Click here to see a full listing of IRMA's Steering Committee (SC). Thirteen individuals were brought on to the SC in February 10, 2009, bringing SC membership to 23. You will find some SC member bios below and here.
Advocates Archive
[listed by date added, most recent first]
Seattle, USA
Originally from Detroit, Gail now calls Seattle home. She works as a community education project manager with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN). She provides support, technical assistance, and training for community educators and recruiters who work at US clinical trial sites that are part of HVTN. Gail also provides support for the sites' Community Advisory Boards (CABs), and helps to ensure that there is community involvement in every aspect of the HVTN's operations. She was initially brought to IRMA through her connections with IRMA chairs Jim Pickett and Marc-Andre LeBlanc and has kept up to date with the Global Campaign for Microbicides for years now. Having made many friends with GCM staff, she has also been privileged to co-present with them on several occasions.
Gail believes that ALL biomedical prevention technologies are important. One of the lessons she has learned from microbicide advocates is that a cue has to be taken from the family planning folks. “When women are given a variety of options for birth control, they are more likely to find an option that meets their needs, whether that need deals with cost, ease of use, access to the product, etc. Similarly, HIV researchers need to be seeking as many different prevention strategies as possible to meet the needs of the widest range of people around the world.” When Gail is working in vaccine research, she says that she knows finding a vaccine is still a long term goal. In the shorter term, however, she hopes that finding an effective microbicide will give people another tool to keep themselves safe and fight against HIV.
When educating others, Gail always points out the importance of having many tools that can be used before the point of transmission, during the risk behavior when transmission may occur, and after transmission. Rectal or vaginal microbicides could be used before exposure, but in closer proximity when one is having sex. She often uses an idea learned at a conference several years ago: ABC is a nice place to start, but we also need CNN and MTV! (Condom distribution, Needle exchange, Negotiation of safer behaviors, and Microbicide research, Treatment research, Vaccine research). This helps people to think about "combination prevention", which is comparable to "combination therapy" for people already infected.
Gail’s first degree was music, so it’s no surprise that in her free time she sings in a semi-professional choir and for her synagogue. She is active in the Jewish community, especially around social justice issues. She is an avid reader, and you can often find her curled up with a good book and glass of wine.
[Posted October 2008]
Gus Cairns
London, England
With a degree from Oxford University, Gus Cairns has an intriguing story and quite a commitment to individuals living with HIV. Having been diagnosed with HIV himself more than twenty years ago, he reached his lowest-ever CD4 count of 10 in 1997. “Soon, I will have spent more time recovering from AIDS than dying of it,” he says.
His pre-AIDS career shows a varied life path, as he worked as a musician, barman, male escort, and a social worker who helped set up the UK’s first-ever Safe House for young runaways. As he watched his friends die from AIDS around him, he became an invested volunteer at the UK Coalition of People Living with HIV and AIDS in 1998 and then went on to become the editor of Positive Nation, the UK’s magazine for people with HIV. As an accredited psychotherapist, Gus divides his time between his growing practice and his role as a writer, editor, and advocate for HIV/AIDS issues. While he maintains that he is not the most vocal advocate, his passion lies in writing to support his more vocal colleagues. His work has focused on reshaping HIV prevention for MSM and people living with HIV.
Gus’s interest in new prevention technologies, specifically rectal microbicides, stems from a personal issue, as his partner is HIV negative. “I’m interested in them [rectal microbicides] because anyone who is HIV positive and has sex should be. They could potentially lift off the shoulder of positive people a huge burden of guilt, stigma, and responsibility,” he states. While Gus is unsure about how effective microbicides may be, he still feels it would be important to have it as an extra layer of safety in sex that is both easy and fun to use. He appreciates efforts towards microbicide research and funding because it involves an inherent de-stigmatization of anal sex and pleasure between all sexes around the world.
When he’s not sitting behind his computer writing or serving on various British committees targeting HIV, Gus travels extensively, taking an interest in MSM issues in other parts of the world. He is also a singer in London's gay chamber choir Diversity.
[Posted October 2008]
Anna Forbes
Kensington, Maryland, USA
Originally from central Illinois, Anna Forbes currently resides in Maryland while working in Washington D.C. She is the Deputy Director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides. She became involved with IRMA after talking to Jim Pickett and David Munar back in 2003 about the need to pick up and expand on an online rectal microbicides advocacy effort she had originally started in 2000. The duo offered to take it on, and that effort grew into what is now IRMA.
Rectal microbicides are a very important priority among new HIV prevention technologies because, as she puts it, “Everyone needs and deserves a way to protect themselves from HIV.” Via SafeGuards in Philadephia, Anna initiated the first incarnation of lifelube.com. She made her debut national presentation about rectal microbicides at the Second Gay Men’s Health Summit in Boulder, Colorado.
In 2002, Forbes published her first national U.S. article on the need for rectal microbicides. The same year, she gave an international workshop on the same subject at the UK CHAPS conference, leading to the publication of her first international article. After such impressive successes, Forbes has steadily written, spoke, presented, and organized around rectal micobicide advocacy ever since.
Anna’s hard work is paving the way for the future of rectal microbicides. So dedicated is she to her advocacy work that when asked what she does in her free time, she could only respond, “What free time?”
[Posted October 2008]
Dr. Ian McGowan
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
IRMA Steering Committe Member
Ian is originally from England, but currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is presently a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Ian’s research at the school, in conjunction with the Microbicide Trials Network, focuses on the development of rectal microbicides, so it was natural for him to get involved with IRMA and serve as a member of the IRMA Steering Committee. He is, in fact, one of the leading scientists in the world working to advance the development of safe, effective and acceptable rectal microbicides.
