IRMA — They just rock the rump

 A sweet little ditty for ole IRMA

Anne Davis (pictured at right), featured as a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate in 2008, felt IRMA deserved a gift at the Microbicides 2010 conference, a ditty to capture our collective intentions, hope and energy. A sound studio, Imagine Audio Media which she’s worked with for years kindly produced the music to accompany her lyrics as their gift to IRMA. 

On recording day, when they didn’t have the singer they thought they would, she also did the vocals (first time ever). “Susan Boyle I am not," said Anne, "but I am so appreciative of the work IRMA does, I figured I would try my best.” 

The song was featured at the conference reception where IRMA's new report - "From Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy" - was launched. You can listen to it here.

The lyrics are:

IRMA — They just rock the rump.
IRMA — They’ve got the jump.
IRMA — From a crow’s nest perch.
IRMA — Advocating research!

For more pictures from the reception, and the rest of the M2010 conference, click here. 

African Women Begin Test of Vaginal Ring Intended to Kill HIV Virus

via Washington Post by David Brown

The first test of a long-acting vaginal ring loaded with an HIV-preventing drug has begun enrolling women in southern Africa. The new study is the 15th undertaken by the International Partnership for Microbicides, a nonprofit group in Silver Spring that has helped lead the search for a discreet, woman-controlled means of protection.

"This is the one that is most likely to work," Zeda Rosenberg, the head of the organization, said last week at Women Deliver 2010, an international conference on maternal and child health held in Washington.

For the full article click here.

Even More, More, More Microbicides 2010 Pics a la IRMA

Above pic a collage - courtesy of Katie West from the Global Campaign for Microbicides - documenting some of the activities at the Advocates Corner'.

Click here for more pics a la IRMA. 


Or you can watch the slide show on the left hand side of this blog.

Six existing drug classes now being tested as microbicides

via Aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

"Rectal cells are more easily infected by HIV, a microbicide can make the most obvious difference to their vulnerability; it offers the most protection to the most easily-infected tissue cells, but makes less difference to less easily-infected tissue."

A number of presentations at the 2010 International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh concerned microbicide research using established classes of HIV drugs that have not been used as microbicides before.

Maraviroc had previously shown only modest anti-HIV activity as a microbicide. The current studies confirmed that its potency in preventing infection of cervical and penile tissue was relatively modest, unless the cells are already in an inflammatory state. The fact that, despite this, it protected monkeys from vaginal viral challenge suggests in might be a very potent rectal microbicide.

Read the rest.

Treatment and PrEP could be on a ‘collision course’, warns resistance expert

via Aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

I’ve explained the importance of resistance at major think-tanks and people just don’t get it.

The world needs to prepare for a resurgence of HIV drug resistance if pre-exposure prophylaxis is widely adopted, a veteran HIV researcher warned the Microbicides 2010 Conference last week.

Dr John Mellors of the University of Pittsburgh has studied the dynamics of viral suppression and how drug resistance arises since the beginning of HIV therapy.

He admitted that, so far, “there are highly divergent opinions on whether PrEP will spread resistance." There is only one person in a PrEP trial with documented seroconversion while taking PrEP whose drug resistance was measured and this person turned out to have non-resistant ‘wild type’ virus.

However four PrEP trials are due to produce results by the end of this year – of drug users in Thailand, gay men in the USA, heterosexuals in Botswana and the multi-country iPrEX trial in gay men - and if one produces a significant result there will be pressure to roll out national programmes. Adopting these without careful monitoring could spread resistance to tenofovir and emtricitabine (FTC), currently the only drugs under study as PrEP.

Read the rest.

Microbicides: the quest for user-friendly formulations

via Aidsmap, by Gus Cairns

"Finally, a team have developed a vaginal microbicide as a film smaller than a stick of gum and as thin as a sheet of paper."

A large number of presentations at the Microbicides 2010 Conference in Pittsburgh documented the development of microbicides very different from gels or creams. Vaginal rings, quick-dissolve pills and thin films are all being tested.

Vaginal ring drug delivery

An intravaginal ring made from the plastic ethyl-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and loaded with the two drugs dapivirine and maraviroc – already found to enhance each other’s potency - can deliver therapeutic levels of both drugs for as long as a month, according to test-tube studies. Fifteen days after being placed in a water/alcohol mixture, the ring was delivering half a gram of dapivirine and a gram of maraviroc per day.

Vaginal/rectal tablets

The tablet is ‘bioadhesive’ – this means the voluminous gel gets the drug delivered to all the mucous surfaces needed and then dissolves away. It also binds the drug to the mucous membranes, concentrating it at the surfaces needed and guaranteeing a consistent level of drug over 8-12 hours.

