U.S. progress in HIV fight continues to trail many other rich nations
NBC News, May 23, 2023
New HIV infections continue to ebb only modestly in the United States, while many other wealthy Western nations have posted steep reductions, thanks to more successful efforts overseas to promptly diagnose and treat the virus and promote the HIV prevention pill, PrEP.
NBC News, May 23, 2023
New HIV infections continue to ebb only modestly in the United States, while many other wealthy Western nations have posted steep reductions, thanks to more successful efforts overseas to promptly diagnose and treat the virus and promote the HIV prevention pill, PrEP.
Rise of mpox cases in Chicago raises concern about possible summer spread
NBC News, May 8, 2023
A recent uptick in mpox diagnoses in Chicago, some of them in people vaccinated against the virus, has raised concerns about a possible summertime increase in cases among gay and bi men. Chicago's Howard Brown Health reported eight new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, since April 17. By comparison, only one case was reported to the Chicago Public Health Department in the previous three months.
NBC News, May 8, 2023
A recent uptick in mpox diagnoses in Chicago, some of them in people vaccinated against the virus, has raised concerns about a possible summertime increase in cases among gay and bi men. Chicago's Howard Brown Health reported eight new cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, since April 17. By comparison, only one case was reported to the Chicago Public Health Department in the previous three months.
Tennessee blocked $8 million for HIV, now ends up with $13 million, stunning advocates
NBC News, April 21, 2023
Tennessee has gone from blocking $8.3 million in annual federal funds to combat HIV to newly including $9 million in the state budget approved Thursday to combat the virus. This development came after the CDC announced that it will circumvent the state government and continue providing about $4 million in HIV-prevention funds to Tennessee nonprofit groups, despite Gov. Bill Lee’s objections.
NBC News, April 21, 2023
Tennessee has gone from blocking $8.3 million in annual federal funds to combat HIV to newly including $9 million in the state budget approved Thursday to combat the virus. This development came after the CDC announced that it will circumvent the state government and continue providing about $4 million in HIV-prevention funds to Tennessee nonprofit groups, despite Gov. Bill Lee’s objections.
HPV can cause numerous kinds of cancer, yet many people don't realize it
NBC News, April 17, 2023
A majority of Americans are unaware that HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, can cause a number of major cancers, a new study found. Researchers were surprised over one finding in particular: a decline in awareness that HPV, which is vaccine preventable, is linked to cervical cancer.
NBC News, April 17, 2023
A majority of Americans are unaware that HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, can cause a number of major cancers, a new study found. Researchers were surprised over one finding in particular: a decline in awareness that HPV, which is vaccine preventable, is linked to cervical cancer.
California's Plan for Cheaper Insulin Collides With Big Pharma's Price Cuts
The New York Times, March 24, 2023
California is moving ahead with its plan to produce state-sponsored insulin through a $50 million contract with Civica, a nonprofit organization. But its goal of offering cheaper medicine than brand-name companies may be much harder to achieve now that those major drug makers have decided to significantly drop sticker prices on some products.
The New York Times, March 24, 2023
California is moving ahead with its plan to produce state-sponsored insulin through a $50 million contract with Civica, a nonprofit organization. But its goal of offering cheaper medicine than brand-name companies may be much harder to achieve now that those major drug makers have decided to significantly drop sticker prices on some products.
PrEP's promise to change the course of HIV has succeeded—but only for white gay men
NBC News, March 18, 2023
A decade into the era of the HIV prevention pill, called PrEP, efforts to leverage its heralded power to curb new infections have stagnated in the United States. This shortfall is a key reason the nation lags far behind many others in combating HIV, with a national epidemic long plagued by racial inequities and only a modestly declining new infection rate.
NBC News, March 18, 2023
A decade into the era of the HIV prevention pill, called PrEP, efforts to leverage its heralded power to curb new infections have stagnated in the United States. This shortfall is a key reason the nation lags far behind many others in combating HIV, with a national epidemic long plagued by racial inequities and only a modestly declining new infection rate.
CDC warns about the rise in almost untreatable Shigella bacterial infections
NBC News, March 1, 2023
The CDC is warning about a rise in extensively drug-resistant cases of the bacterial infection Shigella, a major cause of inflammatory diarrhea. The agency calls the new form of the stomach bug, which causes the diarrheal condition known as shigellosis, a “serious public health threat.” Evidence suggests the illness is spreading among gay and bisexual men in particular, apparently through sexual contact.
NBC News, March 1, 2023
The CDC is warning about a rise in extensively drug-resistant cases of the bacterial infection Shigella, a major cause of inflammatory diarrhea. The agency calls the new form of the stomach bug, which causes the diarrheal condition known as shigellosis, a “serious public health threat.” Evidence suggests the illness is spreading among gay and bisexual men in particular, apparently through sexual contact.
Mpox is highly fatal among people with advanced HIV, study finds
NBC News, February 21, 2023
Mpox can have a devastating impact on people with advanced cases of HIV, leading to severe lesions and causing death in as many as 1 in 4 of highly immunocompromised people. This is according to the first major study of mpox in this population. The analysis included 382 people from 28 nations, all of whom had HIV and a CD4 a count below 350. Twenty-seven of these individuals died.
NBC News, February 21, 2023
Mpox can have a devastating impact on people with advanced cases of HIV, leading to severe lesions and causing death in as many as 1 in 4 of highly immunocompromised people. This is according to the first major study of mpox in this population. The analysis included 382 people from 28 nations, all of whom had HIV and a CD4 a count below 350. Twenty-seven of these individuals died.
Taking an antibiotic after sex helps gay men curb STDs, but might fuel drug resistance
NBC News, February 20, 2023
A broadening chorus of public health experts are calling for the CDC to endorse prescribing a preventive antibiotic pill to gay and bisexual men and transgender women at high risk of STDs. But some experts are concerned that widespread use of the antibiotic for this purpose could fuel the global crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections.
NBC News, February 20, 2023
A broadening chorus of public health experts are calling for the CDC to endorse prescribing a preventive antibiotic pill to gay and bisexual men and transgender women at high risk of STDs. But some experts are concerned that widespread use of the antibiotic for this purpose could fuel the global crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Bush demanded billions for AIDS in Africa. It paid off.
NBC News, February 7, 2023
George W. Bush’s reputation was forever complicated by war, but a proposal in his 2003 State of the Union became a historic success, resulting in 25 million lives saved from AIDS, 20 million people with HIV provided treatment and 5.5 million babies born to HIV-positive mothers but free of the virus. After two decades, this is the legacy of PEPFAR — the most ambitious U.S. foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan.
NBC News, February 7, 2023
George W. Bush’s reputation was forever complicated by war, but a proposal in his 2003 State of the Union became a historic success, resulting in 25 million lives saved from AIDS, 20 million people with HIV provided treatment and 5.5 million babies born to HIV-positive mothers but free of the virus. After two decades, this is the legacy of PEPFAR — the most ambitious U.S. foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan.
How Tennessee axed millions in HIV funds amid scrutiny from far-right provocateurs
NBC News, February 2, 2023
Tennessee’s recent decision to reject over $8 million in federal funds to combat HIV was motivated, at least in part, by right-wing provocateurs stoking anti-LGBTQ sentiment, according to four sources within the state Health Department. The move by Republican Gov. Bill Lee will hamstring, if not cripple, efforts to combat one of the country’s most poorly controlled epidemics of the virus, HIV advocates said.
NBC News, February 2, 2023
Tennessee’s recent decision to reject over $8 million in federal funds to combat HIV was motivated, at least in part, by right-wing provocateurs stoking anti-LGBTQ sentiment, according to four sources within the state Health Department. The move by Republican Gov. Bill Lee will hamstring, if not cripple, efforts to combat one of the country’s most poorly controlled epidemics of the virus, HIV advocates said.
Emailing Your Doctor May Carry a Fee
The New York Times, January 24, 2023
Electronic health communications and telemedicine have exploded in recent years, fueled by the coronavirus pandemic and relaxed federal rules on billing for these types of care. In turn, a growing number of health care organizations, including some of the nation’s major hospital systems have begun charging fees for some responses to more time-intensive patient queries via secure electronic portals like MyChart.
The New York Times, January 24, 2023
Electronic health communications and telemedicine have exploded in recent years, fueled by the coronavirus pandemic and relaxed federal rules on billing for these types of care. In turn, a growing number of health care organizations, including some of the nation’s major hospital systems have begun charging fees for some responses to more time-intensive patient queries via secure electronic portals like MyChart.
California Joins Other States in Suing Companies Over Insulin Prices
The New York Times, January 18, 2023
California has become the largest state to sue the major companies on the insulin market, accusing them of illegally inflating the price of the treatment and spawning a financial and public health crisis. Rob Bonta, the state’s attorney general, said in announcing the lawsuit that the companies had engaged in “unlawful, unfair and deceptive practices."
The New York Times, January 18, 2023
California has become the largest state to sue the major companies on the insulin market, accusing them of illegally inflating the price of the treatment and spawning a financial and public health crisis. Rob Bonta, the state’s attorney general, said in announcing the lawsuit that the companies had engaged in “unlawful, unfair and deceptive practices."