He believes that rectal microbicides are an important priority among new HIV prevention technologies because we live in an era that lacks a safe and effective HIV vaccine. “We need to broaden the range of prevention options, especially for individuals who are currently practicing unprotected anal intercourse.” As a physician-scientist, Ian’s job not only focuses on trying to develop a rectal microbicide, but also to spread information on rectal microbicides through lectures, article reviews, and scientific papers.
In his spare time, Ian enjoys spending time with his partner Ross and his two dogs, Harry and Walter. He also looks forwards to vacationing at his house in Spain.
[Posted October 2008]
Arwa Meijer
Brussels, Belgium
Arwa Meijer, an international microbicide advocate, is quite international herself! Half Dutch and half Bolivian, Meijer is currently based in Belgium. At present, she is the European Programme Associate at the Global Campaign for Microbicides based in Brussels. From the start, the Global Campaign has been extraordinarily active in rectal microbicide advocacy and in helping to catalyze the creation and progression of IRMA. The Campaign has truly inspired her and provided her valuable insight as to how to become a rectal microbicide advocate.
Meijer is a firm believer that with more HIV prevention options, more people will have something to choose from that better fits their specific needs. “Everybody is different, everybody has different practices, different sexual tendencies. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s what you do.” Rectal microbicides are even more important knowing that anal intercourse is a daily practice in many people’s lives in certain cultures. Because science has shown that HIV transmission via unprotected anal sex is more likely compared to unprotected vaginal sex, Meijer agrees that there is an urgent need for research and development of rectal microbicides. She also believes that once a vaginal microbicides are on the market, the reality will be that both men and women will likely be using it rectally despite labels indicating that it is not for rectal use. Therefore, she thinks it is important to not only examine the rectal safety of current vaginal microbicides but also to look into their efficacy in working as potential rectal microbicides.
Meijer’s first real contact with rectal microbicides came at the Microbicides 2006 conference in Capetown where she was active in recruiting more advocates for IRMA. At the Microbicides 2008 conference, she helped organize a reception for the launch of “Less Silence, More Science”. At the AIDS 2008 Conference in Mexico City, she worked at a booth promoting partnership in HIV prevention research to raise awareness and education of rectal microbicides. Meijer has also helped create a free online course, titled The Essentials Microbicides Course, in which she designed a module focusing on rectalmicrobicides. She encourages her fellow microbicide advocates and others to learn more about the research and development of rectal microbicides by taking that module.
When she is not traveling around the world and advocating her heart out, Arwa enjoys going to the cinema, salsa dancing, and organizing dinners with her friends.
[Posted October 2008]
Dr. Ross Cranston
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
IRMA Steering Commitee Member
Currently a Pittsburgh resident, Dr. Cranston works as an HIV physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center with the Microbicide Trials Network. He has the honor of being elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. Cranston has worked in the field of anal dysplasia (pre-cancer) for a number of years as a result of the vastly increased rates of anal cancer in gay men. After moving to UCLA to become involved with the Microbicide Development Program (U19), he was naturally drawn towards IRMA.
Dr. Cranston believes that the emerging science of rectal microbicides will play a critical role in the evolution of HIV prevention. “It is apparent that HIV prevention, much like HIV treatment, will require a ‘cocktail’ to succeed.” To him, this cocktail includes a combination of education, behavior change, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and hopefully a vaccine. As an anal dysplasia clinician, he seeks to increase awareness for microbicides with his patients by discussing human papillomavirus-associated anal cancer. This discussion links to other anorectal issues, such as the development of rectal microbicides and the opportunity to partake in clinical trials on microbicides at the medical center itself.
Dr. Cranston’s obvious commitment to microbicides can be seen on multiple fronts within his profession, and his advocacy is to be commended. In the spare time that he makes for himself away from his busy workday, he enjoys cooking, gardening, and an endless round of doggie-walking!
[Posted August 2008]
Dr. Pamina Gorbach
Los Angeles, USA
Pamina Gorbach is a behavioral epidemiologist who focuses her research on the risky behaviors that expose individuals to STIs/HIV and on the social context of sexual health among other topics.
Pamina has several concurrent research projects. The first is a longitudinal study of men recently infected with HIV and their sexual partners. Another is an epidemiological study of men’s and women’s rectal health and behaviors and a study of rectal applicator acceptability as part of the UCLA Microbicide Development Program (U19).
Her interest in rectal health and microbicide development contributed to her involvement with IRMA, as she has been an active member of the Steering Committee. She states, “I feel there is a critical need for a prevention method specifically for anal intercourse, a behavior that carries an elevated risk of HIV transmission. As this is an indisputably common practice for many men AND women, rectal microbicides offer a very promising new prevention option, and I believe people will use them, and like them!”
In early 2007, UCLA began actively enrolling for the world’s first rectal microbicide safety trial. Gorbach’s team of researchers also helped with the studies mentioned in IRMA’s publication “Less Silence, More Science.” At the 17th International AIDS Conference in Mexico Cit her group helped analyze the data that was showcased in a poster presentation titled, "International Lubricant Use Behaviours for Anal Intercourse - Focus on Women."
The Johns Hopkins trained Gorbach is currently an Associate Professor at UCLA at the School of Public Health and at the School of Medicine. Dr. Gorbach serves as a member of the Behavioral Research Committee of the Microbicides Trial Network.
Gorbach is a big fan of traveling for leisure and for her professional work. Her incredible international experience includes research in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic Peru, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mali, Malawi, and Ghana.
[Posted August 2008]
Rajeev Kumar Jain
Bhopal, India
Rajeev Kumar Jain is from Bhopal in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. He received his PhD from the Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI) in Lucknow, India and presently resides there. He is currently job hunting for a postdoctoral position in branches related to microbicide development.
Rajeev first became involved with IRMA after attending the Microbicides 2008 conference held in New Delhi at the end of February 2008. He believes that rectal microbicides are an important priority with regards to the AIDS agenda because HIV infection via unprotected anal sex is a very serious concern. Accordingly, he feels that every person related to IRMA should try as best they can to find out measures to prevent HIV transmission. Having done extensive research in fields related to microbicides and spermicides, Rajeev has had numerous publications with regards to topical prophylactic contraceptives and hopes to continue on the path to discovering the ideal topical HIV prevention agent.
