States

via PLoS Medicine, by Gordon Mansergh, Beryl A. Koblin, Patrick S. Sullivan

Summary Points:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with anti-retroviral (ARV) medications is partially efficacious for preventing HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals.

As PrEP becomes available and prescribed for use among MSM a better understanding of willingness to use PrEP and avoidance of condom use are needed so that behavioral programs and counseling may be enhanced for maximum benefit.

Targeted messaging will be needed about ARV prophylaxis for various at risk populations, but the general message should be that condoms continue to be the most effective way to prevent HIV transmission through sex and that PrEP is an additional biomedical intervention.

As new effective biomedical intervention methods, such as PrEP, become available language about “protected” and “unprotected” sex, which used to exclusively mean condom use, will need to adapt.

Read the full article here.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Sustainable HIV prevention possibilities present choices, challenges

via Science Speaks, by Antigone Barton

When he looks at what biomedical science can do in the next decade to prevent HIV transmission, Jim Turpin of the National Institutes of Health said, he thinks of the lyrics of a Timbuk3 song: “The future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.”

By, which, actually, he means — don’t get blinded by the light; the search for answers will require focus.
“The challenge is not the lack of options,” he said, “but prioritizing the best options.”

Turpin, program officer and branch chief in the Prevention Sciences Program in the Division of AIDS at NIH”s  National Institute of Allergy and Infection Disease spoke this morning in webinar titled “The HIV Prevention Pipeline: A Future of Possibilities.” The webinar was sponsored by the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) and AVAC Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention.

After a series of disappointments in the quest for a vaccine or microbicide to prevent HIV transmission, the last two years offered hope, in strategies using antiretroviral medicine to prevent acquiring HIV, organizers point out. But, with a diversity of prevention needs and challenges among women and men worldwide still demanding answers, is that all there is?

Or, as Turpin put it, “Do we currently have what it takes to create a sustainable prevention pipeline?”

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Policy Implications of The Lancet MSM & HIV Series

via Center for Strategic & International Studies

In light of the need to address key populations in the HIV epidemic, the Center for Strategic and International Studies is convening several authors to discuss a special issue of The Lancet focused on the global HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Thursday, September 6th
3:00pm—5:00pm (EST)
B1 Conference Room
Center for Strategic and International Studies
1800 K Street NW, Washington, D.C.

CSIS will host a dialogue focusing on the domestic and global policy implications of the new research and modeling presented in this special issue. Articles examine the subject from a variety of perspectives, including epidemiology, biological and behavioral factors in HIV transmission, the success of various interventions, costing a comprehensive response, and HIV among black MSM in the United States and elsewhere. Authors will discuss why current programs are failing and HIV epidemics among MSM are still increasing. Sharon Stash, CSIS Global Health Policy Center Senior Advisor, will moderate the discussion with authors Chris Beyrer, Kenneth H. Mayer, Greg A. Millett, and Patrick S. Sullivan, and discussant Chris Collins. The session will open with concise presentations of the key findings and policy recommendations, with the majority of the time reserved for questions and discussion.

Please RSVP at: http://SmartGlobalHealth.org/Lancet

Thank you,

J. Stephen Morrison
Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center
Center for Strategic and International Studies

Access the webcast here.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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The HIV Prevention Pipeline: A Future of Possibilities

via IRMA/AVAC, presented by Jim A. Turpin

Please register for this teleconference.
 
Meeting Description:

In the last two years there has been great progress in ARV-based prevention strategies - both in terms of PrEP and microbicides. Specifically, there has been enormous excitement and promise around two drugs - tenofovir and Truvada. And more recently, studies testing Dapivirine and Maraviroc have gotten underway.

But...  is that all there is?  What is happening in terms of pre-clinical work?

In this teleconference brought to you by IRMA and AVAC, the NIH's Jim Turpin will examine current and emerging prevention candidates and delivery systems beyond pills, gels and rings, giving us a fascinating peek into the HIV prevention pipeline that we don't often hear about, well before large efficacy trials are imagined, even before small Phase I safety studies are in the picture.

Jim will ask the questions on all of our minds: Is a sustainable pipeline of HIV prevention products beyond the current array of candidates possible? What does that look like? And what can advocates do to better engage in early, pre-clinical efforts years before human trials are in the picture?

Join our call to hear his answers - and provide your own.

Click here to convert the time of this call to your time zone.

