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. -------------------

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.

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

  *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.

  -------------------

Announcing Version 2.0 of the GLAM Toolkit for lube access advocacy in Africa– now in French and English

Today IRMA, in collaboration with amfAR and AVAC, is excited to release a re-designed Version 2.0  of the GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa. The Toolkit is now available in French in addition to English – making it more useful for Francophone speakers in Africa – and the new design makes it easier for advocates to use.

And it looks great!

The Toolkit provides background on the status of lubricant (lube) access in Africa and suggests potential strategies for civil society and government partners to secure and distribute sustainable supplies of safe, condom-compatible lube. Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) is a campaign of IRMA’s Project ARM (Africa for Rectal Microbicides) initiative.

They are available on the IRMA blog here where you can also learn more about GLAM and Project ARM. And the Toolkits can be downloaded as PDFs in French and English from the IRMA website.

In April, IRMA, amfAR and AVAC announced three grants to organizations in Liberia, Zambia and Nigeria to campaign for access to safe, condom-compatible lubricants in their communities. Learn more about these grants here.

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

*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 1,200 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. -------------------

VIDEO: IRMA's Jim Pickett - Condoms Not Enough in HIV Fight

"Using condoms for your entire sexual life works for some people. And for others, it doesn't." 

Video via Be The Generation

IRMA chair Jim Pickett discusses the need for new ways to prevent HIV, like rectal microbicides.


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

 *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 1,200 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.

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

TIME SENSITIVE: Have You (or Your Organization) Endorsed Our Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety Yet?

Have you and/or your organization endorsed the Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety yet? (lists or endorsers in formation below.)

We are going to be closing the call soon, so please make your move on lube safety NOW.

Click here to read the Call and to endorse.

We must KNOW whether water-based and silicone-based lubricants used during sex are safe or not, whether they cause harm, or not. Right now we don’t know – but we DO have some data that has raised some concerns. These concerns must be addressed through research, the questions we have must be answered.

Make your voice heard – endorse the Call.

