Defeating HIV

Where we are with rapid testing

Graham Stocks — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:42:53 -0800

The advent of point-of-care screening for HIV (also called ‘rapid testing’) has prompted the development of guidelines for its use in Australia as part of an updated testing policy.

Do gay men want PrEP?

Graham Stocks — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:47:46 -0800

Over 1500 gay and bisexual Australian men were surveyed recently about what they thought of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as an HIV prevention strategy.

Most were HIV negative (72%) or untested (20%) and a majority said they were interested in PrEP, with nearly 8 out of 10 saying they would be willing to take it to prevent getting HIV.

Thanks for being observed

Graham Stocks — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:37:38 -0800

The Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD) is an important monitor of trends in an iretroviral patterns and emerging health issues within the HIV community.

Make your experience count

Graham Stocks — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 19:29:27 -0800

HIV Futures is a national survey of Australian people living with HIV conducted every two years by the Living with HIV program at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University.

It is an anonymous survey asking important questions about the health, treatments, work and financial situations of people with HIV in Australia.

Book Review - Ten days with Minor

Graham Stocks — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:42:24 -0800

Ten Days with Minor is a novel written by Nsedu Onyile, a Nigerian who migrated to the US, and is reviewed here by Graham Stocks.

Zinc fingers make HIV-resistant T-cells

Graham Stocks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:29:54 -0800

GeneThe most basic unit of genetic information. therapy that interferes with co-receptors on the surface of T-cells can protect these cells from HIV infection, and represents a potential first step toward a ‘functional cure’ for HIV.

Cure researchers meet in Melbourne

Graham Stocks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:42:21 -0800

An announcement earlier this year by the International AIDS Society (IAS) to start official research into finding a functional cure for HIV has been spearheaded by Professor Françoise Barré-Sinoussi.

Our combo-prevention future

Graham Stocks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:17:43 -0800

In his opening address at the conference, Graeme Brown, AFAO’s outgoing President, acknowledged the enormous challenges we are facing in Australia at the moment, midway through our Sixth National HIV Strategy.

New trial needs volunteers

Graham Stocks — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:08:39 -0800

At the conference, Julian Elliot from The Burnet Institute in Melbourne spoke of our ‘combo-prevention future’, where a successful vaccine and cure could potentially end the epidemic.

Australia should lead a global HIV prevention revolution

Graham Stocks — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:36:09 -0700

Australia's current National HIV strategy continues a lamentable drift away from setting bold, time-bound HIV prevention targets.

Bill Whittaker calls us to action.