ACRIA NEWS
First ResPAC Meeting Held
The Research Policy Advisory Committee for New York State (ResPAC) held its inaugural subcommittee meeting in January 2002.
ResPAC is ACRIA's initiative to create a first of its kind statewide strategic plan for future HIV research. It is a cooperative program with scientists, clinicians, community representatives and public health officials throughout New York.
Eleven epidemiologists attended the January meeting at amfAR's offices to discuss emerging needs in HIV research. Their resulting draft report identified seven areas of high priority for future epidemiological studies.
Subsequent strategic planning sessions will be held for behavioral science and clinical research in the very near future. A report containing findings from all three subcommittees will be available to the public following ResPAC's Full Committee Meeting later this year.
ACRIA Elects Four New Board Members
Jason Heffner, Adam Lippes, Martha Nelson, and Maer Roshan have joined ACRIA's Board of Directors. Each brings unique strengths to the agency's oversight body.
Jason Heffner has been a longtime AIDS activist as a member of ACT UP and other organizations concerned with the public health sector's response to the HIV epidemic. Most recently, he has become involved in global issues surrounding this disease. He currently serves as Technical Advisor in the Office of Sustainable Development, Bureau of Africa at the United States Agency for International Development. Mr. Heffner will add an important community voice to the Board's deliberations in the coming years.
Adam Lippes is a prominent fashion industry executive. He currently serves as Creative Director of Oscar De La Renta LTD, a major American design house. Mr. Lippes has been a strong supporter of ACRIA's mission for several years. Prior to joining the Board, he became involved in agency-wide issues as a member of ACRIA's National Advisory Council. He has also demonstrated his commitment to ACRIA through several fundraising efforts. Most recently, he hosted our 2001 holiday dinner that generated over $100,000 in support.
Martha Nelson is Managing Editor of People magazine, among the most renowned popular culture publications in the world. Previously, as founding editor of InStyle magazine, Ms. Nelson has been credited with launching the premier monthly celebrity and fashion oriented publication yet conceived. Ms. Nelson's association with ACRIA goes back to 1997 when she was kind enough to offer InStyle magazine support for two fundraising events. Her interest in our work has grown since that time, as demonstrated by the significant financial backing that Ms. Nelson has arranged for subsequent ACRIA events and for fundraising appeals by several other AIDS-related non-profits. We are very excited to have someone of Ms. Nelson's capabilities and stature on our Board of Directors.
Maer Roshan is another successful publishing executive, having held a number of prominent positions at highly regarded national magazines. Most recently, Mr. Roshan served as Editorial Director of Talk magazine. Prior to that position, he was Deputy Editor of New York magazine. Mr. Roshan's interest in causes of particular importance to the gay and lesbian community is well known. He has been a leading voice within the publishing world on health issues of high impact to these and other minority populations. We anticipate that Mr. Roshan will bring a vital new perspective to the Board's deliberations.
ACRIA Welcomes New Staff
ACRIA is pleased to welcome Stephen Karpiak, Ph.D. as our Associate Director of Research. We are excited to have recruited an individual who is so well suited to this position. The bulk of Dr. Karpiak's career has been spent as a Senior Researcher within the Division of Neuroscience at the Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons' Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Karpiak's time at that major teaching hospital has allowed him to acquire both an in depth understanding of the medical research process and the ability to compose complex grant proposals for scientific projects. Of equal significance, Dr. Karpiak has experience in the AIDS non-profit sector. Immediately prior to joining ACRIA, he served as Executive Director of Pride Senior Network in New York City and of A Place Called Home in Arizona. He has also been a Program Director of Being Alive services at AIDS Project Arizona. We look forward to Dr. Karpiak's contributions to ACRIA's research program in the years ahead.
ACRIA also welcomes Richard Poirier as the agency's controller. Mr. Poirier comes to us with over twelve years of financial management and accounting experience. He has coordinated budgeting, accounts payable and accounts receivable functions at both large corporations and small start-up firms. Mr. Poirier not only has the capability to manage our existing accounting needs, but will also be able to develop and implement any new financial protocols that may be required as our programs expand.