When he is not in the laboratory, Rajeev enjoys reading, watching TV, and keeping up with the news.
[Posted August 2008]
Obrian Nyamucherera
Harare, Zimbabwe
Obrian is an IRMA advocate from Harare, Zimbabwe where he serves as the national coordinator of Partners Zimbabwe, a partnership of six Zimbabwean HIV/AIDS organizations. These organisations have come together to promote information, dialogue and advocacy on HIV/tuberculosis issues in Zimbabwe, and Obrian coordinates all of their respective activities.
He came to know about IRMA through a friend who is a fellow HIV activist and an admirer of IRMA’s advocacy strategies. She advised Obrian to subscribe to the listserv, and he has been an active member ever since.
In Obrian’s perspective, rectal microbicides are an important priority among new HIV prevention technologies because very little has been done or said about them in Southern Africa - even though they have the potential to save lives. He believes that more research needs to be done on them because of the need for a complete arsenal of tools to fight the transmission of HIV.
“We will never reach a stage where we will sit back and say we have done enough, so we have to broaden the base of HIV prevention technologies!”
Obrian is an advocate to be admired, as he has taken much personal initiative for promoting microbicides in a region of the world where resources are lacking. In Zimbabwe and the surrounding countries, he acknowledges that little information on rectal microbicides is available. As a result, he takes every opportunity he can through workshops, reports, and other means to advocate for more information dissemination regarding microbicides and to push for more feasibility studies
When he is not hard at work advocating for rectal microbicides, he loves to watch soccer and spend time with his family.
[Posted August 2008]
Sean Philpott
Washington, DC, USA
Sean Philpott is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Washington, D.C. where he is a Science and Ethics Officer for the Global Campaign for Microbicides. Sean’s first involvement with IRMA was through his work with the Global Campaign, one of IRMA's partners, and with several staff and steering committee members who have been involved with IRMA. Most recently, through conversations he’s had with Jim Pickett and Marc-Andre Leblanc, as well as explorations into the issue of pre-clinical and phase 1 microbicide trials like Peter Anton's work, he’s been thinking a lot about the safety issues associated with both vaginal and rectal microbicides (both as compartment-unique compounds and as compounds that may be used in either compartment).
Sean believes that rectal microbicides are important as it is pretty clear from a number of recent studies that men and women worldwide, heterosexual or homosexual, engage in anal intercourse fairly frequently. Because of the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs through this route, it is essential to develop microbicides that are both safe to use rectally and that are formulated to be effective in preventing transmission of HIV and other sexually acquired infections during anal intercourse.
Sean creates awareness, educates and advocates for rectal microbicides through his work at the Global Campaign. He is currently exploring ways in which he can help Jim, Marc-Andre and other IRMA advocates to develop science and safety briefs to educate the community and policymakers about the need to develop these novel HIV/STI prevention technologies.
When asked what Sean does in his free time, he says, “what free time?” He is currently training for the Marine Corps Marathon and learning Portuguese in preparation for a trip to Brazil later this year. Cooking is also another activity he enjoys, and try to prepare dinner for himself and his partner almost every evening as a way to unwind and decompress from the work day.
[Posted August 2008]
Paolo Preston
Tuscon, USA
Having followed the work of IRMA co-founder Jim Pickett for quite some time, Paolo was naturally drawn to IRMA. As a prevention specialist himself, he feels strongly that rectal microbicides should be given preference as a new HIV prevention technology.
“We must have solid science-based tools to do prevention work without judgment, that treats people with the respect they deserve,” he says. Paolo educates the communities he works with about the importance of being honest and upfront about sexual practices in the hopes of reducing the stigma that surrounds anal sex and the community attitudes. He believes that it is these stigmas that prevent an understanding of why rectal microbicides would be important in preventing HIV. “You would not believe the discomfort some have with discussing anal sex,” he observes. As a result, he also has discussions with other prevention workers about the need to advocate easy to use and inexpensive rectal microbicides.
But aside from all of his hard work regarding HIV prevention, Paolo also loves to volunteer, spend time with his husband, and cook. His passion for writing is evident in his new blog in which he chronicles his journey of living with HIV for the last 22 years.
[Posted August 2008]
Dr. Morenike Ukpong
Ibadan/Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Morenike is a microbicide advocate from Ibadan, Nigeria where she works as a paedodontist (children’s dentist). She initially became involved with IRMA through her engagement in rectal microbicide advocacy in Nigeria as well as her repeated contact with Jim Pickett at international conferences.
As the coordinator of the Nigeria HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Group, Morenike focuses her work on enhancing HIV prevention among Nigerians. Rectal microbicides are important as an HIV prevention tool, and she sees it as necessary and important to advocate for microbicide research and development for the overall well-being of her fellow Nigerians.
In order to create greater awareness around rectal microbicides, Morenike is clear that they must be included in any discussion of our HIV advocacy agenda.
With all of this hard work, it’s no wonder that one of Morenike’s favorite free time activities is sleeping!
[Posted August 2008]
Copenhagen, Denmark
Henrik serves as the chairman of HIV-Danmark, a Copenhagen-based NGO. He has been involved in the Global Campaign for Microbicides for several years now, which eventually lead to his involvement with IRMA. “Funding in Denmark goes solely to an international group which only focuses on vaginal microbicides. And that needs to change.”
He believes that rectal microbicides are needed to make a “complete quilt” of prevention methods to address the diversity of human sexuality. Henrik’s commitment to microbicide advocacy is clear as he takes every opportunity to talk to key persons in the Danish government and in Danish organizations to draw focus to rectal microbicides in addition to vaginal microbicides.