ORGANIZATIONS who have endorsed the Call = 159 to date

1.  Abra Advanced Research International Pte Ltd, Singapore
2.  ACON, Australia
3.  Act for Change, Ghana
4.  Act Up/East Bay, USA
5.  ActionAIDS, USA
6.  Adam's Love, Thailand
7.  ADEFHO, Cameroon
8.  Adhikaar, India
9.  Affirmative Action, Cameroon
10. African Alliance for HIV Prevention, South Africa
11. African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR), South Africa
12. Afrique Arc En Ciel, Togo
13. AIDES, France
14. AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, USA
15. AIDS Foundation of Chicago, USA
16. AIDS Project Los Angeles, USA
17. AIDS Services for the Monadnock Region, USA
18. AIDS United, USA
19. AKPAKA Axel, Benin
20. ALPHA Pittsburgh, Inc., USAALPHA Pittsburgh, Inc.
21. ALTERNATIVE CÔTE D'IVOIRE, Cote D’Ivoire
22. Anova Health Institute, South Africa
23. Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health, Thailand
24. Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers, Thailand
25. Astitva - An Organisation for the Support and Development of Sexual Minorities, India
26. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Australia
27. AVAC, USA
28. Blue Diamond Society, Nepal
29. Canadian AIDS Society, Canada
30. Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE), Canada
31. Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canada
32. Caribbean Association of Midwest America, USA
33. Case/UH Microbicide Clinical Trials Community Advisory Committee, USA
34. Center for Applied Research on Men and Health (CARMAH), Vietnam
35. Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Malawi
36. Centre for the Development of People, Malawi
37. Chengdu Tongle, China
38. Chicago Female Condom Campaign, USA
39. Chicago Women's AIDS Project, USA
40. Citizen News Service – CNS, India
41. Club des 7jours, Togo
42. C-NET+, Belize
43. Coalition Internationale Sida PLUS, France
44. COCQ-SIDA, Canada
45. COMMUNITY AND FAMILY AID FOUNDATION-GHANA, Ghana
46. Community Information Center, USA
47. CONCEPTO VIH-SIDA E ITS, Mexico
48. Davryan Laboratories, Inc (Probe lubricants), USA
49. Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, South Africa
50. Diversity And Solidairty Trust, Sri Lanka
51. DUH Demonstration for Universal Healthcare, USA
52. Epicentro, Peru
53. Equal Opportunities, Tajikistan
54. Evolve, Cameroon
55. Family Planning Council, USA
56. Fenway Institute at Fenway Health, USA
57. Freedom and Roam Uganda, Uganda
58. Fundacion Manodiversa Bolivia, Bolivia
59. Gala Initiative Uganda, Uganda
60. GALAEI, USA
61. Gay City Health Project, USA
62. Gay Men’s Health Crisis, USA
63. Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance, Canada
64. Gel Works Pty Ltd, Australia
65. Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), USA
66. Global Network of People Living with HIV, North American (GNP+NA), USA
67. Global Network of Sex Work Projects, UK
68. Global Research and Advocacy Group (GRAG), Senegal
69. GlobalGayz.com, USA
70. GrenCHAP Inc., Grenada
71. GWLmuda, Indonesia
72. Health Digest Foundation, Ghana
73. HealthHIV, USA
74. Heroes Project, India
75. HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, USA
76. House of Joe, USA
77. Housing Works, Inc., USA
78. Humanity First Cameroon, Cameroon
79. Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, USA
80. India HIV/AIDS Alliance, India
81. Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, Canada
82. International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health, Nigeria
83. International Planned Parenthood Federation, UK
84. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), USA
85. International Youth Council-Nigeria, Nigeria
86. IRMA ALC - América Latina y el Caribe, Peru
87. IRMA Nigeria, Nigeria
88. ISHTAR-MSM, Kenya
89. Iskorak, Croatia
90. Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Jamaica
91. Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health and Human Rights, USA
92. Joint Adherent Brothers and Sisters Against Aids, Uganda
93. Los Angeles County HIV Drug & Alcohol Task Force, USA
94. Louisiana Latino Health Coalition for HIV/AIDS Awareness, USA
95. MAACA, INC, USA
96. Maritime Life Precious Foundation, Ghana
97. Men Against AIDS Youth Group, Kenya
98. Men For Health and Gender Justice Organisation, Botswana
99. Microbicide Trials Network, USA
100.  Minnesota AIDS Project, USA
101.  MUSC/Lowcountry AIDS Services Consumer Advisory Board, USA
102.  NAM Publications (Aidsmap), UK
103.  National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition, USA
104.  National Minority AIDS Council, USA
105.  Naz Male Health Alliance, Pakistan
106.  New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Nigeria
107.  Okaloosa AIDS support & Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), USA
108.  PEMA Kenya, Kenya
109.  Penitentiary Initiative, Ukraine
110.  People Like Us (PLUS) Kolkata, India
111.  PeterCares House, USA
112.  POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS Network), USA
113.  Positive Mind & Body Support Group Network, USA
114.  Positive Women's Network USA, USA
115.  Presbyterian AIDS Network, USA
116.  Pride Equality, Sierra Leone
117.  Pro Health Initiative, Nigeria
118.  Professionals in Pride Kenya (PPK), Kenya
119.  Project Inform, USA
120.  PT Foundation, Malaysia
121.  Puerto Rico Community Network for Clinical Research on AIDS, Puerto Rico
122.  Queer Alliance Nigeria, Nigeria
123.  QUEEROCRACY, USA
124.  Rainbow Community Kampuceah, Cambodia
125.  Rainbow Sunrise Mapambazuko, DR Congo
126.  Rainbow-Ethiopia in Exile (REE), USA
127.  Real Opportunities Network, Ghana
128.  San Antonio AIDS Foundation, USA
129.  San Francisco AIDS Foundation, USA
130.  SEA-AIDS (Asia Pacific eForum on HIV), India
131.  SIBALT, Russia
132.  SID'ADO, Cameroon
133.  Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Guyana
134.  SOMOSGAY, Paraguay
135.  START at Westminster, USA
136.  Stichting AidsCare, The Netherlands
137.  Tamba Pwani, Kenya
138.  Tanzania Sisi Kwa Sisi Foundation, Tanzania
139.  Terrence Higgins Trust, UK
140.  Test Positive Aware Network, USA
141.  The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health, USA
142.  The Initiative for Equal Rights, Nigeria
143.  The Mpowerment Project, USA
144.  The Yes Yes Company Ltd, UK
145.  Total Health Empowerment and Development (THEDI), Nigeria
146.  Treatment Action Group, USA
147.  Trigg Laboratories, Inc., USA
148.  Uganda Health and Science Press Association, Uganda
149.  UNITED AND STRONG INC, Saint Lucia
150.  Vivir. Participacion, Incidencia y Transparencia, A.C., Mexico
151.  Vote For Health Campaign, India
152.  We For Civil Equality NGO, Armenia
153.  William Way LGBT Community Center, USA
154.  Women`s Health, HIV and AIDS Southern Africa, Zimbabwe
155.  Womenplus Against TB and HIV in Kenya, Kenya
156.  Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative, Nigeria
157.  Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance, USA
158.  World AIDS Forum, Australia
159.  Youth Voices Count, Thailand

Endorse.

