ACRIA NEWS

ACRIA's Over 50 Research Receives National Media Attention
Two major media outlets have recently used ACRIA's research as the central resource to discuss the aging of the nation's HIV-positive population. On July 7, 2004, the cable channel CNNfn invited ACRIA's Associate Director for Research, Stephen Karpiak, Ph.D., to talk about this relatively unacknowledged issue during a 10 minute live broadcast. The New York Times subsequently described portions of ACRIA's seminal research on this topic in an August 17, 2004 article titled "Facing Middle Age and AIDS." Among other things, the front page article in the Science Times section described our findings on the high levels of depression in HIV-positive seniors and the population's relative lack of support from family and friends as they experience age-related health problems in addition to complications from HIV and AIDS stigma. The BBC also recently interviewed ACRIA researchers about our Research on Older Adults with HIV/AIDS (ROAH) initiative, which will be broadcast in the near future.

ACRIA's leading role in researching the needs and circumstances of the older HIV-positive population is an ongoing endeavor. We are currently recruiting for a major follow-up study that seeks to enroll 1,000 New York City participants. This new research will include the largest sampling of an older HIV-infected population so far accomplished. We expect its findings to substantially advance understanding of how the United States HIV population will age in the coming decade, and may significantly impact HIV/AIDS health policy.

TrialSearch Now Includes Information On Enrolling Studies Nationwide
In August, TrialSearch@acria.org achieved a milestone for this national online database of HIV/AIDS clinical trials. Information about HIV-related clinical trials in all 50 states and Puerto Rico is now available through this interactive database. This could not have been achieved without the help and dedication of a number of interns who worked with ACRIA over the summer. We continue to update the trial information on a state-by-state basis, and recruitment of volunteers is ongoing.

ACRIA is looking for new COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD members. ACRIA's Community Advisory Board (CAB) fosters partnership between the education staff and the local community impacted by HIV/AIDS. Involving community members in the development of our education programs ensures that community values and cultural differences are respected in ACRIA's educational work. Community Advisory Board members meet every other month, review program materials, and help us identify education needs. For more information about the CAB or if you are interested in volunteering at ACRIA, please call Mark Milano at (212) 924-3934, ext. 123.

We'd like to honor two HIV community leaders who died recently, both of whom worked with enormous dedication for equitable access to care, treatment, and other necessary services for all people living with HIV - Charles Clifton and Keith Cylar.

Charles Clifton, Executive Director of Test Positive Aware Network in Chicago and Editor of Positively Aware, passed away on August 15, 2004. In addition to many other responsibilities, Charles was on the Steering Committee of the national AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC) and has been instrumental in helping to organize the North American AIDS Treatment Action Forum (NATAF) for the last several years. Memorial donations can be made to The Charles E. Clifton Memorial Fund by sending a check made payable to Test Positive Aware Network, noting The Charles E. Clifton Memorial Fund on the check. Donations can be sent to:
                    Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN)
                    5537 N. Broadway
                    Chicago, IL 60640

Keith Cylar, Co-Founder and Co-President of Housing Works in New York City, died on April 5, 2004. The Keith Cylar Activist Fund establishes a continuing legacy to his life and work. The Fund will create a permanent endowment to support advocacy and activism by people living with AIDS and HIV in America and around the world. The Fund will provide people living with AIDS and HIV with training and continued support to enable them to be effective advocates who are fully involved in policy and decision making. To contribute, please go to www.housingworks.org/activistfund or send a check made payable to The Keith Cylar Activist Fund to:

                    Housing Works, Inc., Attn: Development
                    320 West 13th Street, 4th floor
                    New York, NY 10014
                                                                 

Tipranavir Open Label Safety Study
People whose virus has become resistant to approved HIV treatments or who are intolerant to them will take tipranavir with Norvir, along with other anti-HIV drugs, for an open period of time. Participants should be 13 years of age or older, have a viral load above 10,000 and a CD4 count below 100 to enroll in this program.