And while Henrik is passionate about serving as a microbicide advocate, he also takes time for himself to relax and pursue his other passions of cooking, wining, and dining with friends and family.
[Posted July 2008]
Gabriel Boichat
Barcelona, Spain
Gabriel currently works on communications and advocacy in a newly created NGO called Planeta Salud (Planet Health). This organization focuses on advocacy regarding HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria while promoting the need for new health tools to combat infectious diseases. With that in mind, rectal and vaginal microbicides are a topic of great interest to him in HIV prevention as they could represent an opportunity to reduce HIV infections worldwide.
He crossed paths with IRMA after working on a project to introduce microbicides on the agenda of important stakeholders in Spain. With his interest in the latest news surrounding rectal microbicides, we’re thrilled that his colleagues recommended him to subscribe to our listserv! He firmly believes that condoms are not enough by themselves in facing the reality of HIV, and thus, rectal microbicides are urgently needed to give more preventative options to both men and women who have anal sex. “We need to introduce pleasure and harm reduction as part of our discourse on HIV prevention, and rectal microbicides are one way we could do it,” he says. Having developed a comprehensive webpage detailing the facts of microbicides and published articles on rectal microbicides in his NGO’s monthly newsletter, Gabriel is clearly deeply committed to his advocacy work. He also offered his talent and expertise in the preparation of "Menos Cilencia Más Ciencia - Iniciativa para que los Microbicidas Rectales sean una Realidad" - the brand new IRMA-ALC Spanish translation of the "Less Silence More Science" report released by IRMA at the Microbicides 2008 conference in New Delhi this past February. The Spanish version of the report will be released at the AIDS 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, August 2008.
Despite his obviously busy schedule, he tries to travel as much as possible to meet and understand new people and cultures. At the same time, he tries to make time for some books, TV shows, and, of course, Barcelona’s very own Barça soccer team!
[Posted July 2008]
Dr. Craig Hendrix
Baltimore, USA
Born in Washington D.C., Craig currently takes on multiple roles at nearby Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He is a physician internist, clinical pharmacologist, and infectious diseases sub-specialist. With his extensive medical background, Craig is actively engaged in clinical research of microbicides with a focus on rectal microbicides.
He understands that men and women who engage in receptive anal intercourse need something more than just the “ABC” approach, which fails at many levels. Hopefully, microbicides can prove effective in reducing the risk of HIV and be added to the list of multi-modal strategies of HIV prevention. Craig finds that ignoring rectal microbicide efficacy and toxicity ignores the HIV prevention needs of both men who have sex with men (MSM) as well as women. He sees that by not focusing on microbicides, we may be ignoring “a method that could be behaviorally more transparent than existing methods, and, therefore, more acceptable and more often used by MSM who do not currently employ effective HIV prevention strategies.” Craig’s commitment to advocating forrectal microbicides is evident in his discussions with his medical school classes as well as with his family, friends, and acquaintances. Check out Craig's presentation from the Microbcides 2008 conference.
While he takes up multiple roles on the job, his leisure-time joys include spending time with his wife and adult kids, reading, and keeping up with seemingly endless yardwork. And even though his orthopedist won’t allow him to play soccer anymore, it doesn’t stop Craig from dreaming about it.
[Posted July 2008]
Jeremy Wing Kien
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
As the in-house program manager of the Pink Triangle (PT) Foundation, Jeremy has years of experience working as an advocate with Malyasia’s MSM community. His involvement on IRMA’s steering committee partially stems from his personal interest in discovering the benefits of rectal microbicides for the sexual health of gay men. At the same time, he was looking to network with other international HIV/AIDS organizations who work with at-risk groups.
With alarming increases in HIV infection among Malaysia’s vulnerable communities, Jeremy sees a need to introduce a new prevention approach. Easily accessible and affordable rectal microbicides will hopefully meet that need. Because microbicides are a prevention technique virtually unheard of in Malaysia, Jeremy has worked to educate the largely tech-savvy MSM and gay community about it via major Malaysian MSM and gay websites, including the community websites of the PT Foundation. He hopes to advocate for the need of microbicide research at the local level. Jeremy is also helping to present the workshop "Making Anal Sex Safer for MSM in the Developing World" with the IRMA team at the The Invisible Men pre-conference at AIDS 2008, sponsored by the Global Forum on MSM and HIV.
Jeremy finds joy in sharing knowledge and research with others for the sake of HIV/AIDS prevention on the Asian and international HIV/AIDS front. In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys reading self-help and inspirational books and listening to various genres of music. It is important to him to build relationships with members of both the gay and straight community while also volunteering his time with programs geared towards MSM and gay men, enriching his life as a gay Malaysian.
[Posted July 2008]
Patricia Segura
Lima, Peru
Patricia became involved with IRMA (specifically IRMA-ALC) in order to explore new prevention strategies that would help decrease the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Peruvian population. To her, rectal microbicides represent an important priority as a new HIV prevention technology because little research has been done on the topic. “We do not fully understand what mechanisms can influence the prevention of HIV transmission through anal intercourse,” she says, emphasizing the need for more studies.
She is currently a research manager with Invetigaciones Medicas en Salud, INMENSA, an independent non-profit organization based in Peru. INMENSA is a founding partner of IRMA-ALC and spearheaded the effort to translate the "Less Silence More Science" report into Spanish. More than anything, Patricia understands that rectal microbicides should be further explored. Currently, feasibility studies have been implemented in Peru to get an overview of willingness to participate in preliminary studies for microbicides.
And while Patricia is an incredible, hard-working advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention, don’t be surprised by the equally amazing guitar-playing skills she developed in her free time.
[Posted July 2008]
Proscovia Ayoo
Soroti, Uganda
[Read her first-person narrative on the IRMA blog here.]