Another major HIV vaccine trial fails
NBC News, January 18, 2023
The only HIV vaccine in a late-stage trial has failed, researchers announced Wednesday, dealing a significant blow to the effort to control the global HIV epidemic and adding to a decadeslong roster of failed attempts. “It’s obviously disappointing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci. However, he said, “there are a lot of other approaches” early in the HIV-vaccine research pipeline that he finds promising.
NBC News, January 18, 2023
The only HIV vaccine in a late-stage trial has failed, researchers announced Wednesday, dealing a significant blow to the effort to control the global HIV epidemic and adding to a decadeslong roster of failed attempts. “It’s obviously disappointing,” Dr. Anthony Fauci. However, he said, “there are a lot of other approaches” early in the HIV-vaccine research pipeline that he finds promising.
Trump vs DeSantis - where do they stand on LGBTQ+ Rights?
Thomson Reuters Foundation, January 9, 2023
LGBTQ+ rights advocates said they are uncertain who would be worse for the community, former president Donald Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, adding that a presidential win for either would lead to an erosion of rights. "Trump and DeSantis are two extremist politicians that are cut from the same cloth," said Geoff Wetrosky, the campaign director of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ rights group.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, January 9, 2023
LGBTQ+ rights advocates said they are uncertain who would be worse for the community, former president Donald Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, adding that a presidential win for either would lead to an erosion of rights. "Trump and DeSantis are two extremist politicians that are cut from the same cloth," said Geoff Wetrosky, the campaign director of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ+ rights group.
'Tripledemic' viruses still spreading. What science shows about being contagious.
NBC News, December 18, 2022
People know when they have Covid symptoms, but do minor sniffles at the end of a coronavirus infection, for example, mean they’re still contagious? It’s a good time to brush up on what scientists know, and still don’t know, about how long people remain infectious with viral diseases — Covid, influenza, RSV — that are spreading across the U.S.
NBC News, December 18, 2022
People know when they have Covid symptoms, but do minor sniffles at the end of a coronavirus infection, for example, mean they’re still contagious? It’s a good time to brush up on what scientists know, and still don’t know, about how long people remain infectious with viral diseases — Covid, influenza, RSV — that are spreading across the U.S.
LGBTQ+ 'rainbow wave' brings U.S. midterms boost but battles ahead
Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov. 2022
A "rainbow wave" that lifted record numbers of LGBTQ+ candidates to victory in the U.S. midterms is a promising sign of growing acceptance. But tough legislative fights still lie ahead in many Republican-controlled states. Even as Republicans gained a slim majority in the House of Representatives, the absence of the predicted "red wave" could act as a buffer against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the new Congress.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov. 2022
A "rainbow wave" that lifted record numbers of LGBTQ+ candidates to victory in the U.S. midterms is a promising sign of growing acceptance. But tough legislative fights still lie ahead in many Republican-controlled states. Even as Republicans gained a slim majority in the House of Representatives, the absence of the predicted "red wave" could act as a buffer against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the new Congress.
In a first, two gay men contest the same congressional seat
Thomson Reuters Foundation, November 2022
History is in the making. For the first time, two openly gay candidates are competing for election to a U.S. congressional seat. Analysts say the race in New York's 3rd congressional district, where Democratic marketing executive Robert Zimmerman is facing off against Republican financier George Santos, highlights the huge strides LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance have made on the political stage.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, November 2022
History is in the making. For the first time, two openly gay candidates are competing for election to a U.S. congressional seat. Analysts say the race in New York's 3rd congressional district, where Democratic marketing executive Robert Zimmerman is facing off against Republican financier George Santos, highlights the huge strides LGBTQ+ representation and acceptance have made on the political stage.
Study finds evidence of 'considerable' presymptomatic spread of monkeypox
The Guardian, November 2, 2022
If replicated, British researchers' finding of evidence of substantial transmission of monkeypox in advance of symptom onset would upend received wisdom about how the virus spreads. It could help explain how monkeypox got so out of control this year, while also refining efforts to combat it.
The Guardian, November 2, 2022
If replicated, British researchers' finding of evidence of substantial transmission of monkeypox in advance of symptom onset would upend received wisdom about how the virus spreads. It could help explain how monkeypox got so out of control this year, while also refining efforts to combat it.
After Fetterman debate, stroke survivors speak about their own struggles
NBC News, October 2022
For stoke survivors, the test Fetterman faced as he debated Mehmet Oz was not just political, but deeply personal. In him, they saw an avatar of their own struggles following a stroke: to recuperate physically, to communicate fluently and to coax from others an empathetic understanding that while some of their faculties may have been compromised, their intellects often remain unscathed.
NBC News, October 2022
For stoke survivors, the test Fetterman faced as he debated Mehmet Oz was not just political, but deeply personal. In him, they saw an avatar of their own struggles following a stroke: to recuperate physically, to communicate fluently and to coax from others an empathetic understanding that while some of their faculties may have been compromised, their intellects often remain unscathed.
Omicron subvariants pose a new threat to people with immune deficiencies
NBC News, October 2022
The immunocompromised face a new winter of discontent as the omicron virus threatens to outrun the preventive monoclonal antibody cocktail that hundreds of thousands of them have relied upon for extra protection against Covid, as well as the sole antibody drug that has retained effectiveness as treatment for Covid.
NBC News, October 2022
The immunocompromised face a new winter of discontent as the omicron virus threatens to outrun the preventive monoclonal antibody cocktail that hundreds of thousands of them have relied upon for extra protection against Covid, as well as the sole antibody drug that has retained effectiveness as treatment for Covid.
Are pets at risk of catching monkeypox from humans?
NBC News, October 2022
The risk of people with monkeypox passing the virus to their pets is low, the authors of a new study that found no such transmissions in the United Kingdom have concluded. The study’s findings offer a broader perspective in the wake of two recently reported cases of apparent monkeypox transmission from humans to their pets, including a dog in France and a puppy in Brazil.
NBC News, October 2022
The risk of people with monkeypox passing the virus to their pets is low, the authors of a new study that found no such transmissions in the United Kingdom have concluded. The study’s findings offer a broader perspective in the wake of two recently reported cases of apparent monkeypox transmission from humans to their pets, including a dog in France and a puppy in Brazil.
How a select few people have been cured of HIV
PBS's NOVA, October 2022
The five successful HIV cures have been the result of treatments too toxic to attempt on all but a select few. So while they provide a scientific roadmap toward success, they do not necessarily make researchers’ job any easier as they work to develop safe, effective and scalable alternatives.
PBS's NOVA, October 2022
The five successful HIV cures have been the result of treatments too toxic to attempt on all but a select few. So while they provide a scientific roadmap toward success, they do not necessarily make researchers’ job any easier as they work to develop safe, effective and scalable alternatives.
Life after monkeypox: Men describe and uncertain road to recovery
NBC News, September 2022
Following recovery from monkeypox, many people report experiencing lasting scars, both physical and psychological. It’s also possible the virus could cause permanent damage to sensitive internal tissues and give rise to persistent pain or other onerous long-term symptoms. Unfortunately, people looking to doctors or health agencies for answers about what to expect post-pox are typically met with an information vacuum.
NBC News, September 2022
Following recovery from monkeypox, many people report experiencing lasting scars, both physical and psychological. It’s also possible the virus could cause permanent damage to sensitive internal tissues and give rise to persistent pain or other onerous long-term symptoms. Unfortunately, people looking to doctors or health agencies for answers about what to expect post-pox are typically met with an information vacuum.
Government can't mandate coverage for drugs that prevent HIV, Texas federal judge rules
NBC News, September 2022
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a provision of the Affordable Care Act that mandates free coverage of HIV-prevention drugs violates the religious beliefs of a Christian-owned company. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor came in response to a lawsuit filed by Jonathan Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general.
NBC News, September 2022
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that a provision of the Affordable Care Act that mandates free coverage of HIV-prevention drugs violates the religious beliefs of a Christian-owned company. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor came in response to a lawsuit filed by Jonathan Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general.
How monkeypox spoiled gay men's plans for an invincible summer
NBC News, September 2022
Lost amid the public health and media reports about monkeypox epidemiology, the delayed vaccine deliveries and the squabbling over how best to communicate about the virus are the millions of queer people whose happiness, well-being and connection to one another have in many cases been considerably compromised by the mere threat of monkeypox infection.
NBC News, September 2022
Lost amid the public health and media reports about monkeypox epidemiology, the delayed vaccine deliveries and the squabbling over how best to communicate about the virus are the millions of queer people whose happiness, well-being and connection to one another have in many cases been considerably compromised by the mere threat of monkeypox infection.
Race for monkeypox vaccines exposes global health inequality
Thomson Reuters Foundation, August, 2022
Concern is growing that the scramble for scarce supplies of monkeypox vaccines could see some nations and high-risk groups miss out - recalling unequal global access to COVID-19 vaccines and HIV medication. "In a lot of ways we're seeing history repeat itself, unfortunately," said Wafaa El-Sadr, executive vice president for Columbia Global Centers, Columbia University's international network of campuses.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, August, 2022
Concern is growing that the scramble for scarce supplies of monkeypox vaccines could see some nations and high-risk groups miss out - recalling unequal global access to COVID-19 vaccines and HIV medication. "In a lot of ways we're seeing history repeat itself, unfortunately," said Wafaa El-Sadr, executive vice president for Columbia Global Centers, Columbia University's international network of campuses.
