Check out Javier Lopez’s mini-bio, the latest in IRMA’s “Meet a Friendly Rectal Microbicide Advocate” series on the IRMA website here.  Javier is one of five new bios posted this week.   Javier Lopez New York City, USA Javier Lopez first learned about rectal microbicides when his partner worked for Project Gel in Puerto Rico. Javier was 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 >>

“The Bottom Line on Rectal Microbicide Research” was presented by IRMA’s Jim Pickett at Gay Men’s Health Crisis in NYC on January 23, 2013. POZ Magazine recorded the proceedings and produced this 4-minute highlight video, below. Check it out! Click here to download Jim’s presentation slides. “The Rectal Revolution is Here” was screened as well. You can watch the 14-minute video Read More >>

You are invited to a discussion and video presentation on rectal microbicide research and advocacy with IRMA and friends at Gay Men’s Health Crisis in NYC, from 10am til noon on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. View a special screening of the new video “The Rectal Revolution is Here: An introduction to rectal microbicide clinical trials.” Light refreshments will Read More >>

via Citizens News Service, by Somya Arora According to the Microbicides Trials Network (MTN), HIV continues to disproportionately affect racial minorities and men who have sex with men (MSM). MTN estimates that 5 to 10 percent of the world’s population engages in anal sex and globally, MSM are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV Read More >>

Rectal microbicides were ALL OVER the Microbicides 2012 conference… Chatting up rectal microbicide research and advocacy activities and issues at the recent Microbicides 2012 conference (held in Sydney this past April) were Dr. Ian McGowan, co-principal investigator of the Microbicide Trials Network (and IRMA Scientific Co-Chair) and IRMA Chair Jim Pickett. Have a look/listen to their discussion Read More >>

via Inside Story, by Gregory Trotter The dream of the AIDS-free generation will never be realized as long as there remain countries in the world that kill and imprison people for being gay. Same goes for countries that won’t even acknowledge homosexuality exists within their national boundaries and therefore fail to provide targeted HIV prevention and treatment Read More >>

Originally published by IRMA colleagues at Mapping Pathways here. “It was an amazing group, and one that moved me to near tears on a number of occasions”IRMA chairman Jim Pickett just returned from an inspiring week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he led a strategy meeting for the  IRMA’s Project ARM – Africa for Rectal Microbicides – and then attended Read More >>

“Stigma is only dispelled by shining a brighter light on it! We have to speak life and light with our words and actions. There is enough doom and gloom to impact everyone – and that is where stigma resides. But letting people know they have options, biomedical techniques for prevention, medications, possible vaccines, gathering more evidence, integrating Read More >>