Quick-dissolve film

The film is made of a thin polyvinyl alcohol polymer, a water-soluble synthetic plastic used in multiple consumer and biomedical products, including contraceptive films, contact lens solutions and mouthwash strips.

Read the rest.

[MORE LUBE] Understanding New Research on Lubricant Use During Anal Intercourse

[another great article regarding the lubricant data that came out of Microbicides 2010]

via About.com's Sexuality Blog, by Cory Silverberg

Two studies about the safety of lubricant use during anal intercourse were presented last week at the 2010 International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh. The data from the studies has yet to be published, but there have already been several write-ups about the research , which at first blush seem to suggest that using lubricant might be found to be associated with an increased risk of STDs. As Jim Pickett, the chair of the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) one of the organizations involved in putting on the conference, said to me in an email, what is key is that this research be discussed and interpreted without hyperbole. If you're confused by what you've read so far, you're not alone. Let's start with the research itself.

One was a laboratory study of six popular lubricants used during anal intercourse. Actually only five of them are popular for anal intercourse (Astroglide, Elbow Grease, ID Glide, KY Jelly and Wet Platinum), the sixth (Pre) was used because it is isotonic (more on that below). The popular lubricants were chosen based on a large global survey which asked over 9,000 people about lubricant use during anal sex. Researchers did not report on which specific style of each product was used in the research, but in one write up I read that the "basic formulation" was used from each brand. (Interesting side note from my years in sex shops: the lubricant Pre is a lubricant made specifically for women trying to conceive. In addition to being isotonic, it is the only lubricant on the market that is specifically designed not to harm sperm).

Read the rest.

Does Africa Need a Rectal Microbicide? The answer - YES!

A rectal microbicide as a new HIV prevention technology is urgently needed in Africa for the large number of people practicing anal sex.

Current HIV prevention efforts are unable to contain or reduce the spread of HIV infection through anal sex.

One of the highlights of Microbicides 2010 was the presentation Does Africa need a rectal microbicide?  by Salim S. Abdool Karim (Slim), Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research): University of KwaZulu-Natal, Director: CAPRISA, Professor in Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University and Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Cornell University.

The information Slim presented painted a deadly serious picture of neglect, denial, and criminalization with regard to the prevalence of anal sex among both men and women, as well as the near invisibility of gay men and other men who have sex with men in Africa despite harrowing rates of HIV. However, it was heartening and inspiring to have some serious. long-awaited attention paid to these issues - made all the better coming from one of the world's top researchers in the field.

Click here for his slides.


What follows is an excellent summary of the presentation by Henry Neondo via African Science News

Africa ripe for rectal microbicides

Africa needs microbicides for both vaginal and rectal use in prevention of mucosal infection of HIV, a mini-symposium at the ongoing International Microbicides Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US was told. The symposium heard that the contribution to HIV flame in Africa by the anal route is still under-reported and that time to unpack the myth was long overdue.

According to Dr Salim S. Abdool Karim, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), Univesity of KwaZulu Natal and Director of the Center for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, CAPRISA, Africa needs to take a leap from the assumptions that HIV is spread only through the penile route.

“But a rectal microbicide as a new HIV prevention technology is urgently needed in Africa for the large number of people practicing anal sex---namely the men who have sex with men, bisexual men and women”, he said.

Dr Karim said although data on anal sex is as rare as data on the true situation of HIV in men who have sex with men throughout Africa, anonymous surveys in various parts of Africa show interesting pictures.

In Cape Town, South Africa, a survey of 2593 men and 1818 women showed that 14% of men and 10% of women had anal intercourse in the past three months.

In KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, 40.8% of the surveyed reported practicing anal intercourse. Worse, 30% of these reported never or rarely using condom during an intercourse.

Dr Karim said consistent use of condom in anal sex was lower that peno-vaginal intercourse.

The same scenario is reflected in Kenya and Nigeria, which report that 12% of public secondary schools students practice anal sex.

In all these countries, people who do not have knowledge of any HIV infected persons, a poor knowledge of increased HIV risks and distant HIV test often tended to have unprotected anal intercourse.

Recent studies on MSM sex workers indicate widespread existence of MSM groups in Africa. The study showed at least 739 MSM sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya and 496 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Further, it is reported that HIV prevalence among MSMS in Egypt is 6.2% and 14% in South Africa, 21%  in Senegal and 33% in Zambia.

But no one can tell of the true picture. The situation, said Dr Karim is not helped by the whole challenges surrounding men who have sex with men in Africa.

Through out Africa, MSM and their needs are largely ignored in HIV prevention and treatment efforts.