Sex between men, not skin contact, is fueling monkeypox, new research suggests
NBC News, August 2022
Since the outset of the global monkeypox outbreak in May, public health and infectious disease experts have told the public that the virus is largely transmitting through skin-to-skin contact, in particular during sex between men. Now, however, an expanding cadre of experts has come to believe that sex between men itself — both anal as well as oral intercourse — is likely the main driver of global monkeypox transmission. The skin contact that comes with sex, these experts say, is probably much less of a risk factor.
NBC News, August 2022
Since the outset of the global monkeypox outbreak in May, public health and infectious disease experts have told the public that the virus is largely transmitting through skin-to-skin contact, in particular during sex between men. Now, however, an expanding cadre of experts has come to believe that sex between men itself — both anal as well as oral intercourse — is likely the main driver of global monkeypox transmission. The skin contact that comes with sex, these experts say, is probably much less of a risk factor.
Monkeypox misinformation is spreading faster than the virus, experts say
NBC News, August 2022
Misinformation about the monkeypox outbreak is spawning an epidemic of largely unfounded anxiety, experts say. Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts dispelled some of the most common misconceptions, including whether the virus spreads easily through the air, that cases among women and children are being undercounted, and that health care workers are at high risk.
NBC News, August 2022
Misinformation about the monkeypox outbreak is spawning an epidemic of largely unfounded anxiety, experts say. Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts dispelled some of the most common misconceptions, including whether the virus spreads easily through the air, that cases among women and children are being undercounted, and that health care workers are at high risk.
Gay men can fight monkeypox ourselves — by changing how we have sex
The Washington Post, August 2022
As during the AIDS crisis, gay men cannot wait for the government to save us from monkeypox. We need to change our sexual behavior now. We must do this as an act of empowerment to protect ourselves. Until a time when monkeypox hopefully abates, this can and should mean reducing our number of partners, skipping sex parties, practicing monogamy and even being abstinent.
The Washington Post, August 2022
As during the AIDS crisis, gay men cannot wait for the government to save us from monkeypox. We need to change our sexual behavior now. We must do this as an act of empowerment to protect ourselves. Until a time when monkeypox hopefully abates, this can and should mean reducing our number of partners, skipping sex parties, practicing monogamy and even being abstinent.
A 5th person is likely cured of HIV, and another is in long-term remission
NBC News, July 27, 2022
Two new cases have advanced the field of HIV cure science. In one, scientists reported that a 66-year-old American man with HIV has possibly been cured of the virus through a stem cell transplant to treat his blood cancer. Spanish researchers have meanwhile determined that a woman who received an immune-boosting regimen in 2006 has been in a state of what they characterize as viral remission.
NBC News, July 27, 2022
Two new cases have advanced the field of HIV cure science. In one, scientists reported that a 66-year-old American man with HIV has possibly been cured of the virus through a stem cell transplant to treat his blood cancer. Spanish researchers have meanwhile determined that a woman who received an immune-boosting regimen in 2006 has been in a state of what they characterize as viral remission.
Millions at risk as COVID-19 and Ukraine war threaten HIV/AIDS gains
Thomson Reuters Foundation, July 2022
The fight against HIV risks being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS warned, with progress in cutting case numbers reversed in some countries and slowing overall. An estimated 1.5 million people contracted HIV worldwide in 2021, UNAIDS reported, with the number of new cases dropping at the slowest rate since 2016.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, July 2022
The fight against HIV risks being derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS warned, with progress in cutting case numbers reversed in some countries and slowing overall. An estimated 1.5 million people contracted HIV worldwide in 2021, UNAIDS reported, with the number of new cases dropping at the slowest rate since 2016.
Monkeypox is being driven overwhelmingly by sex between men, major study finds
NBC News, July 2022
The global monkeypox outbreak is primarily being driven by sex between men, according to the first major peer-reviewed paper to analyze a large set of cases of the virus. The outbreak, which epidemiologists believe initially began in mid-spring gatherings of gay and bisexual men in Europe, has since alarmed such experts by ballooning to nearly 16,000 cases worldwide.
NBC News, July 2022
The global monkeypox outbreak is primarily being driven by sex between men, according to the first major peer-reviewed paper to analyze a large set of cases of the virus. The outbreak, which epidemiologists believe initially began in mid-spring gatherings of gay and bisexual men in Europe, has since alarmed such experts by ballooning to nearly 16,000 cases worldwide.
Clinical trials could get monkeypox drug to desperate patients, but U.S. efforts lag
NBC News, July 2022
While the Biden administration has in recent weeks distributed nearly 200,000 doses of the vaccine for monkeypox, U.S. prescriptions for the antiviral TPOXX have remained strictly limited. Plans for trials of the drug are already in advanced stages in Canada, the U.K. and the European Union. The National Institutes of Health is also planning one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But the federal agency’s efforts to launch such research in the U.S. are only in the earliest planning stages.
NBC News, July 2022
While the Biden administration has in recent weeks distributed nearly 200,000 doses of the vaccine for monkeypox, U.S. prescriptions for the antiviral TPOXX have remained strictly limited. Plans for trials of the drug are already in advanced stages in Canada, the U.K. and the European Union. The National Institutes of Health is also planning one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But the federal agency’s efforts to launch such research in the U.S. are only in the earliest planning stages.
Gay men deserve the unvarnished truth about monkeypox
The Washington Post, July 2022
“Anyone can get monkeypox.” Countless public health experts have uttered statements such as this in the past two months. Members of the media and politicians have parroted the message ad nauseam without stopping to dissect what it implies or obscures. By reducing monkeypox risk to a simplistic binary equation, public health leaders are prioritizing fighting stigma over their duty to directly inform the public about the true contours and drivers of this global outbreak.
The Washington Post, July 2022
“Anyone can get monkeypox.” Countless public health experts have uttered statements such as this in the past two months. Members of the media and politicians have parroted the message ad nauseam without stopping to dissect what it implies or obscures. By reducing monkeypox risk to a simplistic binary equation, public health leaders are prioritizing fighting stigma over their duty to directly inform the public about the true contours and drivers of this global outbreak.
What went wrong with the rollout of the monkeypox vaccine?
NBC News, July 2022
A series of crucial mistakes in the rollout of the monkeypox vaccine has significantly inhibited America’s ability to distribute doses and prevent the troubling and in some cases extremely painful disease from becoming endemic. In the meantime, the virus has deepened its hold on the country, with confirmed cases rising tenfold in the last month, to a total of more than 1,000.
NBC News, July 2022
A series of crucial mistakes in the rollout of the monkeypox vaccine has significantly inhibited America’s ability to distribute doses and prevent the troubling and in some cases extremely painful disease from becoming endemic. In the meantime, the virus has deepened its hold on the country, with confirmed cases rising tenfold in the last month, to a total of more than 1,000.
Lesions, headaches, debilitating pain: Gay men with monkeypox share their stories
NBC News, July 2022
Monkeypox has tended to present relatively mildly during this outbreak and has caused no deaths outside of the 11 African nations in which the virus has become endemic since it was discovered in 1970. Nevertheless, 18 gay men who contracted monkeypox told NBC News how it can cause unsightly and in some cases debilitatingly painful skin lesions — and has left them stuck glumly inside.
NBC News, July 2022
Monkeypox has tended to present relatively mildly during this outbreak and has caused no deaths outside of the 11 African nations in which the virus has become endemic since it was discovered in 1970. Nevertheless, 18 gay men who contracted monkeypox told NBC News how it can cause unsightly and in some cases debilitatingly painful skin lesions — and has left them stuck glumly inside.
Tens of thousands of monkeypox vaccine doses to be distributed immediately in U.S.
NBC News, June 2022
As monkeypox surges, the Biden administration will start distributing the vaccine for the virus across the country, focusing on people most at risk and communities with the highest numbers of cases. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will send 56,000 doses of the vaccine immediately to areas with high transmission. All told, 1.6 million doses will be distributed by the end of the fall.
NBC News, June 2022
As monkeypox surges, the Biden administration will start distributing the vaccine for the virus across the country, focusing on people most at risk and communities with the highest numbers of cases. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will send 56,000 doses of the vaccine immediately to areas with high transmission. All told, 1.6 million doses will be distributed by the end of the fall.
LGBTQ Pride events offer a make-or-break moment for monkeypox
NBC News, June 2022
After 27 dreary months of Covid-19 restrictions, which felled the past two years’ Pride celebrations, LGBTQ Americans are finally poised to fully celebrate their community on the public stage this weekend. But in a stroke of uncannily inopportune timing, the monkeypox virus has just arrived on the scene, threatening to put a pall over the party.
NBC News, June 2022
After 27 dreary months of Covid-19 restrictions, which felled the past two years’ Pride celebrations, LGBTQ Americans are finally poised to fully celebrate their community on the public stage this weekend. But in a stroke of uncannily inopportune timing, the monkeypox virus has just arrived on the scene, threatening to put a pall over the party.
Why leaders like Putin are paranoid about guarding their poop
The New York Post, June 2022
Vladimir Putin is so worried about enemies getting a look at his poop that he reportedly employs a special team of people who retrieve his excrement wherever and whenever he travels. His fears are not far-fetched: Experts in fecal analysis say a stool sample can give many insights into an individual’s overall health and diet, including their medical treatments.
