Kenneth H. Mayer, M.D.
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Medical Research Director, Fenway Health; Director of HIV Prevention Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
“A New Normal?: Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Antiretrovirals for Prevention Era”
Erika Martin, Ph.D
Dr. Martin is Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy at the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and a Senior Fellow at the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, University at Albany, State University of New York.
To download the slide presentation, click here
The CHIPTS’ Methods Core hosts a monthly seminar series, which are one-hour workshops on research and statistical methods. The seminars are open to HIV researchers, faculty, students, and community. To see previous seminars, check out the Methods Seminar tag or you can find seminar videos on our Youtube Channel! This series is hosted by the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS) and made possible by funds from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH058107).
Charlie Sheen captured the world’s attention when it was revealed that he was living with HIV. Yet, 69% of the 35 million people living with HIV are Black. In the United States, Blacks are eight times more likely to get infected that white Americans. The vast majority of HIV infections (23.8 million) are in Africa. Both in this country and in the rest of the world, Black persons are far less likely to have access to the life-saving medications that can both prevent HIV and halt disease progression. While using one or two tablets per day changed a disease that many called a “death sentence” to being a chronic illness, this is not accurate for Black Americans or for millions in Africa. While the scientific successes of antiretroviral medications are being celebrated today, on World AIDS Day, it is far more likely to save and improve the lives of white and/or well-insured Americans and global citizens. Those who need these effects most are among the last to access the treatments. In Los Angeles, the rate of HIV infection among Black gay and bisexual men who do not use condoms is between 5-7%, a rate that has yet to budge even in light of all of the successes in the HIV treatment and prevention fields. What is deafening is the silence about this situation at all levels — from policy and decision makers to our communities and informs some aspects of the answer to the question of whether black lives matter in the United States. This situation needs to end. On this World AIDS Day, it’s time to rally to ensure initiatives are enacted to reduce this important healthcare disparity, to reduce the number of new infections in communities of Black MSM and to provide evidence that black lives, indeed, do matter.
Professor of Biostatistics
Fielding School of Public Health
University of California, Los Angeles
Professor and Head, Department of Biobehavioral Health
The Pennsylvania State University
Associate Professor
Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Director, Key Populations Program
The NIH supports a comprehensive portfolio of biomedical, behavioral, and social science research on HIV and its associated coinfections, comorbidities, and other complications. The Office of AIDS Research (OAR), a component of the NIH Office of the Director, is legislatively mandated to coordinate, plan, evaluate, and budget for the NIH AIDS research program. Building on the most recent scientific progress and scientific opportunities to most likely contribute to ending the AIDS pandemic, developing a cure for HIV/AIDS, and achieving an AIDS-free generation, NIH has identified the highest HIV/AIDS research priorities for the next 3-5 years. NIH will use these guidelines to ensure that AIDS resources are supporting the highest HIV/AIDS research priorities. The overarching NIH HIV/AIDS research priorities are: 1) research to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS, including the development of safe and effective HIV/AIDS vaccines; 2) development of the next generation of HIV therapies with improved safety and ease of use; 3) research towards a cure for HIV/AIDS; and 4) HIV-associated comorbidities and co-infections. Basic research, health disparities, and training that cross-cut these priorities also will be supported. These priorities were informed by the OAR Advisory Council’s recommendations, the Annual Trans-NIH Plan for HIV-Related Research, and input from NIH leadership. Implementation of these priorities will begin with fiscal year 2016 funding of HIV/AIDS research.
The NIH has developed a series of guidelines for determining whether a research project has a high-, medium-, or low-priority for receiving AIDS-designated funding. These guidelines do not assess/determine the scientific and technical merit of a project only the priority for receiving AIDS-designated funds.
On July 20, 2015 – The City of Los Angeles AIDS Coordinator’s Office hosted a one-day event, “Addressing the Intersection of Intimate Partner Violence, Trauma, and HIV,” at the California Endowment. The event was attended by over 180 service providers, including domestic violence counselors, housing specialists, HIV testing and prevention providers, healthcare clinicians, policy-makers, and researchers. The presentations and panel discussions explored the impact of violence and trauma among underserved communities who are at risk for or living with HIV and emphasized the importance of providing trauma-informed care as part of HIV service delivery.
CHIPTS was a proud sponsor and collaborator of this event. Congratulations to the AIDS Coordinator’s Office and all of the community partners that helped organize this successful, well-attended event.
For a copy of the event program, please click here.
Below are slides from the event.
Keynote Presentation:
Breakout session:
In July 2015, the White House released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States: Updated to 2020. This Update reflects the work accomplished and the new scientific developments since 2010 and charts a course for collective action across the Federal government and all sectors of society to move us close to the Strategy’s vision.
To read the updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy, please click here.
For more info, visit www.aids.gov.
On June 30, 2015, the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Transgender Caucus hosted a one-day event entitled, “L.A. Trans* Health Summit: Creating Comprehensive Services for the Trans* Community.” The purpose of the event was to bring together consumers, community members, and service providers to explore the health and HIV needs of the transgender community and to discuss strategies for providing comprehensive and culturally competent services for this population. The event was a huge success and was attended by over 220 participants. CHIPTS was a proud sponsor and collaborator of the event. Congratulations to the Commission on HIV Transgender Caucus for organizing a fantastic conference!
Please click here for a copy of the event program.
Please click here for a copy of the keynote presentation by Dr. Stefan Baral of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Click here to view video.
Please click here for a copy of the afternoon presentation by Ayako Miyashita, JD, of the UCLA Williams Institute. Click here to view video.