“Current HIV prevention efforts are unable to contain or reduce the spread of HIV infection through anal sex”, he said.

This is largely enforced by partly legislation, socio-cultures and out right infringement on human rights.

He said same sex relations are criminalized in 37 out of 54 African countries and are punishable by death in four of these.

For example in countries such as Malawi, where 21.4% men who have sex with men live with the virus that causes AIDS, a court jailed two men for 14 years for what it termed gross indecency and unnatural acts.

In Uganda, a Bill is still pending in the Parliament that could provide for a death sentence for anyone practicing homosexuality.

Most AIDS prevention messages are targeted at the heterosexual men and women emphasizing the risks of transmission through peno-vaginal sex and not through anal intercourse.

Dr Karim said the needs of the many women who are unable to get men to use condoms in anal sex are ignored.

The whirlwind of anal lubricant news - let's get a grip!

There has been a TON of press in the last day stemming from the Microbicides 2010 conference regarding two new studies on the safety of lubricants used for anal sex.

Below is IRMA's press release, an audio recording of the press conference where this information was presented to the media, and a number of good, non-hyperbolic stories.

Following that is a note from Marc-André LeBlanc:
IRMA Steering Committee Member and Chief Lubricant Safety Expert

Next is a synopsis from our new report regarding IRMA priorities and activities regarding lube safety, and finally, a selection of the media coverage on this topic.

Researchers Charlene Dezzutti and Pamina Gorbach at M2010 the press conference

IRMA Press Release - Research on lubricant safety very past due

M2010 press conference on lubricants and rectal sex - audio recording courtesy of Bobby Ramakant

1. Rectal lubricants may enhance the risk of STIs - Aidsmap,by Gus Cairns
2. Some Sexual Lubricants Linked to Increased Risk for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, by Bob Roehr on Medscape  
3. Lubricants' use may put individuals at higher risk of HIV - by Bobby Ramakant for Citizen News Service 
4. Understanding New Research on Lubricant Use During Anal Intercourse, by Cory Silverberg for About.com

Dear IRMA members,

Imagine our excitement to see such an explosion of interest in lube safety!

As many of you know, this has been a core objective of IRMA's work for 5 years, and one of the reasons we formed at all. The whole idea behind the huge survey we launched in 2007 was to obtain data that would allow the field of lube safety research to move forward. We published the results of the survey -- to our knowledge the world's largest survey on anal sex and lubes with nearly 9,000 partiicpants in over 100 countries -- in our 2008 report Less Silence, More Science. And we are thrilled to report that the results have just been accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal and should be available very soon. Watch this space!

We will send out a notice for an IRMA call very soon, where we will provide an overview of the studies announced at M2010 this week, provide background on research done so far, and discuss plan for future research. This will also provide all of us with an opportunity to discuss messaging in relation to rectal safety of lubes.

In the meantime, we will continue to share information as it becomes available. For instance, you can check IRMA's lovely new report From Promise to Product for some background information -- including section 2.11 for some background information on testing of lubes, and section 4.4 for a description of IRMA's work in this area. The two sections are copied below for your reference.

It is truly wonderful to be poised for true progress on this critical issue and we welcome everyone's thoughts and efforts!

Sincerely,

Marc-André LeBlanc
IRMA Steering Committee Member and Chief Lubricant Safety Expert

Excerpts from report

What do we know about the rectal safety of sexual lubricants?

In addition to the studies released at M2010, a few others have assessed the relative safety of sexual lubricants, though not always looking at rectal safety specifically. These studies looked at:

    * Using in vitro and mouse assays to determine cellular toxicity, increased risk of HSV-2 infection, and epithelial sloughing caused by lubricants
    * Testing the osmolarity of lubricants
    * Using slug mucosal irritation assays to evaluate mucosal irritation caused by lubricants

The question remains: what do all of these studies tell us? We’re not sure. We still don’t know what assays should be used to determine the rectal safety of lubricants. Furthermore, even when studies find a wide range of values for their safety markers, we still don’t know to what extent—if any—some of these markers might indicate a higher risk of HIV transmission.

Relatively high levels of cellular toxicity, mucosal irritation, cell damage caused by hyperosmolar or hypo-osmolar products, inflammation, or epithelial sloughing could in theory increase the risk of HIV infection. However, this remains to be proven.

It is important to keep in mind that:

    * Some level of inflammation and irritation occurs naturally in rectal mucosa, even among healthy individuals;
    * Anal intercourse itself, as well as enemas and douching, causes some transient damage; and
    * Rectal epithelium regenerates quickly after minor damage or sloughing.