Proscovia joins IRMA's efforts from her home in Soroti, Uganda where she is a teacher and HIV/AIDS counselor. As a rectal microbicide advocate, Proscovia is actively involved in a project aiming to mobilize HIV positive women and lessen the stigma through education efforts in rural Uganda. Searching for an opportunity to participate in more preventative research that is safe, effective, and accessible and aims to develop a microbicide that is affordable and easy for all to use, Proscovia found IRMA. She hopes all HIV/AIDS advocates will reach out to those who specifically engage in anal sex because they are equally at risk of infection and need supportive services.
When Proscovia is not spending her professional time counseling clients and talking with communities about HIV/AIDS, she enjoys reading. Living with HIV since 1997, Proscovia also likes traveling overseas to share her personal story and inspire others.
[Posted May 2008]
Ramakrishnan Krishna
Madurai, India
Ramakirshnan Krishna is an HIV/TB co-infection research assistant. After the Microbicides 2008 conference in New Delhi, Ramakrishnan eagerly began to learn more about rectal microbicides, via the IRMA website, blog and listserv.
Although he is new to the rectal microbicides realm of HIV prevention, Ramakrishnan is excited to be engaging in advocacy work. He is aware that reaching out to people who participate in anal sex is very difficult due to the stigma it attracts, but is confident that with determination and hard work, IRMA members will be successful in reaching the populations who are enagaging in this behavior. He looks forward to the day when a rectal microbicide is developed with the ability to prevent HIV.
In his free time, Ramakrishnan continues his education by attending trainings on HIV research
[Posted May 2008]
Marc-Andr LeBlanc
Ontario, Canada
IIRMA Steering Committee Member
Marc-André is one of the original founding members of IRM A, and continues to serve as Secretary to the Steering Committee. His interest in rectal microbicides comes from his 15 years of community-based AIDS work, including advocacy and community mobilization for microbicides and other new prevention technologies in Canada, and globally. He believes rectal microbicides can help us all deal with the frustratingly difficult task of remaining as safe as possible in our most intimate moments.
Marc-André now works as a consultant on HIV, microbicides and vaccines for a number of national and international organizations and agencies, including as the Global North Programmes Coordinator for the Global Campaign for Microbicides. This includes coordination of advocacy and community mobilization efforts in North America and support to the European staff and the budding microbicides movement in Australia.
An avid film-watcher, Marc-André completed a film studies degree while working full-time -- just for fun! He loves to travel, but still feels the most beautiful place on earth is the ocean-side beach at his cottage in Atlantic, Canada, which has been in his family for five generations.
[Posted May 2008]
Lewis Ndlovu
Cape Town, South Africa
Lewis Ndlovu is a news producer and reporter for Synergy News Media, a non-governmental news porta in Cape Town , South Africal. He is also a key correspondent for an HIV/AIDS health news team in Thailand. As a health reporter and writer Lewis has been to places that are heavily affected by HIV/AIDS, “I never imagined that covering such issues would be a great challenge and a huge learning curve.”
He first encountered IRMA at the 2006 Cape Town conference and recently attended the 2008 conference in New Delhi. On a personal level, Lewis feels that rectal microbicides are an important link to HIV infection for people who engage in unprotected anal sex, including those in relationships.. He hopes that accelerated research and campaign tools are used as sources of information and become readily available as educational tools used to break the “rectal silence." A sense of urgency is necessary in the rectal microbicide world as it needs continued effort and increased funding.
Apart from being a journalist, Lewis is also a fashion model and TV actor. He enjoys traveling and cycling. Lewis also gives free educational sessions to prison inmates on various health topics.
[Posted May 2008]
Sholotan Abdulrahaman Oladimeji
Lagos, Nigeria
By reaching out to young African men and women who are questioning their sexual orientation, Sholotan aims to break down the structural barriers and engage in open communication between all actors involved in HIV prevention.
He joined IRMA because it is a community working towards a safer environment for those who have anal sex. Sholotan is proud to be part of a team that encourages new ideas and approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention. Once a rectal microbicide is made available to people everywhere, Sholotan believes that we will be closer to overcoming one type of behavior that frequently spreads HIV.
As a medical student in Lagos, Nigeria, Sholotan plans to advocate by attending seminars, working with young adults, and educating on the risks of unprotected anal sex. He hopes to live in a world where young people are free to safely express themselves.
When not busy with school, Sholotan likes to read, watch football, and search the web for fascinating microbicide news and articles - like those right here on the IRMA website!
[Posted May 2008]
Innocent Afeke
Accra , Ghana
Innocent Afeke is a Medical Senior Research Assistant in Ghana, West Africa and is interested in researching herbal products strongly suspected of working as microbicides. He was drawn to IRMA because of its primary objective – the push for accelerated research and development of a safe, effective and acceptable rectal microbicide to combat the rate of HIV infection in women and men who engage in anal sex.
His concern is that the anatomy of the rectum makes it more susceptible to HIV infection than the vagina and the research supports the fact that a large number of women are having both anal and vaginal sex. As well, the existence of MSM is a global matter that goes beyond religion and social status, and therefore, a rectal microbicide needs to be a widely available product for both women and men.
HIV/AIDS advocates must work towards a solution that will prevent HIV during anal sex, Innocent believes. He also researches the conditions that set the stage for HIV infection, particularly in women. In his free time, he enjoys browsing the internet.
[posted March 2008]
Donn Colby
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Donn Colby for the Vietnam-CDC-Harvard Medical School AIDS Partnership (VCHAP). He is particularly interested in the way in which a rectal microbicide could help to protect against HIV among men who have sex with men in Asia, who, because of “less acceptance of homosexuality, more stigma and discrimination against homosexuals, and high rates of commercial sex” are not always able to negotiate condom use.
He notes that it is crucial to develop rectal microbicides to prevent against HIV transmission through receptive anal intercourse, which is practiced among both homosexuals and heterosexuals worldwide. Through his work, Donn provides training on HIV/AIDS clinical care and ARV treatment to Vietnamese doctors and nurses as part of the PEPFAR program.