When you register for the call, you will be provided a list of global toll-free dial in numbers., If you need us to dial you into the call, please let us know your number when you register. We will only dial in individuals who don't have access to toll-free numbers.

Presentation slides will be made available on the IRMA website here at least a day in advance of the call. You may download the slides and follow along that way, or simply log in to the ReadyTalk web interface on the day of the call and watch the slides there.

This call will be recorded. The recording will be made available on the IRMA website within a day or two after the call.

Questions? Email IRMA at rectalmicro@gmail.com - thanks!

Register for this meeting here.



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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Translating clinical efficacy into public health effectiveness

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

At the recently concluded XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), not only the decibels went up on ending AIDS but also sane voices were heard demanding a well-costed and thought-through strategy on how to end AIDS. One of the strategies that will complement a comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support plan to end AIDS is preventing HIV transmission. In this context, we need to look beyond the Phase III trials in HIV prevention research so that if the product being tested is proved to be effective, we have the means and well-thought plan to make it available for those people in need, without delay.

The HIV prevention research is certainly going ahead with rectal microbicides phase II efficacy clinical trials (MTN017) about to begin in four countries (US, Thailand, South Africa and Peru), US FDA's approval to use 'Truvada' as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, vaginal microbicides research and HIV vaccine science progressing ahead, treatment as prevention (TasP) getting a buy-in as never before, among other positive developments that give us hope.

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Community engagement is key as rectal microbicides research progresses ahead

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

While interviewing a range of experts involved with research, development and advocacy of new HIV prevention tools at the recently concluded XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), I was reminded of a transgender woman who had said to me in an interview four years back that: "There is no doubt that we need more HIV prevention options - current options don't work especially for people like us... and this is the only possible reason to motivate me to advocate for new prevention options."

This community expert further added: "...'perfect' technologies that disregard social realities don't necessarily deliver results..." The need to engage affected communities as research moves ahead, and engage them with dignity as equal partners is the key to ensure that finally we develop products that are efficient and also when they become available, are actually used by populations in need.

Read the rest.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Anal health is not just a gay issue: Women need rectal microbicides too

via Citizen News Service, by Bobby Ramakant

"It is high time that anal health and hygiene comes out of the closet" said Dr Ross Cranston from University of Pittsburgh, USA. Dr Cranston was referring to the multitude of anal health complications people practicing receptive anal sex are likely to be dealing with in their lives and very little quality care and products that exist to relieve them. The awareness level in people (women, men, transgender women) who reported to practice receptive anal sex was abysmally low.

Zero per cent of such respondents had knowledge related to their anal cancer risk, and just half of them knew about Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV - the virus that causes genital herpes). Awareness certainly needs to be upped in people practicing receptive anal sex.

 

Read the rest.

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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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What kind of prevention do gay men need?

 via aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

How do we stop the hyperepidemic in gay men?

A number of presentations at the 19th International AIDS Conference explored the 'hyperepidemic' of HIV amongst men who have sex with men, and especially black MSM.

A paper presented by Gregorio Millet (pictured above at a White House reception honoring people working in AIDS) showed that, at least in the USA, the extremely high incidence and prevalence of HIV in this group is not driven by higher levels of unsafe sex. Instead, very high prevalence, the ease with which HIV is transmitted during anal sex, and the fact that black men (and some other subpopulations of gay men) have sex within small and multiply-connected networks have created a situation in which HIV is hard to avoid.

Given this, what prevention methods would work in gay men? The one that has been talked about most keenly and which continued to generate a great deal of data and debate at Washington was pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) - taking antiretrovirals (ARVs) to prevent, rather than treat, HIV.

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Most young Thai MSM define as heterosexual, even if they mainly have sex with men

via aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

A large, randomised sample of 21-year-old Thai men, presented at the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington recently, has found that by far the largest risk factor for HIV infection is gay identity. Contrary to the oft-quoted saying “it’s not who you are, but what you do,” actual male/male sexual behaviour, while still an important risk factor, was not as strongly associated with being HIV positive as gay identity.

The survey was conducted among over 35,000 army conscripts from all parts of Thailand. All 21-year old Thai men enter a lottery at the age of 21 for conscription into the Thai army and of these half a million young men, 60,00 to 100,000, in any year, are conscripted, twice a year in May and October.

This survey thus constituted a truly randomised, cross-sectional survey of the 21-year-old men who were inducted into the Thai army in May 2011. It was conducted no more than two weeks after induction and therefore serving in the army had no influence on the results. Men from all provinces in Thailand were included and from both urban and rural areas.