We must be able to compare normal levels of inflammation, irritation, cell damage and epithelial sloughing that occur among healthy individuals and those that are a result of AI. The question then becomes: does AI with lubes cause increased levels, similar levels, or lower levels of these markers compared to AI without lubes? Even if we were to find that some lubes cause higher levels of disruption, we would still need to investigate whether this translates into a higher risk for HIV transmission.

These questions remain to be answered, and we are still left with little data that can be translated into useful information that the public can use to make choices about lubricants. One thing to consider: if lubricants increase the use of condoms, that is probably a more important factor in preventing HIV transmission than any potential risk from lubes. For the moment, the use of lubes compatible with condoms is still considered to be an important risk-reduction tool for rectal transmission of HIV, and is likely to remain so. One day we may have valuable information on the relative safety of different lubricants, allowing users to make better informed decisions about which products they use.

IRMA’s advocacy on the safety of lubricants used for anal sex

Many men and women use sexual lubricants during AI, yet we know very little about the relative safety of these lubes. Obtaining safety data on products used as sexual lubricants for anal sex would be valuable for public health reasons.

Accordingly, IRMA prioritises advocacy for data collection on the rectal safety of lubricants. Wholly absent in current HIV prevention activities, a translation of this type of data into useful information for users, funders, programme directors, and policy makers would be of significant benefit to the field. Lessons learned in this undertaking will also provide valuable insights into message development on the safety and efficacy of vaginal and rectal microbicides, when these products become available.

Due to the paucity of this type of information, IRMA launched a global web-based survey in 2007 (see an overview of the results from this survey in IRMA’s previous report: Less Silence, More Science: Advocacy to Make Rectal Microbicides a Reality). The survey provided valuable information on lube use, preferences, and acceptability among nearly 9,000 men and women from over 100 countries, establishing a prioritised list of the most widely-used lubes to test for rectal safety.

A working group comprised of advocates and researchers was convened by IRMA to discuss the feasibility of testing sexual lubricants for rectal safety. While the working group identified significant scientific challenges that remain unaddressed to this day, there has been some progress.

IRMA’s action on lubricant safety includes the following activities:

    * Encouraging researchers to test lubes for rectal safety and to share their findings;
    * Facilitating dialogue among leading researchers and advocates within the working group on rectal safety of lubricants;
    * Compiling articles and studies related to lube safety, particularly for rectal use, and maintaining an updated background document on this issue;
    * Making IRMA’s list of most widely-used lubes available to anyone interested in testing lubes; and
    * Keeping IRMA membership updated on developments in this area.

Here is just a SAMPLE of some of the news stories 

generated on this issue -last updated July 5, 2010. Most recent coverage is at the bottom of the list.

1. Use of lubricants with anal sex could increase risk of HIV - Physorg.com
2. Lubricant Use May Raise HIV Infection Risk During Anal Sex - MSN
3. Risk of sexually transmitted disease three times higher when lubricant used with anal sex - Times LIVe Blog (South Africa)
4. Use of lubricants with anal sex could increase risk of HIV - Armenian Medical Network
5. Use of lubricants with anal sex could increase risk of HIV - Science Blog
6. Unprotected anal sex ups HIV risk 20-fold - Thaindian News
7. So Now Anal Lube Increases Your Risk of Getting HIV? - Queerty
8. Lubricants for Anal Sex May Increase Risk of HIV, STIs - POZ
9. Lubricant Use May Raise HIV Infection Risk During Anal Sex - U.S. News and World Report
10. Lubricant Use May Raise HIV Infection Risk During Anal Sex - Bloomberg Business Week
11. Unprotected anal sex ups HIV risk 20-fold - Sify News
12. Currently Available Lubricants Used For Anal Sex May Actually Make It Easier For HIV To Be Transmitted - Medical News Today
13. Lubricants may increase disease risk of anal sex, studies show - Los Angeles Times
14. Lube May Make Anal Sex More Risky - Gawker
15. Use of lubricants with anal sex could increase risk of HIV - HIV Atlas
16. Use of Lubricants With Anal Sex Could Increase Risk of HIV - Science Daily
17. IRMA: Research on lubricant safety very past due - Physorg.com
18. Lubricant Use May Raise HIV Infection Risk During Anal Sex - Yahoo News
19. Use of lubricants with anal sex could increase risk of HIV - e!Science News
20. Lubricant Use May Raise HIV Infection Risk During Anal Sex - MedicineNet.com
21. Why it is important to give that lubricant a second look - Africa Science News Service
22. Anal sex studies from Microbicides conference show increased HIV transmission risk with some lubes  - Examiner.com
23. Lubricant use with anal sex may raise HIV risk - DNA India
24. Some Lubricants May Increase Risk for HIV Infection - Bilerico Project 
25. Pelumas Berpotensi Tularkan HIV (Indonesia) - Media Indonesia.com (link is translated into English) - And here it is in Indonesian.
26. Lubricants' use may put individuals at higher risk of HIV - Modern Ghana
27. New Research Finds Using Lube During Anal Sex Can Increase HIV, STD Transmission - QueerSighted
28. Some Lube Safer For Anal Play - Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health
29. Unprotected anal sex ups HIV risk 20-fold - Mangalorean.com (India)
30. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates tries to clear the air on Microbicides studies - GLBTQ Jamaica Blog Watch
31. AstroGlide - Found to be the Most Toxic Personal Lubricant Tested - Condom Depot
32. The Slippery Slope of Reporting Sex Research: Anal Sex & Lubricants - Good Vibrations Magazine
33. Research into lubes has worrisome findings - Bay Area Reporter 
34. Facts, HIV, STI and Lube - La Porte Des Etoiles (Melbourne, Australia)
35. Lube Alarm - Metro Weekly 
36. Study: 4 of the 6 most widely used lubes are toxic - 365 Gay