The New York Post, June 2022
Vladimir Putin is so worried about enemies getting a look at his poop that he reportedly employs a special team of people who retrieve his excrement wherever and whenever he travels. His fears are not far-fetched: Experts in fecal analysis say a stool sample can give many insights into an individual’s overall health and diet, including their medical treatments.
Nursing home settles historic transgender discrimination complaint
NBC News, June 2022
In a landmark settlement, a Maine assisted living facility has agreed to establish policies and procedures to ensure it is a welcoming place for LGBTQ seniors, after a 79-year-old transgender woman levied an accusation of discrimination. When Marie King filed her complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in October, it was believed to be the first complaint of this kind in U.S. history.
NBC News, June 2022
In a landmark settlement, a Maine assisted living facility has agreed to establish policies and procedures to ensure it is a welcoming place for LGBTQ seniors, after a 79-year-old transgender woman levied an accusation of discrimination. When Marie King filed her complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission in October, it was believed to be the first complaint of this kind in U.S. history.
Monkeypox may have been spreading 'under the radar' for months or years
NBC News, June 2022
The monkeypox virus may have been quietly circulating for years before the current global outbreak. Infectious disease experts and scientists at genetic labs are urgently looking for clues to explain why a virus found in Africa since 1970 has made such a dramatic appearance globally in the past month.
NBC News, June 2022
The monkeypox virus may have been quietly circulating for years before the current global outbreak. Infectious disease experts and scientists at genetic labs are urgently looking for clues to explain why a virus found in Africa since 1970 has made such a dramatic appearance globally in the past month.
Because of Covid, 2020 was a 'lost year' in the fight against HIV, report suggests
NBC News, May 2020
An ambitious new plan by the federal government, marshaled by Dr. Anthony Fauci, to accelerate the battle against the U.S. HIV epidemic appears to have made a markedly disappointing debut. CDC officials have expressed concern that disruptions the country’s Covid-19 response have caused to HIV-related services have inflicted collateral damage that could take years to undo.
NBC News, May 2020
An ambitious new plan by the federal government, marshaled by Dr. Anthony Fauci, to accelerate the battle against the U.S. HIV epidemic appears to have made a markedly disappointing debut. CDC officials have expressed concern that disruptions the country’s Covid-19 response have caused to HIV-related services have inflicted collateral damage that could take years to undo.
Roe v. Wade: Is gay marriage at risk after U.S. Supreme Court leak?
Thomson Reuters Foundation, May 2022
A leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion suggesting justices are poised to overturn abortion rights has left LGBTQ+ advocacy groups fearful that same-sex marriage could also be at risk. Queer advocates fear that if Roe v Wade is overturned, this could open the door to legal challenges targeting same-sex marriage and other landmark civil rights rulings.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, May 2022
A leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion suggesting justices are poised to overturn abortion rights has left LGBTQ+ advocacy groups fearful that same-sex marriage could also be at risk. Queer advocates fear that if Roe v Wade is overturned, this could open the door to legal challenges targeting same-sex marriage and other landmark civil rights rulings.
Covid symptoms may return for some after taking Paxlovid antiviral pills
NBC News, April 2022
There have been anecdotal reports of people treated for Covid with Pfizer's Paxlovid who experience a rebound of symptoms within about a week. These apparently rare cases have led infectious disease experts to call for federal agencies to issue more precise treatment and prevention guidelines addressing such outcomes.
NBC News, April 2022
There have been anecdotal reports of people treated for Covid with Pfizer's Paxlovid who experience a rebound of symptoms within about a week. These apparently rare cases have led infectious disease experts to call for federal agencies to issue more precise treatment and prevention guidelines addressing such outcomes.
Viagra and nitrates don't mix, so how are some men still taking both?
NBC News, April 2022
Mixing erectile dysfunction drugs with nitrates for chest pain can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Researchers have recently found, however that a substantial number of men are nevertheless obtaining overlapping prescriptions for both classes of drugs. But evidence suggests that they don’t appear to suffer negative health outcomes, such as heart attacks, as a result.
NBC News, April 2022
Mixing erectile dysfunction drugs with nitrates for chest pain can cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Researchers have recently found, however that a substantial number of men are nevertheless obtaining overlapping prescriptions for both classes of drugs. But evidence suggests that they don’t appear to suffer negative health outcomes, such as heart attacks, as a result.
Judge strikes down military's limits on service members with HIV
NBC News, April 2022
In a landmark ruling, a federal court has ordered the Defense Department to end a long-standing Pentagon policy forbidding enlisted military service members from deploying in active duty outside the continental U.S. and being commissioned as officers if they have HIV. Supporters hailed it as overdue legal affirmation that people on effective antiretroviral treatment for HIV are healthy and pose no risk to others.
NBC News, April 2022
In a landmark ruling, a federal court has ordered the Defense Department to end a long-standing Pentagon policy forbidding enlisted military service members from deploying in active duty outside the continental U.S. and being commissioned as officers if they have HIV. Supporters hailed it as overdue legal affirmation that people on effective antiretroviral treatment for HIV are healthy and pose no risk to others.
Ukraine war shutters HIV clinics, disrupts drug supplies
Thomson Reuters Foundation, March 2022
Infectious disease experts say the Russian invasion of Ukraine could unleash a public health crisis both in Ukraine and in Europe in HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, and opioid use disorder. Until the war began, Ukraine was the rare success story in battling HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which is the only region in the world to see a substantial recent increase in HIV transmissions.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, March 2022
Infectious disease experts say the Russian invasion of Ukraine could unleash a public health crisis both in Ukraine and in Europe in HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, and opioid use disorder. Until the war began, Ukraine was the rare success story in battling HIV in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which is the only region in the world to see a substantial recent increase in HIV transmissions.
After cancer screenings fell during Covid-19, an effort to reverse the trend
NBC's Today, March 2022
Given the worrisome drop in cancer screenings seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care facilities across the nation have been mobilizing to make-up for lost time. The overarching goal is to mitigate the harmful impact delayed cancer detection can have. A paper published in the journal Cancer offers good news and bad news on this front.
NBC's Today, March 2022
Given the worrisome drop in cancer screenings seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care facilities across the nation have been mobilizing to make-up for lost time. The overarching goal is to mitigate the harmful impact delayed cancer detection can have. A paper published in the journal Cancer offers good news and bad news on this front.
Transgender woman, 79, can claim Maine nursing home discriminated against her
NBC News, March 2022
A 79-year-old woman has reasonable grounds to claim that a Maine assisted-living facility discriminated against her for being transgender when it rejected her as a potential resident, the Maine Human Rights Commission found. The commission’s 3-2 vote sets in motion a process that could result in a lawsuit being filed against Sunrise Assisted Living in the town of Jonesport on a claim of violating state nondiscrimination law by denying Marie King’s application for residency.
NBC News, March 2022
A 79-year-old woman has reasonable grounds to claim that a Maine assisted-living facility discriminated against her for being transgender when it rejected her as a potential resident, the Maine Human Rights Commission found. The commission’s 3-2 vote sets in motion a process that could result in a lawsuit being filed against Sunrise Assisted Living in the town of Jonesport on a claim of violating state nondiscrimination law by denying Marie King’s application for residency.
Test to Treat: pharmacists say Biden's major new Covid initiative won't work
The Guardian, March 2022
A major new Biden administration initiative to facilitate access to Covid-19 antivirals will have a limited impact and fail to mitigate certain health inequities, major pharmacist groups argue, because pharmacists are restricted from prescribing the pills. The “Test to Treat” program is meant to address the maddening difficulty Americans have had in accessing Covid-19 treatments.
The Guardian, March 2022
A major new Biden administration initiative to facilitate access to Covid-19 antivirals will have a limited impact and fail to mitigate certain health inequities, major pharmacist groups argue, because pharmacists are restricted from prescribing the pills. The “Test to Treat” program is meant to address the maddening difficulty Americans have had in accessing Covid-19 treatments.
Even mild Covid is linked to brain damage, scans show
NBC News, March 2022
During at least the first few months following a coronavirus infection, even mild Covid-19 is linked to tissue damage and accelerated losses in brain regions tied to the sense of smell, as well as a small loss in the brain’s overall volume. Mild Covid is also associated with a cognitive function deficit. These are the findings of the first study of the disease’s potential brain impacts that is based on brain scans taken both before and after coronavirus infection.
NBC News, March 2022
During at least the first few months following a coronavirus infection, even mild Covid-19 is linked to tissue damage and accelerated losses in brain regions tied to the sense of smell, as well as a small loss in the brain’s overall volume. Mild Covid is also associated with a cognitive function deficit. These are the findings of the first study of the disease’s potential brain impacts that is based on brain scans taken both before and after coronavirus infection.
While straight men face educational crisis, gay men excel academically, study finds
NBC News, March 2022
A new study offers important nuance about the widening educational gender gap in the United States, coming to starkly opposing conclusions about how growing up gay appears to affect the academic performance of males versus females. On an array of academic measures, gay males outperform all other groups on average, across all major racial groups. Conversely, lesbians perform more poorly in school overall and Black gay women have a much lower college graduation rate than their white counterparts.
