Community involvement critical to successful research to find an HIV vaccine

More than 25 years since HIV was first discovered, the virus continues to devastate families and communities across the country, with African American communities being affected at an alarmingly disproportionate rate. While black men and women made up 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2007,¹ they accounted for more than half of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses, and nearly half of all Americans living with HIV/AIDS.²  These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for greater efforts on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

During the observance of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, 2010, SafeGuards, a partner organization of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative (NHVREI), honors those we have lost to HIV/AIDS, those who are living with the disease, and those who refuse to give up hope that one day we can stop the spread of this pandemic.  NHVREI, an initiative that partners and works with national and local organizations in the U.S., focuses on creating an environment supportive of HIV vaccine research. Through its work with NHVREI, SafeGuards conducts community outreach and education to raise awareness of HIV vaccine research and help stem further spread of HIV into communities of color. On this National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we remember that stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS requires the continued commitment of all communities affected by the epidemic, and we encourage individuals—especially those of color—to get educated, get tested, get involved and get treated.

SafeGuards and the University of Pennsylvania HIV Clinical Trials Unit are hosting two information sessions for people to find out more about local HIV Vaccine research opportunities.  Both sessions are from 4-7pm at 260 S. Broad Street, Suite 1000.  The first is Wednesday, Feb. 3 with another session on Wedenesday Feb. 10.  Free refreshments and HIV Testing are available.  Please call (215) 985-6873 to RSVP or for more information.

For more information, visit http://bethegeneration.nih.gov.

NHVREI Partners:
AIDS Alabama (Birmingham, AL)
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Project of the East Bay (Oakland, CA)
AIDS Project Los Angeles
The DC Center
Entre Hermanos (Seattle)
Gay City Health Project (Seattle)
Gay Men of African Descent (New York)
Latino Health Institute (Boston)
MOCHA Center (Rochester, NY)
Multicultural AIDS Coalition (Boston)
Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee
SafeGuards Project / LGBT Health Resource Center (Philadelphia)
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
SisterLove, Inc. (Atlanta)
Us Helping Us (Washington)
AIDS Action Foundation (National)
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families (National)
National AIDS Education Services for Minorities (National)
National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (National)
National Minority AIDS Council (National)

About NHVREI
The NIAID HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative (NHVREI) was formed to create an environment in which HIV affected communities and individuals are more aware, educated, and supportive of HIV vaccine research and have more positive attitudes towards clinical trial volunteerism. The Initiative is supported by the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under Contract No. HHSN266200600023T. To learn more about or to support HIV vaccine research, visit: http://bethegeneration.nih.gov.
 

1.        U.S. Census Bureau. 2004. Projected population of the United States, by race and Hispanic origin, 2000 to 2050. U.S. Interim Projections by Age, Sex, Race and Hispanic Origin: 2000–2050, Table 1a. 
2.        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2007. Vol. 19. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pp. 12, 21.