He and his partner recently adopted two boys, ages 6 and 10. His free time “is now taken up with swimming lessons, video games, and bedtime stories in Vietnamese!”
[posted March 2008]
Anne Davis
Pittsburgh, USA
Within days of joining the Microbicides Trial Network (MTN) as a Research Coordinator based at Magee-Womens Research Institute, Anne found IRMA and signed on. As a member, she expects to learn about the history and current issues regarding rectal microbicide development and to meet other members.
After working briefly on the pharmaceutical side of HIV, she was certain about wanting to continue working in the area of HIV/AIDS. Being part of MTN is inspirational for her. “To work in support of professionals whose sights are set on developing microbicides in order that men and women, worldwide, may protect themselves from contracting HIV is to be part of a high-priority process with the potential to turn the tide of the pandemic.”
In her volunteer efforts, Anne is a board member of Shepherd Wellness Community, western Pennsylvania’s only AIDS Community center in existence since 1987. Periodically, she speaks with young teens and college students about HIV awareness, testing and prevention. Annually, she creates and donates art for a fundraising auction which supports PERSAD, a non-profit serving the GLBT community and PLWHA. Anne is certified in pre- and post-HIV test counseling and will be trained to administer tests which she intends to do as a volunteer at events offering rapid testing.
[posted March 2008]
Dazon Dixon Diallo
Atlanta, USA
.Dazon Dixon Diallo has been concerned about alternative options to safer sex and risk reduction for women at risk for HIV for the last 26 years, and currently participates on the local, national, and international scene with regard to microbicide research and development. She is a member of the Global Campaign for Microbicides Steering Committee and of the African Microbicides Advocacy Group, and believes that IRMA is an important partner in the advocacy field for microbicides.
She thinks that developing a rectal microbicide is important for a number of reasons: because more people (both men and women) engage in anal sex than are ready to admit or talk about it, because women who are not able to negotiate condom use for vaginal sex may be even less likely to do so for anal sex, because of the potential for alliance-building between women and MSM if they advocate for things in conjunction with one another, and because “the answer to ‘WHY NOT???’ will probably be unacceptable to any HIV/AIDS advocate!”
Ms. Diallo is the founder and president of SisterLove, Inc., a non-profit reproductive health/HIV organization for women in the U.S. (based in Atlanta) and South Africa, and strives to “move humanity to a more loving, healthy, peaceful, caring, and sustainable co-existence.” She volunteers as a producer and host of a radio program that focuses on Black women around the world, and enjoys reading and driving on long, quiet trips with no one but herself and her spirit angels (ancestors).
[posted March 2008]
Jerry Galea
Lima, Peru
IRMA Steering Committee Member
"My involvement in IRMA and rectal microbicides was somewhat accidental. Though I started working in HIV prevention it 1992, it was a new position in 2003 where I had the opportunity to work on a rectal health and behaviors study. I had heard of microbicides before that, in the 1990’s, but they were always talked about in strictly “vaginal” terms; I had not thought about rectal microbicides. The idea of having another HIV prevention tool for all people who have anal sex just makes sense."
Jerry believes that people will use different HIV prevention methods at different times and in different combinations. In terms of HIV, the more options available for prevention, the better.One of his frustrations with HIV prevention research is that anything “anal” or “rectal” is still taboo. It is clear that the realm of microbicide research is no exception by the way organizations fail to include rectal microbicides on their research agenda. Jerome’s commitment rests on his belief that advocacy is one of the most essential components to the success of rectal microbicides. Developing a rectal microbicide and making it available to people everywhere is necessary to have a serious impact on preventing new HIV infections.
Aside from a rectal microbicide advocate, Jerry is also interested in gay men’s health from a cultural and empowerment approach, especially in Latin America where he is working to open Peru’s first gay men’s center. When he finds the time, he likes to travel, drink good coffee, and spend time with his partner and their two “kids” – a weiner dog and a cat.
[posted March 2008]
Dr. Nesha Haniff
Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
Nesha is the Senior Program Advisor for the Jamaica Aids Support for Life, an organization that has traditionally worked with MSM in Jamaica. Through her work with adolescent MSM, she discovered their vulnerability in a homophobic society where harassment and death would be the consequence of their sexual orientation. The result is a high rate of HIV infection among MSM, over 20%. The power relations of these young men with their older partners are similar to the lack of agency Nesha observes in women.
For Nesha, it is important that a rectal microbicide be developed to provide MSM with a technology that enables some control over sexual health. As a feminist, Nesha finds it equally important that rectal microbicides be available to women, since a large number of them have no available protection. However, she believes they should be available to all women and men who are at risk, and not just to those who can afford it and who live in the West.
As a senior program advisor on new technology at the Latin American and Caribbean AIDS Support Service Organization (LACASSO), Nesha is able to advocate for both men and women. She is also interested in developing innovative oral pedagogies as HIV prevention tools. Nesha loves to spend time with her friends in Jamaica, the United States, and South Africa.
[posted March 2008]
Doreen Hardy
West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
Doreen Hardy is a doctoral candidate in Widener University’s Human Sexuality Program. The subject of her dissertation is the relationship of anal sexuality and the anal taboo to anal health. It is a qualitative, participatory action study that Doreen hopes will include IRMA members as participants. She anticipates that her research will find ways to facilitate increased efforts on anal health issues.
Upon graduation, Doreen hopes to teach at the college level and continue her research. She understands that the development of a rectal microbicide is challenging but a worthy challenge that is extremely useful for reasons that go beyond the utility of preventing HIV and anal cancer. Reaching out to people who engage in anal sex is important, according to Doreen, because it is increasingly a behavior practiced across populations. Now is the time for researchers and clinicians to take the opportunity and provide basic information and care!
Doreen also works on various LGBTQA affairs through her university. When not busy with research and class she loves to swim and practice yoga.