NBC News, March 2022
A new study offers important nuance about the widening educational gender gap in the United States, coming to starkly opposing conclusions about how growing up gay appears to affect the academic performance of males versus females. On an array of academic measures, gay males outperform all other groups on average, across all major racial groups. Conversely, lesbians perform more poorly in school overall and Black gay women have a much lower college graduation rate than their white counterparts.
Scientists have possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time
NBC News, February 2022
An American research team reported that it has possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time. Building on past successes, as well as failures, in the HIV-cure research field, these scientists used a cutting-edge stem cell transplant method that they expect will expand the pool of people who could receive similar treatment to several dozen annually.
NBC News, February 2022
An American research team reported that it has possibly cured HIV in a woman for the first time. Building on past successes, as well as failures, in the HIV-cure research field, these scientists used a cutting-edge stem cell transplant method that they expect will expand the pool of people who could receive similar treatment to several dozen annually.
Trans U.S. seniors fear bleak future in residential care
Thomson Reuters Foundation, February 2022
As the first substantial generation of people living openly as transgender reaches old age in Western countries, LGBTQ+ advocates say care systems are woefully unprepared. Ties with family members have often ruptured over their gender identity and many struggle to find and maintain well-paid jobs during their working lives, limiting their care options in old age. Only a handful of nonprofits are trying to plug the gaps in caring for elderly trans people.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, February 2022
As the first substantial generation of people living openly as transgender reaches old age in Western countries, LGBTQ+ advocates say care systems are woefully unprepared. Ties with family members have often ruptured over their gender identity and many struggle to find and maintain well-paid jobs during their working lives, limiting their care options in old age. Only a handful of nonprofits are trying to plug the gaps in caring for elderly trans people.
New injectable HIV prevention drug fails in seven people
NBC News, February 2022
In a large clinical trial assessing Apretude, ViiV Healthcare’s recently approved injectable drug, as a form of HIV prevention, seven participants contracted the virus despite receiving their injections on schedule. The new findings indicate that, just as with those who take daily pills to prevent HIV, breakthrough infections are possible among people receiving Apretude.
NBC News, February 2022
In a large clinical trial assessing Apretude, ViiV Healthcare’s recently approved injectable drug, as a form of HIV prevention, seven participants contracted the virus despite receiving their injections on schedule. The new findings indicate that, just as with those who take daily pills to prevent HIV, breakthrough infections are possible among people receiving Apretude.
Pfizer's Covid pill has been heralded as a game-changer. The U.S. is bungling the rollout
NBC News, February 2022
Critical shortages of Covid-19 treatments have hamstrung health care providers as the omicron wave has driven a desperate need for treatments to keep people with Covid out of the hospital. The situation has been worsened by states not prioritizing people at the highest risk of severe illness or death — those who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated people with underlying health conditions.
NBC News, February 2022
Critical shortages of Covid-19 treatments have hamstrung health care providers as the omicron wave has driven a desperate need for treatments to keep people with Covid out of the hospital. The situation has been worsened by states not prioritizing people at the highest risk of severe illness or death — those who are immunocompromised and unvaccinated people with underlying health conditions.
A 'highly virulent' HIV strain is 'no cause for alarm,' scientists say
NBC News, February 2022
Researchers have identified a highly virulent strain of HIV that likely began circulating in the Netherlands in the 1990s and has infected more than 100 people. Left untreated, it leads to a much higher viral load a doubled rate of decline in key immune cells compared with typical HIV infection.
NBC News, February 2022
Researchers have identified a highly virulent strain of HIV that likely began circulating in the Netherlands in the 1990s and has infected more than 100 people. Left untreated, it leads to a much higher viral load a doubled rate of decline in key immune cells compared with typical HIV infection.
Pfizer Covid antiviral pills may be risky with other medications
NBC News, December 2021
As the omicron surge pummels a pandemic-weary nation, the first antiviral pills for Covid-19 promise desperately needed protection for people at risk of severe disease. However, many people prescribed Pfizer’s or Merck’s new medications will require careful monitoring by doctors and pharmacists, and the antivirals may not be safe for everyone, experts caution.
NBC News, December 2021
As the omicron surge pummels a pandemic-weary nation, the first antiviral pills for Covid-19 promise desperately needed protection for people at risk of severe disease. However, many people prescribed Pfizer’s or Merck’s new medications will require careful monitoring by doctors and pharmacists, and the antivirals may not be safe for everyone, experts caution.
FDA Approves First Injectable HIV Prevention Drug
NBC News, December 2021
The FDA has approved the first long-acting injectable medication for use as pre-exposure prevention, or PrEP, against HIV. Apretude is an injectable given every two months as an alternative to HIV prevention pills, like Truvada and Descovy, which have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by 99 percent when taken daily. Two FDA trials analyzing the safety and efficacy of the novel drug found that Apretude was more likely to reduce HIV than the daily oral medications.
NBC News, December 2021
The FDA has approved the first long-acting injectable medication for use as pre-exposure prevention, or PrEP, against HIV. Apretude is an injectable given every two months as an alternative to HIV prevention pills, like Truvada and Descovy, which have been shown to reduce the risk of HIV by 99 percent when taken daily. Two FDA trials analyzing the safety and efficacy of the novel drug found that Apretude was more likely to reduce HIV than the daily oral medications.
FDA clears AstraZeneca's Covid preventive antibody therapy for the immunocompromised
NBC News, December 2021
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first injectable monoclonal antibody cocktail for long-term prevention of Covid-19 among people with weakened immune systems before they have been exposed to the coronavirus. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail, Evusheld, for what is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, against Covid-19.
NBC News, December 2021
The Food and Drug Administration authorized the first injectable monoclonal antibody cocktail for long-term prevention of Covid-19 among people with weakened immune systems before they have been exposed to the coronavirus. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail, Evusheld, for what is known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, against Covid-19.
Woman's own immune system has possibly cured her of HIV
NBC News, November 2021
For the second time in the four-decade history of the HIV epidemic, researchers have documented a case of an individual's own immune system curing them of HIV. Even after scanning over 1 billion cells from the 30-year-old mother from Argentina with highly sophisticated and sensitive tests, scientists could find no viable viral DNA in her body.
NBC News, November 2021
For the second time in the four-decade history of the HIV epidemic, researchers have documented a case of an individual's own immune system curing them of HIV. Even after scanning over 1 billion cells from the 30-year-old mother from Argentina with highly sophisticated and sensitive tests, scientists could find no viable viral DNA in her body.
Covid antibody drugs could protect people with weak immune systems against Covid
NBC News, November 2021
If the FDA grants emergency authorization to monoclonal antibodies as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against Covid-19, how accessible will this preventive therapy be for immunocompromised people? Demand for the antibodies as treatment has fallen. But health care providers are struggling with staffing concerns, which could affect their capacity to provide PrEP.
NBC News, November 2021
If the FDA grants emergency authorization to monoclonal antibodies as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against Covid-19, how accessible will this preventive therapy be for immunocompromised people? Demand for the antibodies as treatment has fallen. But health care providers are struggling with staffing concerns, which could affect their capacity to provide PrEP.
Keeping Cattle on the Move and Carbon in the Soil
The New York Times, October 2021
Whether the prairies of North America, the savannas of Africa and South America, the steppes of Eurasia, or the Pampas of South America, grasslands are in crisis. A nascent movement seeks to save these biomes and leverage their power as a carbon sink and source of biodiversity. Great Plains Cattle ranchers are using regenerative methods to improve the health of the grasslands.
The New York Times, October 2021
Whether the prairies of North America, the savannas of Africa and South America, the steppes of Eurasia, or the Pampas of South America, grasslands are in crisis. A nascent movement seeks to save these biomes and leverage their power as a carbon sink and source of biodiversity. Great Plains Cattle ranchers are using regenerative methods to improve the health of the grasslands.
NGOs scramble to dampen COVID-19's impact on people living with HIV
Thomson Reuters Foundation, October 2021
HIV professionals battling to maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic have been adopting innovations - from mailing out prescriptions to scaling up self-testing and video consultations. Their creative approach appears to have helped buck forecasts for a plunge in global HIV treatment rates, though international organisations say the coronavirus has still dealt a blow to the global fight against HIV.
Thomson Reuters Foundation, October 2021
HIV professionals battling to maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic have been adopting innovations - from mailing out prescriptions to scaling up self-testing and video consultations. Their creative approach appears to have helped buck forecasts for a plunge in global HIV treatment rates, though international organisations say the coronavirus has still dealt a blow to the global fight against HIV.
"I felt this huge relief": how antibody injections could free the immunosuppressed under Covid
The Guardian, September 2021
The FDA is expected to issue an emergency authorization that would permit immuno-compromised people to receive routine injections of monoclonal antibodies, which research indicates would offer them substantial protection against Covid-19. For people with suppressed immune systems, such a powerful complement to vaccination could finally bring them freedom from lockdown limbo.
The Guardian, September 2021
The FDA is expected to issue an emergency authorization that would permit immuno-compromised people to receive routine injections of monoclonal antibodies, which research indicates would offer them substantial protection against Covid-19. For people with suppressed immune systems, such a powerful complement to vaccination could finally bring them freedom from lockdown limbo.
FDA authorizes Covid antibody treatment as preventive after exposure
NBC News, August 2021
The FDA has approved Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV, for use as post-exposure prevention among unvaccinated and immunocompromised people at high risk of severe Covid-19. They must have been in recent close contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
NBC News, August 2021
The FDA has approved Regeneron's monoclonal antibody cocktail, REGEN-COV, for use as post-exposure prevention among unvaccinated and immunocompromised people at high risk of severe Covid-19. They must have been in recent close contact with someone who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Long-acting HIV-prevention drugs may be key to beating the epidemic in the U.S.
NBC News, July 2021
Dosed no more frequently than monthly, these experimental drugs offer potential solutions to a problem that has long frustrated the HIV fight: that many at-risk people find adhering to a daily preventive medication too burdensome. But will a critical mass of Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, who comprise nearly half of new HIV diagnoses, end up taking these drugs?
NBC News, July 2021
Dosed no more frequently than monthly, these experimental drugs offer potential solutions to a problem that has long frustrated the HIV fight: that many at-risk people find adhering to a daily preventive medication too burdensome. But will a critical mass of Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, who comprise nearly half of new HIV diagnoses, end up taking these drugs?
PrEP, the HIV prevention pill, must now be totally free under almost all insurance plans
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
NBC News, July 2021
In a move hailed as potentially transformative by HIV advocates, the federal government has issued a guidance instructing almost all insurance plans to stop charging all out-of-pocket fees for the HIV prevention pill, known as PrEP. This includes the medication itself and, crucially, the quarterly clinic visits and lab tests required to maintain the prescription.
'This will shut us down': HIV prevention clinics brace for Gilead reimbursement cuts
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
NBC News, July 2021
HIV prevention clinics are facing a fiscal crisis owing to the vagaries of an arcane federal drug pricing law, with a bare minimum of $100 million annually expected to drain from the nonprofits starting in 2022. This devastating loss of funds, which is expected to shut down some clinics, comes just as the federal government has ramped up spending in an effort to essentially end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
HIV After COVID: Anthony Fauci and an Army of Researchers Seek to Regain Momentum
The Guardian, June 2021
HIV was instrumental in training armies within the medical, scientific and public health sectors to better fight COVID-19. However, the new pandemic has apparently worsened its predecessor. This comes during the initial roll-out of the national plan Dr. Anthony Fauci designed to ramp up federal spending on HIV with a goal of ending that virus as a public health threat by 2030. (Click here for YouTube video of interview with Dr. Fauci.)
The Guardian, June 2021
HIV was instrumental in training armies within the medical, scientific and public health sectors to better fight COVID-19. However, the new pandemic has apparently worsened its predecessor. This comes during the initial roll-out of the national plan Dr. Anthony Fauci designed to ramp up federal spending on HIV with a goal of ending that virus as a public health threat by 2030. (Click here for YouTube video of interview with Dr. Fauci.)
AIDS and ACT UP: Sarah Schulman Puts Women and People of Color Back at the Heart of the Story
The Guardian, May 2021
Just weeks shy of the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s ominous first report of what became known as AIDS, the veteran AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) activist has come armed with a 700-page magnum opus she hopes will set the record straight about one of the most consequential social movements of the 20th century.
The Guardian, May 2021
Just weeks shy of the 40th anniversary of the CDC’s ominous first report of what became known as AIDS, the veteran AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) activist has come armed with a 700-page magnum opus she hopes will set the record straight about one of the most consequential social movements of the 20th century.
As Meth Overdoses Soar, Scientists Develop First Regimen to Treat Addiction to the Drug
NBC News, February 2021
Just as NIDA has issued a report detailing the soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.
NBC News, February 2021
Just as NIDA has issued a report detailing the soaring rate of overdose deaths tied to meth, a national research team has reached a milestone by developing the first safe and efficacious medication-based treatment for addiction to the often ruinous stimulant.
"New disease, no treatment, no cure": How Dr. Fauci's Fight Against AIDS Prepared Him For COVID-19
The Guardian, December 2020
Marking his 80th birthday and his 40 years at the head of the global HIV research response, Fauci projected that the history will recall him perhaps most notably for his efforts to provide HIV treatment in low-income nations. He doesn't want to retire until the HIV epidemic is over, preferably thanks to a vaccine. Then he would like to pen a memoir as perhaps the only person to advise seven presidents.
The Guardian, December 2020
Marking his 80th birthday and his 40 years at the head of the global HIV research response, Fauci projected that the history will recall him perhaps most notably for his efforts to provide HIV treatment in low-income nations. He doesn't want to retire until the HIV epidemic is over, preferably thanks to a vaccine. Then he would like to pen a memoir as perhaps the only person to advise seven presidents.
This California Law Offers Biden a Tool in the Fight for Environmental Justice
The Nation, December 2020
California's landmark 2017 environmental justice law seeks to address air pollution hotspots in state-designated disadvantaged communities by putting concerned citizens at the table on committees charged with developing mitigation plans. Berkeley researchers argue that the law could inspire regulatory actions by the Biden administration's EPA.
The Nation, December 2020
California's landmark 2017 environmental justice law seeks to address air pollution hotspots in state-designated disadvantaged communities by putting concerned citizens at the table on committees charged with developing mitigation plans. Berkeley researchers argue that the law could inspire regulatory actions by the Biden administration's EPA.
Dr. Anthony Fauci turns 80 – and Even His Birthday Surprise Obeyed COVID Rules
The Guardian, December 2020
How Dr. Fauci's wife, the NIH's top bioethicist, Christine Grady, leveraged his security detail to surprise him with a celebration for his 80th birthday. The delighted lodestar of the COVID-19 era recalled how impressed he was with his wife's sly and deft trickery. "I'm not easily fooled," he noted.
The Guardian, December 2020
How Dr. Fauci's wife, the NIH's top bioethicist, Christine Grady, leveraged his security detail to surprise him with a celebration for his 80th birthday. The delighted lodestar of the COVID-19 era recalled how impressed he was with his wife's sly and deft trickery. "I'm not easily fooled," he noted.
Trump Success In Ending Obamacare Would Kill Fauci Plan to Conquer HIV
The Guardian, October 2020
In his State of the Union in February 2019, Donald Trump vowed to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. But if Trump has his way and the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the resulting disruption to the healthcare system would end that dream. “The plan is dead in the water if the ACA goes down,” said Nastad's Amy Killelea.
The Guardian, October 2020
In his State of the Union in February 2019, Donald Trump vowed to end the HIV epidemic by 2030. But if Trump has his way and the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) the resulting disruption to the healthcare system would end that dream. “The plan is dead in the water if the ACA goes down,” said Nastad's Amy Killelea.
Managing the Majestic Jumbo Flying Squid
The New York Times, June 2020
Multiple studies have found that climate change’s striking impact on the oceans — through warming, acidification, declining oxygen content and shifts in currents — is driving marine-creature territories in a mass shift away from the tropics and toward the poles. Jumbo squid have been expanding further down Chile's coastline, bringing economic opportunities, but also raising conflicts over the precious resource.
The New York Times, June 2020
Multiple studies have found that climate change’s striking impact on the oceans — through warming, acidification, declining oxygen content and shifts in currents — is driving marine-creature territories in a mass shift away from the tropics and toward the poles. Jumbo squid have been expanding further down Chile's coastline, bringing economic opportunities, but also raising conflicts over the precious resource.
Love in the age of coronavirus: how couples are getting creative in the face of upended weddings
The Guardian, March 2020
The United States has 450,000 weddings slated for March through May alone. Many couples with dates through June are scrambling to reschedule, while others are downsizing to a small gathering at their parents’ house, or getting legally married in the short-term and planning a vow renewal ceremony on their first wedding anniversary.
The Guardian, March 2020
The United States has 450,000 weddings slated for March through May alone. Many couples with dates through June are scrambling to reschedule, while others are downsizing to a small gathering at their parents’ house, or getting legally married in the short-term and planning a vow renewal ceremony on their first wedding anniversary.
Pressure to Keep Up: Status Imbalance a Major Factor in Stress in Gay Men
The Guardian, February 2020
The persistence of mental health hardships among gay and bisexual men, which endure even as LGBTQ people gain greater acceptance and civil rights, can be explained at least in part by the corrosive effects of status consciousness, competitiveness and racism within the gay community itself.
The Guardian, February 2020
The persistence of mental health hardships among gay and bisexual men, which endure even as LGBTQ people gain greater acceptance and civil rights, can be explained at least in part by the corrosive effects of status consciousness, competitiveness and racism within the gay community itself.
"Rick Scott Had Us On Lockdown"
How Florida Said No to $70 Million for HIV Crisis
The Guardian, September 2019
While the Republican senator Rick Scott was governor of Florida his administration presided over the effective blocking of $70 million in federal funds available for fighting the state’s HIV crisis. Coupled with the fact that Scott refused to expand Medicaid in Florida, this new revelation—the product of an extensive investigation—helps explain why the state’s HIV epidemic became almost peerlessly severe during Scott’s time in office.
How Florida Said No to $70 Million for HIV Crisis
The Guardian, September 2019
While the Republican senator Rick Scott was governor of Florida his administration presided over the effective blocking of $70 million in federal funds available for fighting the state’s HIV crisis. Coupled with the fact that Scott refused to expand Medicaid in Florida, this new revelation—the product of an extensive investigation—helps explain why the state’s HIV epidemic became almost peerlessly severe during Scott’s time in office.