INDIVIDUALS who have endorsed the Call = 310 to date

1.  Adam Fairris, UK
2.  Ako Cyriaque Yapo, Senegal
3.  Alan Johnson, USA
4.  Alapini Max, Benin
5.  Alberto Abello, USA
6.  Alex Carballo-Dieguez, USA
7.  Alicia Gauvin, USA
8.  Allison Boyd, USA          
9.  Amoussou Damien, Togo
10.  Andrew Reynolds, USA
11.  Angel Luis Hernández, Puerto Rico
12.  Ann Jones, USA              
13.  Ann Joseph, USA
14.  Anna Forbes, USA         
15.  Anna Saeger, USA
16.  Anne Lehocky, USA      
17.  Antonio Gonzalez, USA
18.  Arick Buckles, United States
19.  Ben Bavinton, Australia
20.  Ben Clapham, USA
21.  Ben Wilcock, Australia
22.  Bertram Johnson, United States
23.  Beth Galaska Burzuk, USA          
24.  Bi Petex, Uganda
25.  Bisi Alimi, United Kingdom
26.  Blake Smith, UK
27.  Bobby Ramakant, India
28.  Brian Kanyemba, South Africa
29.  Brian M. Green, USA
30.  Brian White, South Africa
31.  Briana Morgan, United States
32.  Brooke Willis, USA         
33.  Butch McKay, USA                         
34.  Cameron Wolf, USA
35.  Caren Kirkland, USA      
36.  Carlos Vela, Peru            
37.  Carrie E .Foote, USA
38.  Cassandra Warren, USA              
39.  Cassie Bayside, Australia
40.  Celina Londono, USA
41.  Champion Phiri, South Africa
42.  Chanthorn Phorng, Cambodia
43.  Charlene Dezzutti, USA
44.  Charles, Uganda             
45.  Chheav Aphyra, Cambodia
46.  Chiranjivi Amgai, Nepal
47.  Chris Bartlett, USA
48.  Christian Rumu, United States
49.  Christopher B. Duerkes, USA
50.  Chull Sesugh Stanley, Nigeria
51.  Clare Collins, USA
52.  Clayton Ruley, USA
53.  Collins Seymah Smith, Ghana
54.  Cory Silverberg, Canada              
55.  Courtney McCrellias, USA
56.  Dahlia Ferlito, USA
57.  Dan Kilbane, USA
58.  Dana Loxley, Australia  
59.  Dana Nelson, USA
60.  Daniel MacDonald, USA
61.  Daramola Christianah, Nigeria
62.  Darrel Johnson, United States
63.  David Acosta, USA
64.  David G Ostrow, USA
65.  David Kuria, Kenya
66.  David Phillips, USA         
67.  Deb Tolenaar, USA
68.  Deirdre Grant, USA       
69.  Denis Efremov, Russia
70.  Derrick Mapp, USA
71.  Don Pults, USA
72.  Donald MacIver, USA
73.  Donn Colby, Vietnam   
74.  Doug Brown, UK
75.  Doug McColeman, Canada
76.  Douglas Masinde, Kenya
77.  Douglas Warzyn, USA   
78.  Douomong Yotta Serge, Cameroon
79.  Dr Stuart Koe, Singapore
80.  Dr. Michael W. Plankey, USA
81.  Dredge Kang, USA
82.  Drew  Nannini, United States
83.  Duncan Japhta Khothatso Moeketse, South Africa
84.  Durueke Florita, Nigeria
85.  Dustin Kight, USA
86.  Ed Wolf, USA
87.  Edie O'Connor, United States
88.  Edward Fuchs, USA
89.  Edward Iwanicki, USA
90.  Eniko Akom, USA
91.  Eric Arnold Fopossi, Cameroon
92.  Eric Evans, USA
93.  Eric M Glare, Australia  
94.  Erich Schneider Ormeño, Peru
95.  Erik Libey, USA
96.  Erik Streeter, USA
97.  Ernest MOSEKI, Botswana
98.  Essiomle Ethie, Togo
99.  Eva Westley, United States
100.  Fiona Hale, UK
101.  Gabriel Boichat, Spain
102.  Gail Broder, USA
103.  Garland Wood, USA      
104.  Garry Brough, UK
105.  Gary Paul Wright, USA
106.  Gbekou, Togo
107.  Gennady Roshchupkin, Russia
108.  George Kerr, USA          
109.  George Miller-Zauner, USA
110.  George Pappas, USA
111.  George Reginald Freeman, Sierra Leone
112.  George Victor O, Kenya
113.  Georges S., Togo
114.  Georges Sideris, France
115.  Gerard Nkundimana, Rwanda  
116.  Gina Brown, USA
117.  Glenn Kornblum, USA  
118.  Gregg Kimball, USA
119.  Hanna Hjord, USA          
120.  Hannah Graves, Canada
121.  Heidi Nass, USA
122.  Heidi Wesbrock, USA   
123.  Helen, USA
124.  Henrieese Roberts, USA
125.  Hugo Dann, Canada
126.  Ian Lemieux, US             
127.  Ivan Cruickshank, Jamaica          
128.  J. Jeff McConnell, USA 
129.  Jace Dyckman, USA
130.  Jack Cox, USA
131.  Jade Patten, USA
132.  James Carrington, United States
133.  James Komar, United States
134.  Jamie Roberts, USA
135.  Jamie Sims, USA
136.  Jason Jacobs, USA
137.  Jason King , USA             
138.  Jean-Michel Brevelle, USA
139.  Jeff Berry, USA
140.  Jeffrey Pope, USA         
141.  Jennifer A. Hawley, USA
142.  Jeremy Kwan, Malaysia
143.  Jerome Galea, USA       
144.  Jeton Ademaj, USA
145.  Jim Cosenza, USA
146.  Jim Eigo, USA
147.  Jim Merrell, USA            
148.  Jim Pickett, USA
149.  Joan Tallada, Spain
150.  John Andrews, USA
151.  John Hamiga, USA         
152.  John Kashiha, Tanzania
153.  John McAllister, Botswana
154.  John Peller, USA             
155.  Jorge Gutierrez, USA