UK-427,857 for Drug-Resistant HIV
People who have taken anti-HIV drugs from three of the four classes of drugs will take either UK-427 (an experimental HIV attachment inhibitor) with an optimized regimen of anti-HIV drugs, or take a placebo (dummy pill) with the optimized regimen, for 11 months. Participants must be 16 or older and have a viral load of at least 5,000.

The Effect of Reyataz on Cholesterol Levels
People who have high cholesterol levels and a viral load below 50 while taking Kaletra will either switch to Reyataz or continue taking Kaletra. The study will last 12 months. Study participants will be reimbursed $25 for each visit.

Reyataz Compared to Kaletra
People whose viral load has risen to over 1,000 while taking an NNRTI as part of their first HAART regimen will switch to either Kaletra, or to Reyataz / Norvir. Everyone will also take Viread and either Videx EC or Zerit XR. The study will last for 22 months. Study participants will be reimbursed $25 for each visit.

One-day study of Reyataz Resistance
People whose viral load has risen to over 1,000 while taking Reyataz will have blood tests for resistance, CD4, and viral load. Study participants will be reimbursed $25.

Phase I Study of a New GlaxoSmithKline NNRTI
People who have become resistant to an NNRTI and who have a CD4 count over 200 and a viral load over 2,000 will take one of four doses of W695634G alone, or take placebo pills, for 7 days. Those who complete the study will be reimbursed $590.

For the above trials, contact Dr. Douglas Mendez at 212-924-3934 ext. 126 or Dr. Yuriy Akulov at ext. 124.

Standard of Care Treatment vs. ZEST Once-Daily Regimen
(Closed to Enrollment) This trial is studying whether people on their first HAART regimen who take their drugs two or more times a day can switch to a once-daily regimen. People in the trial either remain on their current medications, or switch to Zerit XR, Epivir and Sustiva (ZEST) taken once daily.

Generous Contributions

The following persons, corporations and organizations made major donations between June 16 and September 17, 2004 to support ACRIA's research and education efforts:

Alize Banana Republic Bristol-Myers Squibb Virology Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Inc. Champagne Taittinger The Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation Gilead Sciences In Style Magazine Jewel of Russa Vodka Calvin Klein Rainbow Endowment Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. Louis & Rachel Rudin Foundation Sean Kelly Gallery Strachan & Vivian Donnelley Foundation Until There's A Cure Foundation W Hotels

Thoughtful donations were made in memory of the following individuals: Barry Binkowitz David A. Eklund Helen Guberman Bennie W. Krueger Jr Vincent Lattuca David Seidner Robert L. Stipe David Tamayo Joseph John Tamburo

MASTHEAD

Editor in Chief
J Daniel Stricker 

Editor
James Learned 

Medical Editor
Jerome A. Ernst, MD 

Publications Manager
Mark Milano 

ACRIA Board of Directors
Ross Bleckner, President
Donald Kotler, MD, Vice President
Vincent Wm. Gagliostro, Secretary
Charles Franchino, DC, Treasurer
Marisa Cardinale
Bob Colacello
Douglas Dieterich, MD
Tiffany Dubin
Reinaldo Herrera
Kevin Krier
Adam Lippes
Mark J. Montgomery
Martha Nelson
Maer Roshan

In Memoriam
Gary Bonasorte
Kiki Mason
David Seidner
George N. Stathakis

Medical Director
Jerome A. Ernst, MD

Executive Director
J Daniel Stricker

ACRIA is an independent, non-profit, community-based AIDS medical research and treatment education organization dedicated to rapidly improving the length and quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. Bulk copies of ACRIA Update are available free to agencies that provide services to people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information, call 212-924-3934 ext. 120.

Copyright ©2004
AIDS Community Research Initiative of America. All rights reserved. Non-commercial reproduction is encouraged provided appropriate credit is given.