To Feed a Hot Planet, They're Making More Efficient Plants
The New York Times, September 2019
To save the world from massive food shortages and cascading geopolitical crises, Australian agricultural researchers, along with their global colleagues and counterparts, need to cultivate crops that can achieve unprecedented bounty in ever harsher and more unpredictable conditions and yet thrive with fewer resources—including land, water and fertilizer—than today’s varieties.
The New York Times, September 2019
To save the world from massive food shortages and cascading geopolitical crises, Australian agricultural researchers, along with their global colleagues and counterparts, need to cultivate crops that can achieve unprecedented bounty in ever harsher and more unpredictable conditions and yet thrive with fewer resources—including land, water and fertilizer—than today’s varieties.
A Breeding Ground for a Fatal Scourge: Nursing Homes
The New York Times, Sept. 2019
(Additional reporting byline)
Nearly 40 patients at Palm Gardens Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn, have been infected with or carry C. auris, a germ so virulent and hard to eradicate that some facilities will not accept patients with it. Now, as they struggle to contain the pathogen, public health officials from cities, states and the federal government say that skilled nursing facilities like Palm Gardens are fueling its spread.
The New York Times, Sept. 2019
(Additional reporting byline)
Nearly 40 patients at Palm Gardens Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn, have been infected with or carry C. auris, a germ so virulent and hard to eradicate that some facilities will not accept patients with it. Now, as they struggle to contain the pathogen, public health officials from cities, states and the federal government say that skilled nursing facilities like Palm Gardens are fueling its spread.
Paid Family Leave is a Game-Changer for New Parents' Health, Not Just Their Economic Security
The Nation, August 2019
The U.S. stands alone among wealthy nations for not providing paid family leave. Instead, the nation guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid time off following the birth of a child--a policy that covers only about 60 percent of private sector workers. Research indicates that paid family leave policies could provide new parents with myriad health, as well as economic, benefits.
The Nation, August 2019
The U.S. stands alone among wealthy nations for not providing paid family leave. Instead, the nation guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid time off following the birth of a child--a policy that covers only about 60 percent of private sector workers. Research indicates that paid family leave policies could provide new parents with myriad health, as well as economic, benefits.
These Days, It's Not About the Polar Bears
The New York Times, May 2019
The United States has a serious climate-denial problem. Enter the fast-growing academic field of climate change communication. Across a swath of mostly Western nations, social scientists in fields like psychology, political science, sociology and communications studies have produced an expansive volume of peer-reviewed papers in an effort to cultivate more effective methods for getting the global warming message across and inspiring action.
The New York Times, May 2019
The United States has a serious climate-denial problem. Enter the fast-growing academic field of climate change communication. Across a swath of mostly Western nations, social scientists in fields like psychology, political science, sociology and communications studies have produced an expansive volume of peer-reviewed papers in an effort to cultivate more effective methods for getting the global warming message across and inspiring action.
25 Years of HIV Research
POZ, July 2019
To mark POZ magazine's 25th anniversary: a review of the extra-ordinary achievements on the part of HIV scientists since 1994. The ever-refined collective mastery they have gained over the virus during this period represents one of the greatest achievements of human ingenuity.
POZ, July 2019
To mark POZ magazine's 25th anniversary: a review of the extra-ordinary achievements on the part of HIV scientists since 1994. The ever-refined collective mastery they have gained over the virus during this period represents one of the greatest achievements of human ingenuity.
Truvada and the Truth: Is HIV Prevention Propelling the STI Epidemic?
The Guardian, October 2018
Among gay and bisexual men, a rapidly expanding STI epidemic is fueling questions about whether the steadily rising number of people who start Truvada for HIV prevention subsequently change their sexual behavior in ways that increase their risk of contracting chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and, in rarer cases, hepatitis C.
The Guardian, October 2018
Among gay and bisexual men, a rapidly expanding STI epidemic is fueling questions about whether the steadily rising number of people who start Truvada for HIV prevention subsequently change their sexual behavior in ways that increase their risk of contracting chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and, in rarer cases, hepatitis C.
Dying to Entertain Us: Celebrities Keep ODing on Opioids and No One Cares
The Village Voice, July 2018
The overall reaction to the overdoses of Prince, Tom Petty, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heath Ledger has amounted to nothing much when it comes to awakening Americans to the scope of the opioid crisis. By comparison, Rock Hudson’s 1985 death from AIDS, as well as Magic Johnson’s announcement in 1991 that he had HIV, utterly jolted the national conversation about that epidemic.
The Village Voice, July 2018
The overall reaction to the overdoses of Prince, Tom Petty, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heath Ledger has amounted to nothing much when it comes to awakening Americans to the scope of the opioid crisis. By comparison, Rock Hudson’s 1985 death from AIDS, as well as Magic Johnson’s announcement in 1991 that he had HIV, utterly jolted the national conversation about that epidemic.
The Pride Power 50
City & State Magazine, June 2018
In this special section of City & State, we recognize 50 people in the LGBT community who are key players in the world of New York politics and government, plus 10 up-and-comers. Since we cover politicians on a day-to-day basis, we limited this list to those who are not strictly in government but instead influence it from the outside.
City & State Magazine, June 2018
In this special section of City & State, we recognize 50 people in the LGBT community who are key players in the world of New York politics and government, plus 10 up-and-comers. Since we cover politicians on a day-to-day basis, we limited this list to those who are not strictly in government but instead influence it from the outside.
Enough people are taking the HIV-prevention drug to finally lower infection rates in the U.S.
Quartz, June 2018
Six years after the Food and Drug Administration approved a revolutionary HIV prevention pill known as PrEP, public health officials in select U.S. cities have finally begun to conclude that it is likely taking a bite out of local HIV infection rates.
Quartz, June 2018
Six years after the Food and Drug Administration approved a revolutionary HIV prevention pill known as PrEP, public health officials in select U.S. cities have finally begun to conclude that it is likely taking a bite out of local HIV infection rates.
Generation PrEP?
POZ, April 2018
By and large, men who have sex with men who use Truavda as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV are white and over the age of 25. In light of recent HIV diagnosis trends, the lopsidedness of these PrEP uptake numbers reveals the troubling truth lurking behind all the recent fanfare about the HIV prevention method: It is failing to reach many of those who stand to benefit from it the most.
POZ, April 2018
By and large, men who have sex with men who use Truavda as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV are white and over the age of 25. In light of recent HIV diagnosis trends, the lopsidedness of these PrEP uptake numbers reveals the troubling truth lurking behind all the recent fanfare about the HIV prevention method: It is failing to reach many of those who stand to benefit from it the most.
Is Kenneth Cole Shifting Blame for the Harvey Weinstein Charity Controversy?
At stake in amfAR’s civil war is the nonprofit’s quest to find a cure for HIV.
At stake in amfAR’s civil war is the nonprofit’s quest to find a cure for HIV.
POZ magazine, Jan. 21, 2018
Investigative report
They bent the rules for Harvey Weinstein, and now they’re paying the price.
AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research has long relied on the now-disgraced Hollywood mogul to supply celebrities, cachet and cash for its fundraising efforts. And now as the nonprofit faces a reckoning born from this dependence, the stakes are particularly high for its famous board chairman: the fashion magnate Kenneth Cole, who has carefully built his eponymous brand around his own image as a philanthropist.
AmfAR’s current existential crisis stems from the sale of a trio of auction lots that Weinstein curated for the HIV organization’s 2015 Cannes Film Festival gala. The enduring firestorm surrounding the film producer’s alleged sexual misconduct has only put these auction transactions, and amfAR itself, under an even more intense microscope.
The convoluted series of financial arrangements that channeled the auction-lot proceeds in question—amfAR carried out these transactions at Weinstein’s insistence—have raised deep concerns among a faction of the nonprofit’s trustees and have given rise to a board-wide civil war. This internal battle has for the past four months played out in the public eye, with many HIV activists joining a call for Cole’s ouster. And as is invariably the case in disputes among the rich and powerful, a flock of high-powered lawyers has descended upon the scene.
Investigative report
They bent the rules for Harvey Weinstein, and now they’re paying the price.
AmfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research has long relied on the now-disgraced Hollywood mogul to supply celebrities, cachet and cash for its fundraising efforts. And now as the nonprofit faces a reckoning born from this dependence, the stakes are particularly high for its famous board chairman: the fashion magnate Kenneth Cole, who has carefully built his eponymous brand around his own image as a philanthropist.
AmfAR’s current existential crisis stems from the sale of a trio of auction lots that Weinstein curated for the HIV organization’s 2015 Cannes Film Festival gala. The enduring firestorm surrounding the film producer’s alleged sexual misconduct has only put these auction transactions, and amfAR itself, under an even more intense microscope.
The convoluted series of financial arrangements that channeled the auction-lot proceeds in question—amfAR carried out these transactions at Weinstein’s insistence—have raised deep concerns among a faction of the nonprofit’s trustees and have given rise to a board-wide civil war. This internal battle has for the past four months played out in the public eye, with many HIV activists joining a call for Cole’s ouster. And as is invariably the case in disputes among the rich and powerful, a flock of high-powered lawyers has descended upon the scene.