156.  Jorge Yon, Peru
157.  Joseph Alfano, USA
158.  Joseph Walker, USA
159.  Joyce Hunter, USA
160.  Jules Eloundou Atamba, Cameroon
161.  Julian Sanjivan, USA      
162.  Julie Davids, United States
163.  Kadiri Audu, Nigeria
164.  Karen Creary, USA         
165.  Karon Stephen, France
166.  Kasha Jacqueline, Uganda
167.  Kate Alexander, USA
168.  Kate Morrow, USA
169.  Kay Marshall, USA
170.  Kees Rümke, The Netherlands
171.  Keith Gereffi, USA
172.  Kelly Curran, USA
173.  Kennedy Otieno Olango, Kenya              
174.  Kenny, USA
175.  Kent Klindera, United States
176.  Kevin DeLuca, USA
177.  Kevin McKenzie, USA
178.  Kieta D. Mutepfa, USA
179.  Krishna Stone, USA
180.  Kyon Saucier, USA
181.  Larry Baxter, Canada    
182.  Laurel Sprague, United States
183.  Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, India
184.  Leo Schenk, The Netherlands
185.  Lillibeth Gonzalez, USA
186.  Linda Watson, Canada
187.  Loren Jones, United States
188.  Luis Galarza, Ecuador    
189.  Mac-Darling Cobbinah, Ghana  
190.  Maheswar Satpathy, Australia 
191.  Marc-André LeBlanc, Canada    
192.  Marcelo Maia, USA       
193.  Margaret Onah, Nigeria
194.  Marie Camacho, USA   
195.  Marie Omorodion, USA
196.  Mark Hubbard, USA      
197.  Mark Ing, USA 
198.  Mark S. King, USA          
199.  Marlon Woodward, USA
200.  Martha Tholanah, Zimbabwe
201.  Mary Brewster, United States
202.  Mathew Rodriguez, USA
203.  Matt Bray, USA
204.  Matthew Franck, USA
205.  Matthew Rose, USA
206.  Matthew Vaughan, Thailand
207.  Melanie A Reese, USA
208.  Michael Louella , USA   
209.  Michael Luciano, USA
210.  Michael Moore, USA    
211.  Michael Trigg, USA
212.  Mike Kennedy, Australia            
213.  Mike Peters, USA
214.  Mombunza Azuba, DR CONGO
215.  Monique Newell, USA 
216.  Morenike Ukpong, Nigeria        
217.  Muriel Visser, France   
218.  Mykaila Ostrom, USA
219.  Mykal Welch, Belize
220.  N. Nash, USA
221.  Naigaga Lillian Mutengu, Uganda
222.  Nathan Solomon, USA 
223.  Nicholas Bates, Australia
224.  Nnamani Ikechukwu Sammy, Nigeria
225.  Olumide Makanjuola, Nigeria
226.  Omullo Paul, Kenya
227.  Orbit Clanton, USA
228.  Otis Richardson, USA
229.  Patricia Segura, Peru
230.  Patrick French, USA
231.  Paul Causey, Thailand
232.  Pedro Goicochea, USA
233.  Penny DeNoble, USA
234.  Pham Thi Hanh Van, Vietnam
235.  Phillis Washington, USA
236.  Pilot Mathambo, Botswana
237.  Prince N. Bahati, Kenya
238.  Ramon Nunez III, USA
239.  Rebecca Giguere, USA 
240.  Remigus Emodi, Nigeria
241.  Rev. Charles Straight, USA
242.  Ricardo Jimenez, USA
243.  Richard Coover, USA
244.  Rita Lisa Labbett, US     
245.  Rob Camp, Spain
246.  Robert Aponte, USA
247.  Robert Birch, Canada
248.  Roger Cunha, USA
249.  Roger Pebody, UK         
250.  Roger Prasad, Canada
251.  Roger Tatoud, UK          
252.  Roy Wadia, India            
253.  Rukia Ahmed, Kenya
254.  S. Wakefield, USA
255.  Santiago Palomino, Peru
256.  Sasha Gear, South Africa
257.  Scot More, USA
258.  Scott Robertson, Zambia             
259.  Sedar, Benin
260.  Sergio Farfan, USA
261.  Shawn Decker, United States
262.  Shayna Buhler, Canada
263.  Shivani Thaker, USA
264.  Shreena, India 
265.  Sibusiso, South Africa
266.  Simon Odiwuor, Kenya
267.  Siobhan Fee, UK
268.  Solomon, Kenya
269.  Srun Srorn, Cambodia
270.  Steave Nemande, Cameroon
271.  Stephen Karpiak PhD, United States
272.  Stephen McGill, Liberia
273.  Stephen Miller-Zauner, USA
274.  Steve Miralles, Peru     
275.  Steven S. Muchnick, PhD
276.  Stuart Koe, Singapore
277.  Sue Saltmarsh, USA      
278.  Suman Nepal, Nepal
279.  Suraj Madoori, USA
280.  Susan Forrest, USA       
281.  Susan Lloyd Yolen, USA
282.  Susie Hoffman, USA
283.  Sylvie Rouby, France  
284.  Tendai F Mbengeranwa Mhaka, Zimbabwe
285.  Terence Roethlein, United States
286.  Teresa Springer, USA
287.  TG Green, USA
288.  Thandi Maluka, South Africa
289.  Theresa Rubin, USA      
290.  Thomas Haig, Canada
291.  Tiedjou Joseph Achille, Cameroon
292.  Timothy Frasca, USA     
293.  Timothy Kee, United States
294.  Titcha Ho, USA
295.  Trenado, France
296.  Trevor Pearson, USA
297.  Troy, USA
298.  Tung Duy Bui, Thailand
299.  Udom Likhitwonnawut, Thailand
300.  Vanessa Smith, USA
301.  Victor Rollins, Bahamas
302.  Vikram, USA
303.  Wanda Brendle-Moss, USA
304.  Wanda Commander, USA
305.  Will Wilson, USA
306.  William Booth, Canada
307.  Wolf Graf, Australia
308.  Yolanda, USA   
309.  Zoe Duby, South Africa
310.  Zoran Dominkovic, Croatia