Tracy Swan is ACRIA's newest HIV Treatment Educator. She brings to our programs a sophisticated knowledge of both HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) health issues and a proven background in counseling individuals about their healthcare options. Immediately prior to joining ACRIA, Ms. Swan was the Access Project Director at the AIDS Treatment Data Network, where she maintained a database of national and local ADAP and Medicaid benefits and provided treatment counseling and education. Ms. Swan acquired her significant knowledge of HIV and HCV treatment issues while serving at the Cambridge Health Alliance's Multidisciplinary AIDS Program as Substance Abuse Specialist/HCV Case Management Program Director at the Alliance's network of Boston area hospitals and satellite clinics. Ms. Swan currently serves on the Community Constituency Group of the Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG). Ms. Swan's involvement with the ACTG allows her to ensure that the concerns of HIV-positive individuals are appropriately considered in the design of HIV trials.
New Web Site
ACRIA recently redesigned our web site to include several new resources. The redesign was implemented primarily to make the agency's directory of enrolling HIV clinical trials in New York State available as an online resource. But other features have also been upgraded, and we've created an entirely new look for the site.
The new online directory offers users a high degree of flexibility to view trial listings that are of interest to their specific needs and circumstances. Individuals can request to see only those trials that are enrolling within a specific region, or they can search for trials by condition, treatment, and/or criteria such as CD4 count, viral load and age.
The web site has also been improved in other ways. It now has a search engine for users to quickly and easily reference information on specific topics from the site's extensive content. Treatment and research issues can now be located without having to wade through multiple back issues of ACRIA Update or other archived materials. Users can go directly to sources containing the pertinent discussions. We hope that you visit www.acria.org soon to view the site's new look and functionality.
ACRIA TRIALS
Ampligen and HAART with Treatment Interruptions
This trial will study the effects of the addition of Ampligen to HAART in people
with HIV. People who have been on a stable HAART regimen for at least 4 months
will add Ampligen either immediately or after 24 weeks. Ampligen is given as an
hour-long infusion twice a week.
Ampligen is an immunomodulator with a low incidence of side effects. It can stimulate
interferon and other cytokines, as well as other intracellular antiviral defense
mechanisms. This trial will study whether Ampligen can assist the immune system’s
response to carefully monitored Strategic Therapeutic Interruptions (STIs) of
HAART. The theory is that Ampligen will lengthen the HAART-free time interval
with a resultant decrease in HAART-induced toxicities. The hope is that Ampligen
will maximize STIs to the point that the cell-mediated immune system response
might be sufficient to eliminate the need for HAART.
Adults with a CD4 count of 300 or more and a viral load over 500 but less than
30,000 within 40 days, can join this 48 week study. Participants make 44 visits to
ACRIA. All blood tests, study visits and study drugs will be provided at no charge.
Once you have been enrolled you will be reimbursed for each visit.
For more information, call Dr. Douglas Mendez at (212) 924-3934 ext. 126.
Resurgex Pilot Study
This study will evaluate the safety and effects of Resurgex on metabolic, virological,
and immunological parameters in people with HIV.
Resurgex is a nutritional supplement developed by Millennium Biotechnology, Inc.
Its components have been designed to nutritionally address problems encountered
in HIV disease and in antiretroviral drug treatment. Most of the ingredients contained
in Resurgex are available individually at health food stores. What makes
Resurgex unique is its combination of superoxide dismutase (SOD, a potent antioxidant
enzyme) with gliadin (a wheat-based natural polymer), to make SOD
absorbable in the digestive tract.
People with HIV who have been on HAART therapy for at least 16 weeks or have
never been on antiretroviral therapy (or have not taken it for at least 24 weeks), and
who do not currently take any additional fortified nutritional supplementation,
may be eligible for this study.
This study will last approximately 6 months, with at least 10 visits to the Harlem
United Community AIDS Center on 124th St. in Manhattan. All blood and investigational
tests, study visits, and study investigational products will be provided at
no charge. Participants are reimbursed $25 when they enroll, with an additional $25
when they complete the study.
For more information, call Dr. Eugen Vartolomei at 212-924-3934 ext. 125.
GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS
The following persons, corporations and organizations made major donations between December 16, 2001 and March 15, 2002 to support ACRIA’s research and education efforts:
