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HIV Prevention Research Advocacy Takes Off

With the failure of the most promising HIV vaccine in clinical trials last year and the closing of microbicide trials of two different products, the field of HIV prevention research has suffered a string of set backs. Now more than ever, it's important that advocates increase our efforts to push for more and better prevention research.

In February, CHAMP brought together 60 prevention research activists in Boston for another full-day training before the 2008 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). This annual event was cosponsored by AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, amfAR, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), Fenway Community Health, and The Michael Palm Basic Science, Vaccines & Prevention Project of Treatment Action Group (TAG).

Attendees participated in discussions about the possibilities for community involvement in research advocacy, debated current challenges facing both research and advocacy, learned about federally-funded clinical trials networks, and picked up some basic research advocacy skills. With this being the fifth training CHAMP has organized in the last year, we have assembled a great group of activists from around the country who are becoming increasingly engaged in this important endeavor.

Taking advantage of this incredible community resource, CHAMP invited a dozen committed activists to join us at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) in Arlington, Virginia early this month. Before the meeting, we once again organized and conducted a full-day training to equip ourselves with the tools we need to become fully engaged in the research process. The activists' vocal and thoughtful participation throughout the HPTN meeting that followed was inspiring to everyone present. We look forward to including some of the activists' personal experiences in the next issue of CHAMP News.

If you're interested in participating in HIV prevention research advocacy with CHAMP and our allies, please contact James Learned at jlearned@champnetwork.org. To view notes and presentation slides from our previous prevention research advocacy trainings, please visit our website at http://www.champnetwork.org/prevention_research_trainings.


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