Social marketing material developed by Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, a 2014 GLAM grantee in Ghana AVAC, amfar, COC Netherlands and International Rectal Microbicide Advocates (IRMA) are pleased to announce seven Global Lube Access Mobilisation (GLAM) awards to projects in Africa. GLAM, an initiative of IRMA’s Project ARM (Africa for Rectal Microbicides) in collaboration with Read More >>

by Mike Wilson(former IRMA intern, IRMA advocate forever)  Hello IRMA! It feels like I have not said that greeting in ages. I may not be an intern with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, but I have certainly not left behind my engagement with (and love of) IRMA and other HIV prevention organizations. Since leaving the IRMA internship I Read More >>

[IRMA press release]   Trial Design Significantly Enhanced By Strong Community Input October 2, 2013 – IRMA applauds the launch of the world’s first-ever Phase II rectal microbicide trial. The Microbicide Trial Network’s study, called MTN-017, will test a reduced glycerin formulation of tenofovir gel applied rectally. Volunteers consisting of gay men, other men who have sex Read More >>

via Positive Lite, by Marc-André LeBlanc “This situation is unacceptable. We’re in 2013, for the love of all that is wet and wild! How can we not know the answer to such a fundamental question—are lubes safe?”   Here I am again, standing in front of a giant wall of lube options at a local store. Water-based, silicone-based, Read More >>

  Global coalition of organizations and individuals calls for research agenda to determine safety of sexual lubricants For Immediate Release June 12, 2013 – Over 500 organizations and individuals from nearly 60 countries have endorsed a Global Call to Action on Lubricant Safety. They all demand answers on whether sexual lubricants are safe for vaginal and anal Read More >>

Today IRMA, in collaboration with amfAR and AVAC, is excited to release a re-designed Version 2.0  of the GLAM Toolkit: Advocacy to improve access to safe, condom-compatible lubricant in Africa. The Toolkit is now available in French in addition to English – making it more useful for Francophone speakers in Africa – and the new design makes Read More >>

by Mike PetersIRMA Intern A couple of weeks ago, I returned to Ohio for a weekend excursion.  The director of the Women’s Studies program at my university informed me that I was named Graduate Student of the Year for Women’s Studies and that there was a short awards ceremony that I should attend.  In preparation for this Read More >>

Condoms are getting some help!  Dear IRMA members and readers of this blog – Give OUT Day shines a spotlight on organizations that empower LGBTQ communities across the country, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is among these charities. We’re using this campaign to highlight the next generation of HIV prevention: rectal microbicides. Though they’re still Read More >>

“Using condoms for your entire sexual life works for some people. And for others, it doesn’t.”  Video via Be The Generation IRMA chair Jim Pickett discusses the need for new ways to prevent HIV, like rectal microbicides. ——————-  *Join IRMA’s robust, highly-active. moderated, global listserv addressing rectal microbicide research and advocacy as well as other interesting new Read More >>

As many of our readers  know – in December IRMA, the Microbicide Trials Network, and Population Council launched the video “The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials.” The 14-minute video includes researchers, advocates, and trial participants and discusses the need for rectal microbicides and the role of clinical trials in developing products Read More >>