Meet Pedro - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

Check out this interesting mini-bio of Pedro Goicochea, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Pedro is one of six new bios just posted today, including individuals from Kenya,Thailand and the US.  Each will be featured on the blog, and you can read all of them here right now.




Pedro Goicochea
San Francisco, California

"It took us more than 30 years to realize that there is not one unique strategy to prevent HIV acquisition, and that combination prevention is key, and rectal microbicides must be part of the prevention toolbox."

Originally from Lima, Peru, Pedro is in charge of communications and community relations for the iPrEx OLE study, the open-label continuation of the iPrEx trial. iPrEx is the study that showed daily oral use of the ARV drug Truvada among gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender women worked to prevent HIV.

He enjoys his work because of the invaluable opportunities it provides for him to meet interesting people who are working really hard on finding ways to stop this epidemic. He takes pride in the sensitivity his team shows to community members and for highlighting their needs with scientists and stakeholders. Besides iPrEx OLE, Pedro also just finished a couple of other projects related to the feasibility of voluntary circumcision for HIV prevention in gay men and other MSM, and neonatal male circumcision for HIV prevention, in the jungles of Peru.

In his spare time Pedro loves to ride his bike. He enjoys "having destinations that I reach through the effort of pedaling." Pedro's biggest life influence was his mother, but he is also blessed to be surrounded by excellent people that have been an inspiration. In addition, he has lost several friends to HIV and this motivated him to do something about it.

He was introduced to rectal microbicides and IRMA when he met IRMA chair Jim Pickett through IRMA steering committee member and IRMA-ALC co-founder Jerome Galea. He believes that any strategy to help end the epidemic is useful and thinks that rectal microbicides are an important prevention technology because anal sex is the primary mode of HIV transmission among gay men and other MSM, and that women practice anal sex more than is reported or fully understood.

Pedro has played an important role on the soon-to-be-released IRMA video ("The Rectal Revolution is Here: An Introduction to Rectal Microbicide Clinical Trials") being developed in partnership with the Microbicide Trials Network and Population Council. He is part of the team's Video Advisory Committee and has provided invaluable feedback on content and messaging. He also worked closely on the focus groups (especially those conducted in Lima, Peru) which were designed and implemented to test the "rough cut" of the video with different populations to help ensure the proper messages are coming through. He says it has been a very inspirational expereince and he is really looking forward to see the final release. IRMA plans to release the final version of the video in early September, 2012.

Thanks Pedro, for all that you do!


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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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Tia IRMA Launches Her First Video with Besos Negros and Love

Hola! Soy la Tia IRMA!

Introducing Tia IRMA (Auntie IRMA), a character created by IRMA's South American chapter IRMA-ALC (housed at Epicentro) to create awareness about rectal microbicides in a fun way.

This is the first of a group of videos that will try to explain, in a very colloquial way, everything you might want to know about rectal microbicides, PrEP and many other subjects.

In this episode, Tia IRMA and Tony (her nephew) promote her blog Canal Anal , where visitors will find useful information, tips and other relevant news on sex and HIV written by Tia IRMA and her friends. A group that includes a transgendered neighbor, a gay nephew and a very straight husband, since the idea is clear: Everybody is having anal sex, so don´t be shy!

A real, live, in-the-flesh Tia IRMA is going to participate in most of the LGBT community events this year in Peru (where she was born) and she expects to become more popular than Kim Kardashian, with a bigger and wiser butt ;)

Besos negros!

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Gratitude, Love, and XOXO from IRMA

Dearest IRMA members -

Just a quick note to say THANK YOU for everything you have done this year to advance the research and development of safe, effective, acceptable, and accessible rectal microbicides for the human beings who need them.

I think IRMA has had a banner year - and the reason it was so incredible is YOU.

Here are some highlights. Feel free to chime in with your own - this list is by no means exhaustive of all the fabulous things IRMA, and the field as a whole, have been up to...

- With thanks to AVAC, in 2011 IRMA greatly expanded our advocacy footprint in South America with a strengthened IRMA-ALC (America Latina y el Caribe). Based at the gay men's health organization Epicentro in Lima, Peru, IRMA ALC has been invigorating rectal microbicide and PrEP advocacy throughout the region, and is now perfectly poised to engage with the upcoming Phase II rectal microbicide trial MTN 017 that will include a site in Lima.  Pictured above is Tia IRMA (Auntie IRMA) - a character created by IRMA-ALC to help share information on rectal microbicides, anal sex, lubricants, etc  - and make it fun/funny :)

- In 2011, IRMA secured funding from MAC AIDS Foundation, the Microbicide Trials Network, and the Population Council to develop a short, fun video about rectal microbicide science and clinical trial involvement. We actually JUST HIRED a production company (based in Cape Town, South Africa), and will begin work on the project in earnest as soon as the clock switches to 2012. The video will be something that all our advocates can use, and will be especially helpful for folks in cities where advanced rectal microbicide trials are planned as the video will be designed to support site recruitment activities. We plan to have this baby ready to go by the time MTN 017 launches in mid-year.

- IRMA successfully launched a new initiative called Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides. With support from the National Institutes of Health Office of AIDS Research, the New Venture Fund, and AVAC - we held a fantastic kick-off meeting with 40 individuals in Addis Ababa in early December, and came up with a whole set of advocacy and scientific activities designed to fully engage Africa in rectal microbicide research and advocacy. A report from the meeting - a road map of sorts - will be released at Microbicides 2012. But not content to wait, the group that met in Addis is already busy getting started on Project ARM goals and objectives - and will be reaching out to our broader IRMA membership in 2012 to help move us all forward.

None of this would have happened without our amazing membership - so much love and gratitude to you all. You make me so happy and proud :)

I am excited to say that I am headed to Thailand tomorrow. IRMA is helping conduct civil society consultations in Bangkok and Chiang Mai in conjunction with MTN 017 - similar to the ones that were held in Cape Town and Pittsburgh already (and are being planned for Boston and Lima.) This will be a great opportunity for IRMA to expand it's membership in Thailand. And I must say, my slides that have been translated into the Thai language look STUNNING - the Thai script is so lovely.

Actually, the announcement of MTN 017 was another HUGE highlight in 2011. It will be the field's very first Phase II rectal microbicide trial - how cool is that?! We will be sure to tell you more about it once the protocol is finalized in the new year - including a global teleconference which will explain all the details.

If you have other highlights to share regarding our field - please feel free.

In the meantime, best wishes to each of you, and happy, happy, happy New Year.

Jim Pickett
IRMA Chair


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

LGBTQ Discrimination Undermining HIV Prevention in Guatemala

via IPS News, by Danilo Valladares

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people "face discrimination in health centres due to homophobia and transphobia, and do not receive treatment tailored to our needs. That's why we still represent the largest number of cases of HIV," Valdez told IPS.

Among men who have sex with men in the country, 7.6 percent were HIV-positive in 2010, according to the study "Intensificación de las acciones de prevención y atención integral en VIH y sida en grupos vulnerables y áreas prioritarias de Guatemala" (The Intensification of Preventive Actions and Integral Attention to HIV/AIDS in Vulnerable Groups and Priority Areas of Guatemala), carried out by World Vision.

However, other organisations put the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among sexual minorities much higher.

A total of 22,647 cases of HIV/AIDS were officially reported in Guatemala between 1984 and 2010, according to the ministry of health and social assistance, although NGOs say that figure would grow considerably if it included the unregistered cases.

Meanwhile, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) estimates that more than 65,000 people in this Central American country of 14 million people are living with the disease, many of them without even knowing it.

Valdez said the country has taken "few steps" for preventing the spread of HIV among vulnerable groups.

But one of the advances made was the opening of five clinics catering to members of sexual minorities.

"This kind of service should be available in all hospitals, in order to eliminate homophobia, which is the biggest hurdle we face," he said.

Read the rest here.


[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

IRMA-ALC Promotes Rectal Microbicides in Lima with Humor and Tia Irma

Report from IRMA-ALC - our South American chapter. Don't you just love Tia Irma??? Check out the cute video below...

The Sexual Diversity Festival took place on Miraflores, a district of Lima on  Saturday, Cctober 8th. Epicentro was one of the hosting organizations

IRMA ALC participated with Epicentro in our stand.. We had a roulette wheel with sexual health questions and categories, and one of the categories was "Pregúntale a la tia Irma" or ask aunt Irma… And basically it was 5 simple questions about rectal microbicides to better understand what people know about them.

Also we had the video promoting Tia Irma (the idea is to promote IRMA as a character), and to inform people about rectal microbicides but in an informal and funny way.





[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

Using Conjoint Analysis to Measure the Acceptability of Rectal Microbicides Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Four South American Cities

via Pubmed.gov, by Kinsler JJ, Cunningham WE, Nureña CR, Nadjat-Haiem C, Grinsztejn B, Casapia M, Montoya-Herrera O, Sánchez J, Galea JT.

Abstract

Conjoint Analysis (CJA), a statistical market-based technique that assesses the value consumers place on product characteristics, may be used to predict acceptability of hypothetical products. Rectal Microbicides (RM)-substances that would prevent HIV infection during receptive anal intercourse-will require acceptability data from potential users in multiple settings to inform the development process by providing valuable information on desirable product characteristics and issues surrounding potential barriers to product use. This study applied CJA to explore the acceptability of eight different hypothetical RM among 128 MSM in Lima and Iquitos, Peru; Guayaquil, Ecuador; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Overall RM acceptability was highest in Guayaquil and lowest in Rio. Product effectiveness had the greatest impact on acceptability in all four cities, but the impact of other product characteristics varied by city. This study demonstrates that MSM from the same region but from different cities place different values on RM characteristics that could impact uptake of an actual RM. Understanding specific consumer preferences is crucial during RM product development, clinical trials and eventual product dissemination.



[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

2012 International Microbicides Conference Scholarship Opportunity!

via International Microbicides Conference Secretariat

Do you need funding to attend M2012?

The M2012 organisers are pleased to announce that scholarships are available to attend the conference in Sydney, Australia. Scholarships will be offered in four categories that each have distinct criteria:

1. Research
2. Community
3. Government Official/ Public Health Policy
4. Media

Click here to find out how to apply for the scholarship.

For more information please visit the conference website http://www.microbicides2012.org/



[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]

IRMA ALC Presents on PrEP and Rectal Microbicides for Lima's Gay Community

by Steve Miralles

On May 11th, IRMA ALC (América Latina y el Caribe), based at Epicentro Gay Men’s Community Center in Lima, Peru, hosted a presentation on PrEP and rectal microbicides.

More than 15 men attended the presentation that was facilitated by IRMA-ALC leaders Steve Miralles and Jerome Galea.

The 15 community members included doctors, lawyers, psychologists and others participated in an open discussion/dialogue about these HIV prevention interventions under investigation and information was shared on the current state of the field of rectal microbicides and the inclusion of Lima in a RM study hopefully in 2012. 

Also, the results of the PrEP study (iPrEx) which took place in Lima was discussed along with the study’s results and how PrEP could change the HIV panorama.

Participants received IRMA's Spanish edition of the report “From Promise to Product” (De la Promesa al Producto: Avanzando en la Investigación y Promoción de los Microbicidas Rectales) AVAC fact sheets on iPrEx and other information and resources available in Spanish thanks to the IRMA-ALC team.

Now underway is the preparation of a radio program about rectal microbicides and iPrex to be aired in July on Epicentro's weekly program Espacio Común and an article for the next edition of Epicentro's magazine La Antena.

Visit IRMA ALC on Facebook. And check out the IRMA ALC page on the IRMA website to see some of those Spanish resources.

Also available in Spanish are IRMA's documents on lube safety:

Safety of lubricants for rectal use: A fact sheet for HIV educators and advocates

Safety of lubricants for rectal use: Questions & Answers for HIV educators and advocates

[If an item is not written by an IRMA member, it should not be construed that IRMA has taken a position on the article's content, whether in support or in opposition.]