IRMA oughta be in pictures - Microbicides 2010 paparazzi

Check out more pics on our Flickr page Microbicides 2010 a la IRMA - including lots from the wonderful launch party of our new report - From Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy.

Initial surveys of MSM in Nigeria show high levels of bisexual behaviour and low condom and lube use

via Aidsmap, by Gus Cairns 

Two surveys of men who have sex with men in Nigeria who are attending local HIV support organisations show that between a third and half of men who are attracted to other men define as bisexual and as many have had vaginal sex with a women as anal sex with a man.

The ‘snapshot’ survey adds another country to the list of African countries that have documented a hitherto invisible MSM culture – see recent report - and adds to evidence presented elsewhere at the Microbicides Conference that even in supposedly heterosexually-driven epidemics, anal sex may play a much larger role than previously thought. 

Read the rest.

Microbicides 2010 Headline News

Lot's of interesting stuff at the Microbicides 2010 conference. Below are some headlines worth clicking. IRMA will be sharing as many slide sets as she can get her hands on from this exciting meeting which had lots and lot of rectal microbicide content - stay tuned for that - and will be posting lots and lots of pictures and other goodies from these 5 glorious days in Pittsburgh. Pictures would have gone up sooner had IRMA not left a critical cord  for transferring the photos from camera to computer at home in Chicago.... Patience!

In the meantime - click and learn...


via Gus Cairns, Aidsmap

Crunch time for microbicides, says top researcher

Pregnancy poses HIV risk for men

Six existing drug classes now being tested as microbicides


Via Citizens News Service

Not just a handmaiden: Critical role of social science in HIV Prevention Research

Using ARVs to Prevent HIV Could Result in Drug Resistance

Microbicides that do more than gel

Robin Shattock opens Microbicides 2010 with the State of the ART of Microbicides

via Citizen News Service

The microbicides field has undoubtedly moved and shifted a lot in the past decade. Now, with first generation microbicides candidate products up and gone, antiretroviral treatment (ART)-drug based microbicides in spotlight, and only three major microbicides efficacy studies remaining, the need to lobby for increased funding of microbicides research and development, was never so compelling.

The need to bolster HIV prevention has certainly not dimmed - and so has the need to up HIV treatment, care and support which is becoming acute on daily basis. The International Microbicides Conference (M2010) opened with the plenary that cited UNAIDS data, from New York Times news (At Front Lines, AIDS War Is Falling Apart), "For every 100 people put on antiretroviral treatment (ART), 250 people are getting newly infected with HIV."

"People were already questioning that whether universal access to treatment is achievable without significantly reducing the number of new infections" said Professor (Dr) Robin Shattock, who is a Professor of Cellular and Molecular Infection in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at St George's University of London, UK.

"Donors were questioning too whether it is sustainable to continue the roll out of treatment across the globe" said Prof Shattock.

Read more.

Listen to the audio podcast of Prof Robin Shattock, courtesy of IRMA pal Bobby Ramakant.

HIV prevention research focus of International Microbicides Conference May 22-25

via EurekAlert!


HIV prevention researchers, policy makers and community advocates from more than 35 countries will be in Pittsburgh, May 22-25 to attend the 2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010).

Unlike previous meetings, M2010 will encompass a broader spectrum of HIV prevention research and related topics, hence the theme Building Bridges in HIV Prevention. In addition to discussing the latest research on microbicides – substances designed to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV when applied topically on the inside of the rectum or vagina – M2010 will also be a forum for discussions on male circumcision, pre-exposure prophylaxis and vaccines.

