Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003/2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) - Fall 2003 / Winter 2004
ACRIA News
New Technical Assistance Program for NYC
Thanks to a new Ryan White Title I funded contract from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, ACRIA will soon be providing HIV treatment education technical assistance to community-based organizations (CBOs) in New York City. This contract allows ACRIA to offer multi-day trainings and ongoing, individual follow-up support to staff of local CBOs. The goal of the program is to help service providers develop the skills and knowledge to provide accurate, practical HIV treatment information to their clients in ways that are culturally appropriate. We plan to include 50 CBO staff members in the program annually, helping them to integrate HIV treatment issues into the provision of social services at their organizations. The new program is modeled on ACRIA's established National HIV Treatment Education Technical Assistance Program. Our national initiative, which provides training and follow-up support to organizations and individuals in regions outside of New York State, is funded entirely by private sources. We expect the technical assistance services in New York City to begin in early 2004.
ACRIA Hosts National Technical Assistance Program Participants
Over the past few months, ACRIA had the pleasure of bringing five participants in our National HIV Treatment Education Technical Assistance Program to work with us in New York City. Following a competitive application process, two program participants from Baltimore, Maryland and three from Wisconsin - two from Madison and one from Milwaukee - joined us for a week of intensive work with ACRIA staff. Our guests worked on research projects, updated educational materials, participated in program development meetings and literature reviews, and accompanied ACRIA treatment educators to agencies throughout the city to observe and participate in client workshops and staff trainings. Our guests provide HIV treatment education to varying degrees in very different settings, from case management to street outreach, but one thing that they all have in common is a commitment to offer useful, accurate information to their communities. We invite program participants to work with us so that they can receive hands-on technical assistance as they're in the process of expanding or developing treatment education programs at their own organizations. According to our guests from Maryland and Wisconsin, the time spent at ACRIA was extremely valuable. Their visits were equally valuable to us, and we appreciate having been able to collaborate with such thoughtful, community-focused individuals.
ACRIA Presents Study Findings on HIV in People Over 50
ACRIA has completed its first studies focusing on the emerging healthcare needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) as they age. In the past year, ACRIA has developed one of the largest databases of PLWAs who are 50 years and older. Two studies were conducted in 2003, findings from which were recently presented at several major city, state and national conferences.
Data from our study of care provider arrangements for PLWAs were presented at the New York State Society of Aging meeting in Albany and the HIV Health and Human Services Council of New York City, both in October, as well as at the November meeting of the American Gerontological Society in San Diego. While the presentations covered numerous points, a central finding described the likely heavy reliance that PLWAs will have on the healthcare system as they age. This is because we found that PLWAs are more apt to live alone than the general public and to have relatively few informal care giving relationships, such as those provided by a spouse or children. The implications of this research are significant for the public health system. ACRIA's future studies will be designed to identify which co-morbidity factors are more likely to impact on the health of older PLWAs, in part to help better plan for the specific needs of this aging cohort.
A detailed description of ACRIA's findings from our initial research into the over 50 PLWA cohort can be read online at www.acria.org. Data on this topic will also be presented by our researchers at the New York Association for HIV Over 50 meeting in December.
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.
Thanks to donations from thousands of individuals and our corporate sponsors, ACRIA's publications are provided entirely free of charge to people living with HIV and AIDS and to nonprofit organizations across the United States. Please help to ensure that this newsletter can continue as a free educational resource for those who are fighting AIDS by making a gift in support of ACRIA's mission.
Donate online at www.acria.org or by mail to 230 W. 38th St., 17th floor, New York, NY 10018.
Standard of Care Treatment vs. ZEST Once-Daily Regimen
This trial will study 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 will either remain on their current medications, or switch to Zerit XR, Epivir and Sustiva (ZEST) taken once daily. They will visit ACRIA 9 times over 11 months. All blood tests, study visits, and study medications (Zerit XR, Epivir & Sustiva), as well as medications from the Standard Of Care arm that are manufactured by the sponsor, will be provided at no charge to the participants. Prescriptions will be written for any other anti-HIV drug. You are eligible if you are HIV-positive, age 18 or over, and on an initial HAART regimen (one or more NRTIs, at least one agent must have a twice-daily dosing schedule, and no NNRTI in the past or in current regimen) with a viral load below 50. Study participants will be reimbursed $25 for each visit.
To enroll, contact Dr. Douglas Mendez at 212-924-3934 ext. 126 or Dr. Yuriy Akulov at 212-924-3934 ext. 124
RESIST 1: Tipranavir in Multi-Drug Resistant Patients
This trial, which is closed to new enrollment, continues to study the safety and efficacy of tipranavir (a protease inhibitor) boosted with low-dose ritonavir in people who have taken multiple antiretrovirals. All patients must have taken drugs from each of the three antiretroviral classes, have taken at least two protease inhibitors, have a viral load over 1,000, and must currently be taking a protease inhibitor.
Social Networks Study
We have completed the first phase of enrollment for this study. Results from this study will be available soon on our website.
HIV Over 50 Database ACRIA is currently establishing a large cohort to conduct research on HIV+ people over 50. If you would like to be included in this database, please contact Salone Howard at 212-924-3934 x105 or email showard@acria.org.
Using Complementary Treatments to Manage HIV/AIDS
People in this study were interviewed about treatments other than antiretrovirals, such as supplements, exercise, acupuncture, herbal remedies, as well as who provides the treatments, how often they use them, and if they feel they are helpful. To qualify, people must have been HIV+, using HAART for at least a year, and be using other treatments for HIV/AIDS. If you are interested in participating in future studies, contact Salone Howard at 212-924-3934 x105 or email showard@acria.org.
Web Research Study This internet survey studies the extent to which HIV service providers may benefit from HIV prevention programs or programs designed to assist them in other areas of their job. Visit www.acria.org to participate.
The following persons, corporations and organizations made major donations between June 16, 2003 and October 17, 2003 to support ACRIA's research and education efforts:
Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Altria Group, Inc.
Banana Republic
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Champagne Taittinger
Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation
The Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation
Brandon Fradd
Vincent Gagliostro
The David Geffen Foundation
Jane B. Holzer
In Style Magazine
J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation
Marci Klein and Scott Murphy
Robert A. Landau
Lehmann Maupin Gallery
Jeffery Locker
Joshua Mack and Ron Warren
Open Society Institute
Cynthia and Ron Rose
The Louis & Rachel Rudin Foundation
St. Francis Wines
Dr. Duane Jeske
David Yurman
Bradley Zipper z
Thoughtful donations in memory of the following individuals:
L Cliff Adams
Timothy Ancona
Eric Bean
Tom Beatcher
Barry Binkowitz, MD
Bill Black
Charles Brown
Michael Callen
Stephen Cattano
David Ecklund
Michael Koenigsberg
Bennie W. Kr
euger Jr.
Tim Layton Mason Martens
Jeffrey L. Mitchell
Ned Morgan
Robert Rose
Robert Schorzer
Anne Sullivan
Joseph John Tamburo
Paul Trombley
Leslie Wasson
Contributions in support of ACRIA's vital research initiatives were made in honor of the following individuals:
Luke Cohen
Kathy Finley and Doug Landy
Daisy Graciano
Rick A. Schwrete
Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Sherman
J Daniel Stricker
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
Martha Nelson
Maer Roshan
Dolores Witherspoon-Cozier
In Memoriam
Gary Bonasorte
Kiki Mason
David Seidner
George N. Stathakis
Medical Director
Jerome A. Ernst, MD
Executive Director
J Daniel Stricker
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