Endorse. 

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

*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 1,200 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.

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

African Common Position Paper Highlights Importance of Condom-Compatible Lubes and Rectal Microbicide Research

Our friends at AIDS Accountability International (AAI), in conjunction with The African Union Commission (AUC), recognised the need for greater African civil society organisation representation in the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) process. So, tt was decided to create the African Common Position (ACP) on ICPD to reflect and include the perspectives, recommendations and expertise of African stakeholders.

The full ACP is available here. To sign on and endorse the Civil Society African Common Position please click here.

IRMA is excited to report that the need for safe, accessible, condom compatible lubricants as well as support for rectal microbicide research in Africa have been highlighted in the just completed African Common Position Paper (ACP) on ICPD. Our Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides effort is having an impact!

The specific sections on lube and rectal microbicides are as follows:

4.4.10. Recognise the need for further research into the role of anal and vaginal sexual lubricants for use as a tool to prevent HIV, STI’s and unplanned pregnancies, as well as its safety for users and compatibility with various other ingredients and condom varieties. Commit to making access to quality and affordable lubricants a reality for all people, as well as commit to funding for training and support for condom compatible lubricant use;

4.4.11. Train all health care workers, as well as procurement and head office ministry staff on new and evolving SRHR commodities especially with regard to HIV treatment and prevention technologies, this includes but is not limited to understanding the current vaginal and rectal micro-biocide and pre exposure prophylaxis fields in general and their specific programming implications for women and girls.

IRMA encourages you, or your organisation, to endorse the ACP. Click here to endorse.

Special thanks to IRMA member Tian Johsnon, one of the architects of Project ARM. His extraordinary leadership helped to make this happen. Kudos Tian!
Download the full African Common Position Paper 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 1,200 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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Global Call to Action: Demand Answers on Lubricant Safety (Have You Endorsed Yet?)

Have you or your organization endorsed the Global Call to Action Demanding Answers on Lubricant Safety?

Since Valentine's Day, 140 organizations and 293 individuals in nearly fifty countries have endorsed the call to action - and numbers continue to grow! Please add your name if you haven’t already. Full lists of endorsers is below.

Background:

Recent studies have raised questions about the impact of sexual lubricants on the risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

It is outrageous that more than 30 years into the HIV pandemic, we don’t know whether sexual lubricants increase, decrease or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs. In fact, it is only recently that most advocates, HIV prevention workers, researchers and regulators have even realised that we don’t yet know the answers to these fundamental questions.

Today, there are only a few disparate studies related to lube safety underway. These studies do not form part of an overarching plan to answer questions about lubricant safety because there isn’t one.

This is unacceptable. We demand answers on lubricant safety.

Click here to endorse the call: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CalltoActionLubeSafety

We demand a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda and insist upon its quick implementation. We must know whether or not various types of sexual lubricants are safe for vaginal and rectal use. We must understand fully what impact they have on the risk of acquiring HIV and STIs.

•As advocates, funders, researchers, lubricant manufacturers and regulators, we are committed to come together to develop and implement a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda.

•As advocates, we support more research, funding, and collaboration to determine whether lubricants are safe.

•As funders, we will support the research and collaborative work required to determine whether lubricants are safe. Funding for lubricant safety research will not come out of budgets for microbicide research or other new prevention technologies.

•As researchers, we will conduct the appropriate studies required to determine whether lubricants are safe.

•As lubricant manufacturers, we will list the ingredients used to manufacture lubricants and work with researchers and regulators to ensure that our products are safe.

•As regulators, we will provide guidance into the research data required to ensure that lubricants available on the market are safe.

Endorse the Call to Action on Lubricant Safety

Men, women and transgender people from around the globe who engage in vaginal or anal intercourse deserve access to safe, condom-compatible sexual lubricants.

Please endorse this global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. You may endorse the Call to Action as an individual or as an organization.

Click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CalltoActionLubeSafety


Endorsements –  both lists in formation, next page

263 Organizations and Individuals Have Endorsed the Call to Action on Lube Safety - HAVE YOU SIGNED ON?

Since we launched the Call to Action on Lubricant Safety on Valentine's Day, we have collected 84 organizational endorsements and 179 individual endorsements from every corner of the globe.

Thank you to ALL who have endorsed so far. The list of organizational endorsers is provided below. Is your organization on the list?

If you haven’t endorsed yet – now is your chance. Click here to endorse the Call as an organization. You may also endorse the Call to Action as an individual .

Please endorse the Call, and demand answers to our questions on lube safety.

Not knowing whether lubes are safe or not, and not knowing whether lubes potentially enhance HIV or STD acquisition or not, is not acceptable! We have enough lube safety data to be concerned, quite frankly, but we do not have enough data to really understand the implications of lubricant use.

We will continue to be in the dark, and never know if we don’t put pressure on other advocates, on scientists, on funders, on regulators, and on lube manufacturers to do their parts in addressing lube safety. We all have a role to play in ensuring the lubes we put in our bodies are safe.

Endorse the Call now.


LIST OF ORGANIZATIONAL ENDORSERS - IN FORMATIONList updated February 22, 2013
1. Abra Advanced Research International Pte Ltd, Singapore
2. Act for Change, Ghana
3. Act Up/East Bay, USA
4. Adhikaar, India
5. Affirmative Action, Cameroon
6. African Alliance for HIV Prevention, South Africa
7. African Men for Sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR), South Africa
8. Afrique Arc En Ciel, Togo
9. AIDS Community Research Initiative of America, USA
10. AIDS Foundation of Chicago, USA
11. AIDS United, USA
12. AKPAKA Axel, Benin
13. ALTERNATIVE CÔTE D'IVOIRE, Cote D’Ivoire
14. Anova Health Institute, South Africa
15. AVAC, USA
16. Blue Diamond Society, Nepal
17. Caribbean Association of Midwest America, USA
18. Case/UH Microbicide Clinical Trials Community Advisory Committee, USA
19. Center for Applied Research on Men and Health (CARMAH), Vietnam
20. Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Malawi
21. Chicago Female Condom Campaign, USA
22. COCQ-SIDA, Canada
23. Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, South Africa
24. DUH Demonstration for Universal Healthcare, USA
25. Epicentro, Peru
26. Equal Opportunities, Tajikistan
27. Family Planning Council, USA
28. Fenway Institute at Fenway Health, USA
29. Freedom and Roam Uganda, Uganda
30. Fundacion Manodiversa Bolivia, Bolivia
31. Gay Men’s Health Crisis, USA
32. Gel Works Pty Ltd, Australia
33. Global Forum on MSM & HIV (MSMGF), USA
34. GrenCHAP Inc., Grenada
35. GWLmuda, Indonesia
36. Health Digest Foundation, Ghana
37. Heroes Project, India
38. HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, USA
39. Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, USA
40. India HIV/AIDS Alliance, India
41. Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development, Canada
42. International Center for Advocacy on Right to Health, Nigeria
43. International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA), USA
44. International Rectal Microbicides Advocates – Nigeria, Nigeria
45. Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Jamaica
46. Joint Adherent Brothers and Sisters Against Aids, Uganda
47. Los Angeles County HIV Drug & Alcohol Task Force, USA
48. MAACA, INC, USA
49. Men For Health and Gender Justice Organisation, Botswana
50. MUSC/Lowcountry AIDS Services Consumer Advisory Board, USA
51. NAM Publications (Aidsmap), UK
52. National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition, USA
53. National Minority AIDS Council, USA
54. New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society, Nigeria
55. Okaloosa AIDS support & Informational Services, Inc. (OASIS), USA
56. PEMA Kenya, Kenya
57. Penitentiary Initiative, Ukraine
58. PeterCares House, USA
59. POCAAN (People of Color Against AIDS Network), USA
60. Presbyterian AIDS Network, USA
61. Pride Equality, Sierra Leone
62. Pro Health Initiative, Nigeria
63. Professionals in Pride Kenya (PPK), Kenya
64. Project Inform, USA
65. PT Foundation, Malaysia
66. Queer Alliance Nigeria, Nigeria
67. San Francisco AIDS Foundation, USA
68. SIBALT, Russia
69. Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Guyana
70. SOMOSGAY, Paraguay
71. START at Westminster, USA
72. Stichting AidsCare, The Netherlands
73. Tamba Pwani, Kenya
74. Test Positive Aware Network, USA
75. The Initiative for Equal Rights, Nigeria
76. The Mpowerment Project, USA
77. The Yes Yes Company Ltd, UK
78. Treatment Action Group, USA
79. UNITED AND STRONG INC, Saint Lucia
80. Vivir. Participacion, Incidencia y Transparencia, A.C., Mexico
81. We For Civil Equality NGO, Armenia
82. Womenplus Against TB and HIV in Kenya, Kenya
83. World AIDS Forum, Australia
84. Youth Voices Count, Thailand

Endorse the Call now.

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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.

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

IRMA Issues Global Call to Action: We Demand Answers on Lubricant Safety

More than 30 years into the HIV pandemic, we don’t know whether sexual lubricants increase, decrease or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs.

This is unacceptable. We demand answers on lubricant safety.

We demand a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda.
 

Please join us. Click here to endorse this global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety.


You may endorse the Call to Action as an organization or as an individual. As advocates, funders, researchers, lubricant manufacturers and regulators, we are committed to come together to develop and implement a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda. Men, women and transgender people from around the globe who engage in vaginal or anal intercourse deserve access to safe, condom-compatible sexual lubricants. Endorse the global Call to Action now.

More info

Recent studies have raised questions about the impact of sexual lubricants on the risk of acquiring HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

It is outrageous that more than 30 years into the HIV pandemic, we don’t know whether sexual lubricants increase, decrease or have no impact on the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs. In fact, it is only recently that most advocates, HIV prevention workers, researchers and regulators have even realised that we don’t yet know the answers to these fundamental questions.