The size of the meeting, with about 1,000 participants, will afford media easy access to the field's leading investigators and newsmakers in global health, basic science, behavioral science and clinical trials research. Many of the meeting's participants are working on the front lines of the epidemic in parts of the world hardest hit by HIV and AIDS.

The scientific program includes six invited plenary and state-of-the-art lectures, nine cross-cutting symposia on emerging issues and trends in HIV prevention and more than 500 oral and poster abstract presentations reporting on original research. Among the findings to be presented and topics to be covered at M2010 are:

• Results of the first clinical trial to evaluate the safety of a vaginal microbicide in pregnant women and findings from a large prospective study in seven African countries looking at whether pregnancy can increase the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.
• Results of studies looking at the behavioral and biological factors that may help explain why HIV rates are so high among men and women who engage in unprotected receptive anal intercourse. These include studies looking at the effects of different over-the-counter lubricants on HIV risk and research focused on the development of rectal microbicides.
• New research aimed at expanding the pipeline of antiretrovirals (ARVs) for prevention, including results of the first primate study evaluating an integrase inhibitor as a topical microbicide. ARVs are drugs used in the treatment of HIV, and ARV-based prevention approaches are being tested in several ongoing clinical trials, with results of completed trials expected in the coming months. One concern is that these studies all involve the same drug. The challenges and promise of ARV-based strategies are key issues to be discussed.

All sessions will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh. A staffed press room will be available on site and media briefings will be held each day, with some available by teleconference. Information about media registration is available at http://www.microbicides2010.org/general-media-information.

The scientific program will be posted later this week at www.microbicides2010.org To receive e-mail updates and news releases or to request abstracts or additional details about the meeting, please contact Lisa Rossi at rossil@upmc.edu or +1-412-916-3315.

M2010 is the sixth biennial meeting of the International Microbicides Conference and marks the first meeting in the United States since the 2000 inaugural gathering in Washington, D.C. Other previous meetings have been in Antwerp, Belgium; London, England; Cape Town, South Africa; and New Delhi, India. Co-chairs of this year's conference are Sharon Hillier, Ph.D., and Ian McGowan, M.D., Ph.D., both of the University of Pittsburgh; and Gita Ramjee, Ph.D., of the Medical Research Council of South Africa.

More than 33 million people are living with HIV, more than two thirds of them in sub-Saharan Africa, according to UNAIDS. The number of new infections continues to outstrip advances in treatment: For every two people who begin treatment, five are newly infected. Globally, women account for half of all HIV infections, and in sub-Saharan Africa, women comprise 60 percent of all infected adults. Young women are especially vulnerable. In southern Africa women aged 15 to 24 are at least three times more likely than their male peers to be infected with HIV. Meanwhile, men who have sex with men (MSM) bear the burden of the epidemic in the United States and in other parts of the world, such as Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MSM of all races is the only risk group in the United States in which new HIV infections are increasing. Black heterosexual women represent the third highest risk group in the United States, after white MSM and black MSM, respectively.

[IRMA is going to be at this meeting in a BIG way - for one, we will be releasing our 2010 report here, titled "From Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy."]

Please Register Today: M2010 Pre-Conference Advocates Workshop

 

M2010 Pre-Conference Workshop
Saturday, 22 May 2010, 8:30am - 3:30pm

Westin Convention Center Hotel, Pittsburgh 1000 Penn Avenue, 

Pittsburgh, PA, USA 

Westmoreland Room, 2nd Floor 

(Lunch will be provided)

The Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), in close partnership with the African Microbicide Advocacy Group (AMAG), AVAC (Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention Research), the International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), and the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (PATF), will hold a free, day-long pre-conference workshop before the start of the official opening ceremony of the 2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010).

Register here - space is limited.

Dr. Salim Abdool Karim (pictured) of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) will give the keynote speech, guiding participants through an overview of HIV prevention research science and advocacy.

This workshop will feature seasoned advocates and researchers from the HIV prevention research field who will provide new and experienced advocates, community representatives, and trial staff with the latest updates and previews on topics to be presented at the conference. An array of thematic skills-building sessions also will be conducted including an introduction to new prevention technologies and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a short course on prevention research literacy and ethics, and training on advocacy and campaign building.

The M2010 Pre-Conference Workshop will take place from 8:30am to 3:30pm at the Westin Convention Center Hotel, located directly across from the site of M2010 (lunch will be provided).

Directions: The Westin Hotel (Westin Convention Center Hotel, Pittsburgh) is directly connected to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center by a skywalk.

REGISTER TODAY!

If you wish to attend the M2010 Pre-Conference Workshop, please register here.
Space for the M2010 Pre-Conference Workshop is limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Registrations will be accepted through 1 May 2010 or until we have reached capacity. 

