Advocates Archive - M
[please choose the first initial of the Advocate's last name]
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Ken Mayer
Boston, USA
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Kenneth H. Mayer, M.D., is Professor of Medicine and Community Health at Brown University, Director of the Brown University AIDS Program, and Attending Physician in the Infectious Disease Division of The Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. He is also Medical Research Director at Boston’s Fenway Community Health Center, where (since 1983) he has conducted studies of HIV’s natural history and transmission.
In the early 1980s, Dr. Mayer was one of the first clinical researchers in New England to provide care for patients living with AIDS. He has been the principal investigator of four Phase I microbicide trials, including the first human trial of Tenofovir gel. He has co-authored more than 350 articles, chapters and other publications on AIDS and related infectious disease topics. Jim Pickett and Ian McGowan drew Ken to IRMA.
In his free time, he tries to listen to music and see movies, enjoy good food and company, and work off stress at the gym.
“I am interested in developing effective HIV prevention strategies. A safe and effective lube seems like a no-brainer to protect people who enjoy anal sex. I also care passionately about vaginal microbicides, since I have been taking care of women and men living with HIV for almost 30 years.”
[Posted September 2009]
Dr. Ian McGowan
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
IRMA Steering Committe Member, Scientific Vice Chair
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]
Lourence “Larry” Misedah
Nairobi, Kenya
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Larry is studying Environmental Planning and Management at Kenyatta University. He juggles between his college work and volunteering as the Health Manager for Ishtar MSM, an organisation whose mission is to advance the sexual health rights of MSM and to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Ishtar MSM creates general awareness with the aim of empowering the MSM community and society at large, and advocates for the right to good health and access to STI and HIV/AIDS-related care and treatment in Kenya. Larry has been involved in the wider LGBTI movement in Kenya and East Africa, including by participating in various regional and international events that have been landmarks for LGBTI organising in East Africa. Larry was actively involved to fight for the inclusion of MSM in HIV/AIDS intervention programs, working closely with other stakeholders to ensure inclusion in the Kenya National AIDS Strategic Plans.
“HIV prevalence among MSM remains considerably higher than in the general population in Kenya. Despite this, there are hardly any services for MSM apart from a few MSM-led initiatives. Rectal microbicide research is therefore of great importance for ensuring that prevention measures have an impact on HIV/AIDS among MSM. I have been actively involved in this work. It has given me insight into public health and my plans for after graduation.”
[Posted September 2009]
Abdullrahman Orosanya Mohammed-Saheedi
Lagos, Nigeria
Although born in Osun State Nigeria, Abdullrahman Orosanya Mohammed-Saheed now resides in Lagos State, Nigeria where he works as a social worker and behavioral scientist. It is here that Abdullrahman works diligently in the collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of HIV.
Abdullrahman realizes that, “With the current trend in the increased incidence of HIV being contracted through anal sex, rectal microbicides need to be a priority as a prevention option, especially for marginalized MSM ”
Having worked with the New Vaccine and Microbicides Advocacy Society (NVMAS), Abdullrahman was excited to get involved with IRMA during the special session on rectal microbicides at the 2006 Microbicides conference Cape Town, South Africa, in 2006. Today Abdullrahman is not only a member of IRMA, but utilizes his role as a behavioral scientist to help provide information on possible behavioral change regarding the introduction of rectal microbicides among people at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS through anal sex.
“Rectal microbicides, if delivered in a lubricant, would be helpful in terms of providing lubrication for the anus and rectum during sexual intercourse. It would also be good if it made sexual intercourse more pleasurable," he says.
[Posted January 2010]
Kate Morrow
Providence, RI, USA
IRMA Steering Committee Member
Kate is a clinical health psychologist by training, behavioural scientist in practice. She grew up in the Mohawk Valley in Upstate New York, USA. Kate has been advocating in the HIV epidemic since the 1980s.
She hopes that her science and her advocacy can both play an important role in IRMA and believes that IRMA’s work is key to the overall battle against HIV disease.
She has been studying vaginal microbicide acceptability for the last 12 years and looks forward to using the knowledge and skills she has gained there to help in the rectal microbicide effort.
Her other interests include spending time with her partner and good friends, biking, hiking, and relaxing on the porch.
[Posted September 2009]