Today, there are only a few disparate studies related to lube safety underway. These studies do not form part of an overarching plan to answer questions about lubricant safety because there isn’t one.

This is unacceptable. We demand answers on lubricant safety.

We demand a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda and insist upon its quick implementation. We must know whether or not various types of sexual lubricants are safe for vaginal and rectal use. We must understand fully what impact they have on the risk of acquiring HIV and STIs.

•As advocates, funders, researchers, lubricant manufacturers and regulators, we are committed to come together to develop and implement a Lubricant Safety Research Agenda.

•As advocates, we support more research, funding, and collaboration to determine whether lubricants are safe.

•As funders, we will support the research and collaborative work required to determine whether lubricants are safe. Funding for lubricant safety research will not come out of budgets for microbicide research or other new prevention technologies.

•As researchers, we will conduct the appropriate studies required to determine whether lubricants are safe.

•As lubricant manufacturers, we will list the ingredients used to manufacture lubricants and work with researchers and regulators to ensure that our products are safe.

•As regulators, we will provide guidance into the research data required to ensure that lubricants available on the market are safe.

Endorse the Call to Action on Lubricant Safety

Men, women and transgender people from around the globe who engage in vaginal or anal intercourse deserve access to safe, condom-compatible sexual lubricants.

Please endorse this global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. You may endorse the Call to Action as an individual or as an organization.

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

Click here for more information about the safety of sexual lubricants. You will find links to factsheets, backgrounders, reports, articles and webinar recordings.

IRMA (International Rectal Microbicide Advocates) is a network of over 1,200 advocates, policymakers and leading scientists from six continents working together to advance a robust rectal microbicide research and development agenda, with the goal of creating safe, effective, acceptable and accessible rectal microbicides for the women, men, and transgender individuals around the world who engage in anal intercourse. Our priorities including pushing for safe, condom-compatible sexual lubricants, and concerted advocacy for adequate access to these important products for people all over the world.

 

Meet Toon - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

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


Wipas Wimonsate (Toon)
Bangkok, Thailand

"As nature is so diversified, why aren't HIV prevention technologies as well? People have different preferences, needs, and capabilities. If we are to be successful in HIV prevention, we have to understand and accept the nature of people, and that is diversity."

Toon is a medical and social researcher and community associate working with the Silom Community Clinic in Bangkok. The Silom Clinic will be a site for the Phase II rectal microbicide expanded safety and acceptability trial called MTN-017, which will be investigating a reduced-glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel applied rectally compared with oral Truvada among HIV-negative gay men, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender women. His site is expected to begin enrolling volunteers in early 2013.

Outside of work, he enjoys playing badminton, reading, and watching television.

He first got involved with IRMA when he was asked to translate some materials on lubricant safety. "Safety of lubricants for rectal use: A fact sheet for HIV educators and advocates" is available in Thai thanks to Toon, as is the document Safety of lubricants for rectal use: "Questions and Answers for HIV educators and advocates."

Toon believes that rectal microbicides provide a protective option for those who choose not to utilize a condom. He also recognizes that rectal microbicides offer a different manner in which to encourage sexual health, and that the endeavor to develop safe, effective, acceptable and accessibile rectal microbicides will be a major contribution to humankind.

Toon has worked closely 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, messaging and language. Translating from English into Thai is rather complicated, and Toon's guidance has been critical to ensure the team "gets it right." He also facilitated the video segments that were recorded in Thailand, and worked closely on the Thai focus groups which were designed and implemented to test the "rough cut" of the video.

Toon was greatly influenced by Dr. Frits van Griensven, the pioneer of HIV studies among Thai gay men, other MSM and transgender individuals. He is very excited for the upcoming studies in Thailand, and is eager to work towards zero new HIV infections rate gay men, other MSM and transgender individuals, locally and internationally.

Thank you, Toon, 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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Meet Rig Rush - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

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


Rig Rush
Los Angeles, California

"By promoting affirming messages that reinforce normalizing overall sexual health and awareness, you can inspire individuals who engage in anal sex to take ownership and accountability of their own behaviors; making confident and informed decisions. In my fierce opinion, that is the basis for HIV and STD prevention."

Originally from Pittsburgh, Rig just moved across country to Los Angeles to become the new Community Mobilization Coordinator at the Black AIDS Institute. He has several interests including going to movies, amusement parks, and taking extremely long walks. He loves meeting different types of people and creating pleasant memories. He also happens to be one of the stars of the soon-to-be-released IRMA video called "The Rectal Revolution is Here: An Introduction to Rectal Microbicide Clinical Trials" being produced in collaboration with the Microbicide Trials Network and Population Council. In the video, Rig relates his experiences as a participant in a rectal microbicide trial with wit, warmth, and passion.

He believes that STD information, brochures and presentations focus on "drips, itches and stenches". Based on the available information, Rig felt he was the only individual who passionately enjoyed receptive anal sex. He also found the small amounts of health-related information regarding anal health/enjoyment highly offensive. Given his frustration, Rig was overjoyed when he heard about the research study that "celebrated the bottom perspective" - the study he talks about in the video.