PLEASE NOTE

* The Pre-Conference Workshop is scheduled to end before the official M2010 Conference Opening Ceremony scheduled for the evening of 22nd May 2010.

* We are not able to offer financial support to attend the pre-conference workshop. We welcome those already planning to attend M2010 to register for this workshop and to consider booking your flights in time to participate in this pre-conference event.

* After the conference, we will make the Pre-Conference Workshop materials and presentations available online for those unable to attend the conference and/or the workshop.

Microbicides 2010 - January 22 is DEADLINE DAY

Deadline for submission of 

scholarship applications and abstracts is

January 22, 2010 at 6pm EST 

EARLY REGISTRATION has been extended to February 15

SAVE on your conference registration fee! Register for the conference and submit your payment by January 22, 2010, to save over USD$50. Registration fees increase after 6:00 p.m. (eastern time) on January 22, 2010.

Visit the M2010 website.

Other key dates

February 12, 2010 at 6pm EST
    * Notification of scholarship awards and abstract acceptances

April 15, 2010 at 6pm EST
    * Deadline for submission of late breaker abstracts
    * Conference registration and housing deadline

Hope you will join many IRMA members (and over 1,500  other scientists, advocates, policy makers and funders) at this important, exciting conference on microbicides and other new prevention technologies - May 22 -25, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Visit the M2010 website and submit your abstract, apply for a scholarship, and register -  don't delay - January 22 is right around the corner.

Microbicides 2010 Announces Deadline Extensions

Good News! There is still time to submit your abstract and scholarship application. All conference deadlines have been extended.

M2010 Key Date Extensions

January 22, 2010 at 6PM EST

    * Deadline for submission of scholarship applications and abstracts

February 12, 2010 at 6PM EST

    * Early registration ends

February 15, 2010 at 6pm est

    * Notification of scholarship awards and abstract acceptances

April 15, 2010 at 6PM EST

    * Deadline for submission of late breaker abstracts

Visit the M2010 website.

Get inspired by Kadiri and help an IRMA advocate attend Microbicides 2010

Will you chip in?

TODAY - thanks to the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and IRMA members, we already have $3,485 in our John Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund to help support IRMA advocates attend the Microbicides 2010 conference coming up in Pittsburgh, May 2010.

We would like to bring that total to $10,000 - so we can help as many people as possible attend this important conference - and here is where you come in.

To donate to the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship fund, you may do so securely right here on this blog. In the upper left hand corner, there is a Chip In! box (just like the one right in this post) that allows you to donate whatever amount you would like via PayPal - securely.

The planners of M2010 are providing a large number of scholarships – so IRMA plans to fill in the gaps for rectal microbicide advocates who were unable to secure that support. We plan to release information on IRMA’s competitive scholarship process in early January 2009. Microbicides 2010 will be announcing their scholarships on February 1 – and IRMA will announce recipients of our support by March 1, 2010. IRMA scholarship recipients are required to have applied for M2010 support to be considered.

IRMA created the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund in late 2007. John was a valued, enthusiastic and delightful member of the IRMA Steering Committee for over a year. He passed away Thursday, September 27, 2007. An LGBTQ/human rights advocate for over 20 years, John was also a Person With AIDS since at least 1990.

His fund helped rectal microbicide advocates attend the M2008 conference in New Delhi. Click here for a list of scholarship recipients, including Kadiri Audu of IRMA Nigeria, who went on to become Community Vice Chair of IRMA's Steering Commitee. He wrote about his Delhi/Microbicides 2008 conference for the IRMA blog - which we have republished below.

We hope he will inspire you to chip in - anything at all helps!

----------------------

Correspondence from IRMA advocates
by way of India

M2008 memories and the path forward

Taking rectal microbicide advocacy
to the next level in Lagos

by Kadiri Audu, Lagos. Nigeria
[read Kadiri's bio]

First, I want to thank the organizers of Microbicides 2008, IRMA, AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship fund that gave me the opportunity to attend the M2008 in New Delhi.

New Delhi is beautiful and the weather was just alright. I do not know if there is any better place to have hosted the conference in India, the conference was exciting and wonderful. It was interesting to have met new advocates from other parts of the world, and it was also interesting to know that people from the developed world like the USA and Canada are actually leading the research on rectal microbicides. Also, the Advocates Corner was a splendid idea because it gave the John Shaw Scholarship recipients, new advocates, and other IRMA members the chance to meet one another and build networking links among ourselves. My favorite memory was the chance to meet other advocates and the dinner organized for the conference participants.