[posted March 2008]
Robert Reinhard
San Francisco, USA
Though he looks forward most to the day when cost-effective preventive and therapeutic HIV vaccines or boosters are found that decrease our dependence on daily biomedical interventions, Robert Reinhard believes that in the meantime rectal microbicides have the potential to help many men and women around the world as a personal prevention choice. Each of these people, he says, “deserves it soon as an individual, not just as a part of a global multitude.”
He also recognizes the value of rectal microbicide research in increasing our knowledge of the mucosal-based immunology that will be needed for vaccine research as well. While many uncertainties remain in the research and development of microbicides, Robert believes that “rectal microbicides could add nicely to the arsenal against HIV infection if research uncertainties are overcome.”
Professionally, he is also interested in bioethics for clinical trials and intellectual property issues that accelerate research, immunology, and commitments to delivery of proven interventions and treatments. Robert loves theater and good music, as well as great talent and creativity which are “found in many places – public stages and private kindness among good folks.”
[posted March 2008]
Martha Tholanah
Harare, Zimbabwe
Martha Tholanah is a program officer, advocacy advisor, and family therapist in Zimbabwe. Through sharing information on HIV prevention and treatment with activists, Martha advocates for the development of rectal microbicides. IRMA caught her attention because it serves as a source of information that is not widely provided anywhere else.
Working extensively with the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe, Martha witnesses the urgent need for more prevention methods and options. Her experience as a family therapist has made her more aware of the number of people, including those in heterosexual relationships, who engage in anal sex. Martha thinks HIV/AIDS advocates must reach out specifically to those who have anal sex because “there is not much information on the risks involved in anal sex, and prevention messages simply ignore this. That means talk of universal access is empty talk as we do not address all the aspects that impact responses to HIV.”
Aside from rectal microbicide work, Martha is also interested in gaining access to comprehensive health services for all.
[posted March 2008]
Kadiri Audu
Lagos, Nigeria
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Kadiri Audu is a recipient of a John Shaw Memorial Scholarship to attend the Microbicides 2008 conference, and is deeply honored to have been one of the nine applicants chosen.. He joined IRMA at Microbicides 2006 in Cape Town, South Africa. Kadiri is a social worker involved with youth development and advocacy, along with HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and control.
IRMA appeals to Kadiri because of its focus on an otherwise suppressed group of people. He advocates for rectal microbicide research because he would like to see to see every group of people have the right to good health and access to adequate health care. Kadiri believes in the importance of globally available rectal microbicides as people in every part of the world engage in anal sex and have the right to access safe, effective and acceptable rectal microbicides as a means of protection.
Kadiri's youth work also includes engaging and empowering the less privileged in Nigerian society. In his free time he reads and does various types of research.
[posted February 2008]
Jonathan Berger
Johannesburg, South Africa
Jonathan Berger, IRMA Steering Committee member, is a senior researcher and policy, research, and communications manager at the AIDS Law Project in Johannesburg, South Africa. After attending a satellite session on rectal microbicides at Microbicides 2006 Conference in Cape Town, he became interested in advocating for research into and the development of rectal microbicides as a way to bolster HIV prevention efforts, particularly in developing countries such as South Africa where existing programs have proved particularly unsuccessful.
Jonathan believes that the more options people have to protect themselves, the greater their chance to prevent infection with HIV. He also maintains that providing widespread access to prevention and treatment tools is essential, for without “ensuring broad assess to the benefits of scientific developments, research conducted on poor people is nothing more than experimentation.”
His professional interests involve exploring ways in which the law can be used as a tool of social change. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys “travel, food and sex – preferably all at once!” He ran the Soweto Marathon in November 2007, and is upgrading to ultramarathons in 2008 and 2009!
[posted February 2008]
Toni Bond
Chicago, USA
Toni Bond was drawn to IRMA by her commitment to seeking ways to reduce the transmission of HIV among women, and in women of color in particular. She works for reproductive justice through African American Women Evolving (AAWE), where she is executive director. AAWE does health education, policy, and advocacy work with a specific focus on Black women and girls. Toni believes that her work and that of other HIV prevention advocates “has to be seeking those methods that will help to empower women and men to have as much control as possible in reducing their risk,” which involves developing both vaginal and rectal microbicides.
Toni feels strongly that it is important that a rectal microbicide be widely available to people around the world, and that its distribution not be limited “to a certain segment of the world or certain populations of people.”
She is an avid reader, enjoys writing poetry, and loves spending time with her husband Antione and her cat Ms. Cleo.
[posted February 2008]
Julie Davids
Providence, RI, USA
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Julie Davids believes that HIV prevention work needs to be “guided by reality and science, not stereotypes and squeamishness.” As the Executive Director of the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) in Providence, Rhode Island, Julie recognizes that HIV is not only a medical emergency, but also a crisis in social justice and human rights. New prevention technologies that are easy to use, practical, inexpensive or free, and that “fit in with the ways that real people have real sex” are needed right now to slow the epidemic.
Like other advocates and researchers, Julie believes that if a microbicide of any sort is developed, people will use it in any and every bodily orifice that they can; because of this it is essential to have a rectally-effective microbicide without making assumptions about who does and does not engage in anal sex. She thinks that a rectal microbicide is one of the important steps to ensuring that members of marginalized and criminalized communities (gay men and other MSM, transgender or gender-variant people, sex workers, etc.) can protect themselves from HIV — but we must also fight for the human rights of all to live free of harassment or persecution, regardless of their sexuality or gender.
In her professional work at CHAMP, Julie “enjoys teaching people to raise hell and win victories." In her spare time, she enjoys birdwatching and kayaking, making up songs about everyday things and singing them to her cat, and falling asleep on the beach.
Julie is a member of the IRMA Steering Committee and one of IRMA's founders. Without her, we'd be nothing!