He acknowledges that "men love sex, and they love unprotected sex, but most men do not think about risk when the moment arises." Condoms protect only when used consistently and correctly. However the concept of rectal microbicides "truly takes prevention and puts it where the rubber meets the road." He finds microbicides in general (both rectal and vaginal) to be the best modern step to fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic that isn't gay specific. Rectal microbicides have the potential to have a vast and appealing impact on the community collectively.

Rig's advice for IRMA is to remain consistent and committed to promoting awareness and education about rectal microbicides and health. He feels that "the information one obtains from IRMA is very beneficial for the collective gay community."

He will soon be a featured speaker in the satellite session "Rectal Microbicides: Making HIV Prevention Gel" at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC with other members of IRMA and allies. The session is taking place in the afternoon on Sunday, July 22, 2012. More info on this event can be found here.

He works to motivate, inspire and unite gay black men and other men who have sex with men around a variety of issues, and continues to support and celebrate black gay men regardless of their HIV status. He strives to help others live productive, informed and authentic lives filled with healthy connections and relationships.

Rig's mother has had the deepest impact on his life. She is his symbol of strength, compassion and authenticity, which shaped Rig into the man he is today. His mother's fearless, positive and audacious appreciation for life ignited a fire that continuously resonates.

Thank you Rig 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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Meet Carol - a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate

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



Carol Odada
Nairobi, Kenya

"I stand out strongly as a women's rights champion, and am quite steadfast on the human need for rectal microbicides."

Carol received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Eastern Africa. Since graduating, she has focused on social work, and has helped to develop and implement care and support programs for people living with HIV. She currently works in biomedical HIV prevention research advocacy, and enjoys advocating for women's rights and sexual health rights.

Carol became involved with IRMA when the topic of rectal microbicides was still a relatively new in Kenya. In December of 2011, Carol was one of a number of African leaders who joined IRMA for a two-day strategy meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia that took place in advance of the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa. The meeting officially launched IRMA's Project ARM - Africa for Rectal Microbicides initiative. IRMA recently released a report from that meeting called "On The Map: Ensuring Africa's Place in Rectal Microbicide Research and Advocacy" recommending a set of priority actions for IRMA and allies to better engage Africans across the continent in rectal microbicide activities. Carol played a very important role in helping define those strategies. Learn more about Project ARM, and read the report, here.

She understands that different prevention strategies need to be developed to provide sexual health to the world's population and that rectal microbicides will provide a new tool for women and men regardless of sexual orientation. Specifically, she educates women, young and old, about anal sex.

Currently, Carol is working on a collaboration between AVAC and ATHENA Network called WHiPT - Women's HIV Prevention Tracking Project.

She will soon be a featured speaker in the satellite session "Rectal Microbicides: Making HIV Prevention Gel" at the International AIDS Conference in Washington, DC with other members of IRMA and allies. The session is taking place in the afternoon on Sunday, July 22, 2012 - more info on this event can be found here.

Carol encourages IRMA to keep pushing forward, and believes that a day will come when all of the group's collective work and efforts are fully appreciated.

HIV has taught her to value every person and every opinion. And her five-year-old daughter gives her a reason to wake up and work hard every day. Because of her daughter's influence, she strives to be a better person and tries to give back to the community as much as she can.

Thank you, Carol, 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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Meet Ariel - A Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate from the United States

Check out this interesting min-bio of Ariel Watriss, the latest in IRMA's "Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate" series on the IRMA website here.  Ariel is one of six new bios just posted a few days ago, including individuals from Kenya, Thailand, the UK, India and Argentina.  Each will be featured on the blog, and you can read all of them here right now.

 

Ariel Watriss
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

"Rectal mircrobicides will help allow people take ownership of their sexual health and in the process empower them."

Ariel is a nurse practitioner certified in both adult primary care and women's health, and currently works at the biomedical research team at the Fenway Institute at Fenway Community Health Center. Sexual health is Ariel's professional passion, and she loves discussing awareness, ownership, and knowledge of her clients' sexual selves. Outside of working, Ariel enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and family, and cycling.

Ariel first became aware of IRMA through her current position at Fenway. She worked on multiple biomedical study teams and Microbicide Trials Network studies, where she was first introduced to the amazing world of microbicides. She works on HIV prevention studies looking at HIV vaccines (HVTN 505), PrEP (iPrEx OLE, and the upcoming HPTN 069) and a vaginal ring study looking at vaginal microbicide use (MTN 013/IPM 026).

Ariel believes microbicides are important among new HIV prevention technologies because they are applicable to real world users. "Offering a prevention measure in a product that is already used, such as lubricant, is so awesome. As a prevention tool, they are accessible and engage people in a direct, yet nonthreatening way."

Ariel's advice for IRMA is to continue to advocate and educate. All of IRMA's work is so important to help HIV prevention measures evolve and grow.

Inspiration and influence for Ariel comes from the people (patients, participants, etc.) who she has had a moment of connection and learning with around their sexual health. Ariel learns from teaching all the time, and continues to be inspired by others' learning.

Ariel is also one of the study clinicians in the upcoming MTN 017 trial (the world's first Phase II rectal microbicide trial), and will be working directly with participants in the study.

Thanks Ariel 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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