I have been sharing my experience of the conference with members of the various networks that I belong to in our meetings. In addition to sharing my experience, I also share some materials that I collected at the advocates corner, i.e. stickers, pens and posters carrying the message about the conference.

In taking rectal microbicide advocacy to the next level, we have already formed Lagos IRMA, the aim is to mobilize more advocates in line with IRMA research and activities. We have even started e-mailing in that regards - our email address is lagosirma@yahoo.com, myself and Abdullrahaman formed it. He is also a new advocate that attended the conference and we operate from the same city. As of today we have 21 new members from our community.

Presently we are looking at reaching out to more people and groups like the youth leaders, the artisan groups like the hair dressers association, barbers association, the auto mechanic association, etc within our locality.

I would also like to suggest that we have training opportunities for us and our new members so as to be able to carry on the work effectively.

Thanks once again.
Kadiri Audu E

January 4 Deadlines for Microbicides 2010

The Scientific Program Committee for the 2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010) invites papers of high quality in the areas of HIV prevention research.  Abstract submissions are peer-reviewed for scientific content, logical presentation, timeliness, and current interest of the topic to the scientific community. IRMA members are highly encouraged to submit.

DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Authors should submit abstracts no later than 6:00 p.m. (eastern time) on January 4, 2010.

Click here for more info on submitting an abstract. Please let IRMA know if you submit something.

Click here for scholarship information. Scholarship applications are also due January 4, 2010. IRMA members are highly encouraged to submit an application. IRMA will have limited funds to help members attend the conference as well - but will be predicated on an individual  unsuccessfully applying for M2010 support. More info on IRMA's scholarship program will be rolled out in the new year. In the meantime, please support the program and chip in via the widget located on the upper left hand side of this blog. Thanks to the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we have $3,000 already secured for IRMA scholarships. Anything you can chip in will supplement that amount. THANKS! Read more about this here.

Click here to register.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Send an IRMA Advocate to Pittsburgh!

Will you chip in?

by Roy Wadia, IRMA Steering Committee Member

I was one of the lucky recipients of the first round of John Shaw scholarships, to attend Microbicides 2008 in New Delhi. I'd been with IRMA (the former IRMWG) for a while by that time, and while I'd done a lot of HIV/AIDS advocacy and communications work during my time at WHO China and then at the BC CDC in Canada, I'd never really focused on microbicide issues until my introduction to this amazing group.

The more I delved into the subject matter, which initially seemed rather arcane, the more I realized its importance in the global response to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and STI. By focusing on rectal microbicides, an issue linked directly to the need to focus on anal sex and its role in the HIV/AIDS picture -- and yet one that is still not widely discussed or given its due in both scientific and advocacy circles -- IRMA and its membership has helped fill a conspicuous gap, prodding scientists, researchers and advocates alike.

The Delhi conference itself was an amazing chance to network, to meet some extraordinary individuals, and to experience that rather wonderful and long-overdue moment when the health minister of India, the conference host country, mentioned rectal microbicides as a weapon in the (if you'll pardon the unfortunate pun) arsenal to fight HIV/AIDS. It brought home the work that IRMA had been doing, and renewed our sense of mission and purpose. For this scholarship recipient it vindicated the work that's being done by so many of us, and I can only say that the John Shaw scholarship (named after a fearless advocate and lovely man) needs to continue and to be strengthened in the years to come.

-------------

IRMA created the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship Fund in late 2007. John was a valued, enthusiastic and delightful member of the IRMA Steering Committee for over a year. He passed away Thursday, September 27, 2007. An LGBTQ/human rights advocate for over 20 years, John was also a Person With AIDS since at least 1990.

His fund helped rectal microbicide advocates attend the M2008 conference in New Delhi. Click here for a list of scholarship recipients.

TODAY - thanks to the generosity of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, we already have $3,000 in the Fund to help support IRMA advocates to attend the Microbicides 2010 conference this coming May in Pittsburgh.

We would like to bring that total to $10,000 - and here is where you come in. Will you chip in to help a rectal microbicide advocate attend M2010?

To donate to the John Shaw Memorial Scholarship fund, you may do so securely right here on this blog. In the upper left hand corner, there is a Chip In! box that allows you to donate whatever amount you would like via PayPal - securely.

The planners of M2010 are providing a large number of scholarships – so IRMA plans to fill in the gaps for rectal microbicide advocates who were unable to secure that support. We plan to release information on IRMA’s competitive scholarship process in December 2009. Microbicides 2010 will be announcing their scholarships on February 1 – and IRMA will announce recipients of our support by March 1, 2010. IRMA scholarship recipients are required to have applied for M2010 support to be considered.

Thank you for your support!