The survey found that 7% of respondents had had sex with another man (MSM) but that only 1.1% only had sex with men.

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Interim Guidance for Clinicians Considering the Use of Preexposure Prophylaxis for the Prevention of HIV Infection in Heterosexually Active Adults

via Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

In the United States, an estimated 48,100 new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occurred in 2009 (1). Of these, 27% were in heterosexual men and women who did not inject drugs, and 64% were in men who have sex with men (MSM), including 3% in MSM who inject drugs. In January 2011, following publication of evidence of safety and efficacy of daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg (TDF)/emtricitabine 200 mg (FTC) (Truvada, Gilead Sciences) as antiretroviral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk for HIV acquisition among MSM in the iPrEx trial, CDC issued interim guidance to make available information and important initial cautions on the use of PrEP in this population.

Those recommendations remain valid for MSM, including MSM who also have sex with women (2). Since January 2011, data from studies of PrEP among heterosexual men and women have become available, and on July 16, 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label indication for reduction of risk for sexual acquisition of HIV infection among adults, including both heterosexuals and MSM.* This interim guidance includes consideration of the new information and addresses pregnancy and safety issues for heterosexually active adults at very high risk for sexual HIV acquisition that were not discussed in the previous interim guidance for the use of PrEP in MSM.

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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[Project ARM] GLAM Lube Distribution Survey

via Survey Monkey, for [Project ARM] GLAM Lube Distribution Survey

Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete this survey on lubricant distribution in your country.

International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) has launched a special initiative called "Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides" to ensure rectal microbicide research and advocacy are on the African map.

The top priority of Project ARM is lube access for people who engage in anal intercourse.

Condoms and safe, condom-compatible lubricant should be used during anal intercourse to provide protection against HIV and other STDs. Safe, condom-compatible lubricants are also used by many women who desire extra lubrication during vaginal intercourse. Condoms used without proper lubricant can break.

With partners amfAR and AVAC, Project ARM has developed the GLAM campaign (Global Lube Access Mobilisation) in an effort to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubes for individuals in Africa and other countries where lube access is poor.

Your answers to these questions will inform a "tool kit" that is being developed to support lube access advocacy and implementation.

Access the survey here.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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Legal barriers and stereotypes block care services for same sex couples

[Citizen News Service and IRMA are collaborating to amplify rectal microbicide research and advocacy, as well as IRMA-led initiatives, throughout AIDS 2012, and after.]

via Citizen News Service, by Jittima Jantanamalaka

Despite alarming HIV rates amongst the men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender people, many countries, community leaders, media and society at large continue to hold discriminating stereotypes against them. "Punitive laws will drive MSM and transgender populations underground" rightly said Aradhana Johri of Department of AIDS Control, Government of India. In US alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, although Black American MSM people represent only 13 percent of the US population but they account for about 44 percent of the new HIV infections particularly among those aged 13 -19.

Unless we protect the rights of same sex couples to live a life of dignity, and discourage those who are judgemental about their same sex behaviour, not only we will fail to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and same sex behaviour, but also fuel homophobia and negative perceptions about HIV testing. People will continue to choose to hide their high-risk behaviour and not seek counseling and testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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AIDS 2012: Meet Rig

via BETA, by San Fransisco AIDS Foundation

Rig Rush of the Black AIDS Institute is the “mobilization coordinator of everything gay black male,” an advocate of better and earlier sex education for youth—and a volunteer in a rectal microbicide trial.

Throughout the MTN-007 study, which looked at the safety and acceptability of a gel containing the HIV drug tenofovir (Viread), Rig had regular HIV tests, answered questions about his sex life, underwent rectal exams and uncomfortable biopsies—and helped bring another HIV prevention tool one step closer.

The charming Mr. Rush spoke with BETA about his experience in the trial, his advice for others considering joining a microbicide study, and what words of wisdom he would give to his younger self if he could.

Rig was also featured as one of IRMA's Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocates.  Check it out here.

Read the rest.


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*Join IRMA's robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new HIV prevention technologies by contacting us at rectalmicro@gmail.com. Joining our listserv automatically makes you a member of IRMA - a network of more than 1,100 advocates, scientists, policy makers and funders from all over the world.

*Please look for us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/InternationalRectalMicrobicideAdvocates, and you can follow us on Twitter: @rectalmicro.

*Also, please note that shared news items from other sources posted on this blog do not necessarily mean IRMA has taken any position on the article's content.
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