[posted February 2008]
Bill O’Brien
Boston, USA
Like many gay men, Bill O’Brien knew very little about microbicides before beginning his current job with Fenway Community Health in Boston, 2005. Since then he has been involved in microbicide development and partnered in research looking at acceptability issues related to microbicides.
Bill continues to advocate for the research and development of rectal microbicides because they can give gay men at risk for HIV additional options for protection. He believes in the empowerment that microbicide development will give to both men and women to protect themselves and the overall positive impact microbicides will have on HIV infection around the world.
As a John Shaw Memorial Scholarship recipient, Bill is excited to represent IRMA at the Microbicides 2008 conference and continue John Shaw’s passionate activism. Bill is also interested in public health and enjoys cooking, reading, and riding his bike. Using the internet, learning about social networking sites, and music production software are other ways Bill spends his free time.
[posted February 2008]
Sylvie Rouby
Paris, France
Becoming a member of The Warning, a French organization for gay men’s health was a real opportunity for Sylvie Rouby to think more deeply about HIV prevention and also sparked her interest in new prevention tools such as vaginal and rectal microbicides. For multiple reasons gay men around the world do not use condoms and often engage in unprotected sex. “It’s time for effective and sexy prevention tools that allow gay men and all of us to considerably reduce the risk of infection for HIV and STIs.”
As a woman, she does not forget about the number of females who are unable to protect themselves and susceptible to contracting HIV from a partner or husband. With the amount of women having anal sex it is important that not only vaginal but also rectal microbicides are available. Sylvie considers the IRMA project very important to the future of men and women and sees its strong coalition of researchers, advocates, and policymakers as the most effective way to accelerate the research for rectal microbicides. Her busy lifestyle is relieved by rollerblading throughout town, seeing movies with her two teenage children, and listening to jazz music.
[posted February 2008]
Eamonn Smythe
Aukland, New Zealand
Eamonn Smythe is the National Positive Health Manager for the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, providing leadership for the foundation’s four regional testing, counselling, and support centres, as well as managing contractors and relationships with peer support groups, senior clinicians, and the pharmaceutical industry. Eamonn is also a member of the Treatment Officers Network in Australia, the Auckland District Drug Advisory Committee (Med Safe), and the Access to Medicines Coalition (ATM), and also holds an extensive clinical nursing background in a number of specialties in multiple countries.
Eamonn joined IRMA after attending the IAS conference on the pathogenesis of HIV in Rio de Janeiro in 2005, where he realized there was a sound clinical base for alternative strategies.
“Rectal microbicides are of particular interest in New Zealand context, as HIV in the country is transmitted via anal intercourse without the use of a condom, and primarily in MSM communities,” he says.
He also has time to coordinate the NZAF National Candlelight Memorial and each year develops the New Zealand theme for World AIDS Day. In his spare time Eamonn sits on the board of the local community centre and helps his daughter Ciar Daire (age 11) with her homework.
[posted February 2008]
Precious Stallworth
Los Angeles, USA
Precious Stallworth was certified as a basic health worker and HIV pre- and post- test counselor in 1996. She became interested in microbicides in 1999 while working at Common Ground, the Westside HIV Community Center, and believes that this alternate method of prevention may be the answer to the problem of condom compliance, and could “create a significant shift in the epidemic, particularly for men who have sex with men.” The ease with which other products, such as douche or sexual lubricants, are incorporated into people’s sexual practices bodes well for microbicides. Precious also cites the lack of stigmatization of microbicides as another potential asset of this new prevention technology.
Her professional interests include HIV prevention, public health, and women’s health with an emphasis on lesbian health. Precious is currently the program manager for the Sexual Health Program at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. She also has a seat on the Los Angeles County Prevention Planning Committee and the deputy chair for the Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP) HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) working group. She is an assistant teacher with Antioch University’s LGBT specialization, and in her free time enjoys spending time with her partner and children.
[posted February 2008]
Joan Tallada
Barcelona, Spain
Joan advocates for rectal microbicides because it gives him an opportunity to promote placing, and/or replacing, pleasure and desire at the center of the HIV prevention discussion. He sees the importance of developing a widely available rectal microbicide because the necessary condom-based prevention efforts have shown a limited impact. Human sexuality is extremely complex but Joan believes that rectal microbicides will “offer a harm reduction approach for millions of people who want to have sex the way they want.” People have risky sex because they find it pleasant, more pleasant than safe sex. For some people, no prevention program will change their behavior but rectal microbicides might allow for an additional or alternative form of protection.
Joan’s other interests include engaging in politics aimed at removing social, cultural, and economic obstacles so that self-determination can fully develop. He is also a strong believer and supporter of personal autonomy and works in accompanying people in their decision making processes. Joan spends the rest of his free time with his partner, reading, and seeing the opera.
[posted February 2008]
Polly Harrison, PhD
Washington, DC, USA
Polly Harrison, PhD, is founder and Director of the Alliance for Microbicide Development, which strives to integrate the different kinds of people working on microbicides in the public and private sectors - developers, clinicians, biomedical and social scientists, and advocates - to share information, solve problems, and cultivate the resources they need.
After years of doing anthropological research on reproductive health needs and behavior in Latin America, while leading an Institute of Medicine study on new contraceptive technologies and coordinating HIV/AIDS and infectious disease research, she became committed to microbicides because of their enormous potential for the millions of women worldwide whose male partners refuse to use condoms.
Since microbicides will be used during anal as well as vaginal sex, whether or not they were designed for such use, she believes that "we must know a lot more about rectal physiology and the best corresponding formulations than we do, if microbicides are to be safe and eventually effective in helping prevent HIV."
Dr. Harrison is the mother of three and grandmother of seven and spends as much time with her family as possible. A self-proclaimed baseball junkie, Dr. Harrison also enjoys theatre and opera, reading, hiking, gardening, and "playing the piano badly."
[posted November 2007]