"Unpacking Michael Weinstein's Latest PrEP Denialism."
POZ, October 2017
After something of a lull, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president Michael Weinstein has revived his ever-the-skeptic public campaign regarding Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), publishing a critical editorial on the HIV prevention method in the prestigious medical journal AIDS.
POZ, October 2017
After something of a lull, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) president Michael Weinstein has revived his ever-the-skeptic public campaign regarding Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), publishing a critical editorial on the HIV prevention method in the prestigious medical journal AIDS.
"Nevertheless They Persisted"
(POZ, September 2017)
In the face of potential budget cutbacks or continued flat funding, HIV scientists and advocates are waging a powerful war against the global epidemic. The 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris saw myriad reasons for hope but also considerable cause for concern about the future of the global fight.
(POZ, September 2017)
In the face of potential budget cutbacks or continued flat funding, HIV scientists and advocates are waging a powerful war against the global epidemic. The 9th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Paris saw myriad reasons for hope but also considerable cause for concern about the future of the global fight.
"Measuring Success as PrEP Turns Five"
(POZ, July 2017)
The science behind Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis reveals an awesome tool that is apparently already helping shrink U.S. HIV rates. But troubling disparities persist, as PrEP's use remains largely relegated to white men who have sex with men (MSM) age 25 and older. Such a trend may ultimately widen existing racial disparities in HIV rates among MSM.
(POZ, July 2017)
The science behind Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis reveals an awesome tool that is apparently already helping shrink U.S. HIV rates. But troubling disparities persist, as PrEP's use remains largely relegated to white men who have sex with men (MSM) age 25 and older. Such a trend may ultimately widen existing racial disparities in HIV rates among MSM.
"HIV 2020"
(POZ, June 2017)
The dawning of the 2020s will bring HIV into its fifth decade. Crystal balls are by their nature hazy, and the current political climate raises many worrisome questions about how shifting federal priorities may affect people living with and at risk for HIV. Nevertheless, thanks to recent promising strides in HIV research and public health efforts to tackle the virus from all sides, leaders in the field are increasingly optimistic about what the next decade of the epidemic will look like.
(POZ, June 2017)
The dawning of the 2020s will bring HIV into its fifth decade. Crystal balls are by their nature hazy, and the current political climate raises many worrisome questions about how shifting federal priorities may affect people living with and at risk for HIV. Nevertheless, thanks to recent promising strides in HIV research and public health efforts to tackle the virus from all sides, leaders in the field are increasingly optimistic about what the next decade of the epidemic will look like.
"The Republican Health Care Plan Would Devastate People With HIV"
(POZ, June 2017)
President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget and the House Republican health care bill, if enacted, would deal a devastating blow to people living with and at risk for HIV. Additionally, the president’s proposed cuts to global HIV funding could prove cataclysmic to developing nations.
(POZ, June 2017)
President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget and the House Republican health care bill, if enacted, would deal a devastating blow to people living with and at risk for HIV. Additionally, the president’s proposed cuts to global HIV funding could prove cataclysmic to developing nations.
"As the U.S. Wrests Greater Control Over HIV, What's the Key to Success?"
(POZ, April 2017)
Things are looking up in the U.S. HIV epidemic, with a likely increasing proportion of those living with HIV on treatment and virally suppressed. Going forward, addressing disparities, especially racial ones, is vital for further progress.
(POZ, April 2017)
Things are looking up in the U.S. HIV epidemic, with a likely increasing proportion of those living with HIV on treatment and virally suppressed. Going forward, addressing disparities, especially racial ones, is vital for further progress.
In March 2017, I was a guest on National Public Radio's 1A program to discuss Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV along with the NIAID's Anthony Fauci, the National Minority AIDS Council's Matthew Rose and author Evan J. Peterson.
"PrEP Fails in a Third Man, but This Time HIV Drug Resistance Is Not to Blame."
(POZ, February 2017)
A Dutch man has contracted a non-drug-resistant strain of HIV while, according to numerous sources of evidence, adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). His case has puzzled experts because the only two cases of PrEP failure documented thus far, both reported within the past year, involved rare drug-resistant strains of the virus that apparently evaded the two drugs in Truvada.
(POZ, February 2017)
A Dutch man has contracted a non-drug-resistant strain of HIV while, according to numerous sources of evidence, adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). His case has puzzled experts because the only two cases of PrEP failure documented thus far, both reported within the past year, involved rare drug-resistant strains of the virus that apparently evaded the two drugs in Truvada.
"PrEP: A Dream Deferred."
(POZ, January 2017)
Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is failing the demographic that needs it most, black men who have sex with men (MSM). Meanwhile, Truvada’s increasing popularity as HIV prevention among white MSM means PrEP is apparently on a path to widen already tragic racial disparities in infection rates among MSM.
Are those who launched PrEP to blame for failing to anticipate its anemic uptake among black MSM?
(POZ, January 2017)
Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is failing the demographic that needs it most, black men who have sex with men (MSM). Meanwhile, Truvada’s increasing popularity as HIV prevention among white MSM means PrEP is apparently on a path to widen already tragic racial disparities in infection rates among MSM.
Are those who launched PrEP to blame for failing to anticipate its anemic uptake among black MSM?
"Racism Got You Stressed? That May Be Holding Kids Back at School, Too."
(The Nation, Oct. 2016)
Research suggests the stress all of today's widespread racial conflict generates may itself do lasting damage to the next generation of people of color in the United States. According to a new paper out of Northwestern University, race-based stress kick-starts psychological and biological changes among black and Latino children that compromise their school performance and ultimately widen school achievement disparities between races.
(The Nation, Oct. 2016)
Research suggests the stress all of today's widespread racial conflict generates may itself do lasting damage to the next generation of people of color in the United States. According to a new paper out of Northwestern University, race-based stress kick-starts psychological and biological changes among black and Latino children that compromise their school performance and ultimately widen school achievement disparities between races.
"Decision 2016: The Politics of a Pandemic."
(POZ, Sept. 2016) National, state and local races will affect HIV prevention, care and treatment—both at home and abroad.
“Everyone pays attention to national elections or top-of-the-ticket elections,” says Greg Harris, an HIV-positive Illinois state legislator. “But for people with HIV, the real decisions that impact their lives, including housing, funding, supportive services—whether it’s mental health treatment or substance abuse—are all made at the local level.”
(POZ, Sept. 2016) National, state and local races will affect HIV prevention, care and treatment—both at home and abroad.
“Everyone pays attention to national elections or top-of-the-ticket elections,” says Greg Harris, an HIV-positive Illinois state legislator. “But for people with HIV, the real decisions that impact their lives, including housing, funding, supportive services—whether it’s mental health treatment or substance abuse—are all made at the local level.”
August 2016: My article for POZ, "When Can We Expect PrEP 2.0?" (Dec. 2015) won a silver medal in health and fitness reporting from NJLGA, the Association of LGBT Journalists. The article asks what the future holds for new forms of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, including long-acting injectables, less toxic drugs, even a subdermal implant that can deliver contin-uous drug for months.
"Antiretrovirals: A Success Story." (POZ, June 2016)
Celebrating 20 years of effective HIV treatment
In July 1996, infectious disease experts gathered in Vancouver for the 11th International AIDS Conf-erence. These gatherings had become bleak affairs in recent years, as data painted in stark relief the fact that the handful of drugs approved since AZT in 1987 had proved a feeble line of defense against HIV. But data had recently begun to surface suggesting that emerging drugs might allow clinicians the means to finally send the virus into retreat.
Celebrating 20 years of effective HIV treatment
In July 1996, infectious disease experts gathered in Vancouver for the 11th International AIDS Conf-erence. These gatherings had become bleak affairs in recent years, as data painted in stark relief the fact that the handful of drugs approved since AZT in 1987 had proved a feeble line of defense against HIV. But data had recently begun to surface suggesting that emerging drugs might allow clinicians the means to finally send the virus into retreat.
"A Tale of Two Cities." (POZ, May 2016)
New York City and San Francisco want to end their HIV epidemics.
San Francisco recently launched a multipronged HIV-fighting campaign called “Getting to Zero,” in which the members of local academia, the public health department and community-based organizations, as well as government officials and health care providers, are working in lockstep. Meanwhile, the major players in New York’s epidemic have formed a similar alliance.
New York City and San Francisco want to end their HIV epidemics.
San Francisco recently launched a multipronged HIV-fighting campaign called “Getting to Zero,” in which the members of local academia, the public health department and community-based organizations, as well as government officials and health care providers, are working in lockstep. Meanwhile, the major players in New York’s epidemic have formed a similar alliance.
"Is Charlie Sheen Pining After the Wrong Clinical Trial of Long-Acting HIV Meds?"(POZ, March 2016)
During his February appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Charlie Sheen said his profound dislike of adhering to a daily HIV regimen had piqued his interest in participating in a clinical trial of an investigational treatment called PRO 140, which is a weekly self-injectable monoclonal antibody against the virus. But would he be better off joining a trial of a longer-acting treatment, one dosed only every eight weeks?
During his February appearance on The Dr. Oz Show, Charlie Sheen said his profound dislike of adhering to a daily HIV regimen had piqued his interest in participating in a clinical trial of an investigational treatment called PRO 140, which is a weekly self-injectable monoclonal antibody against the virus. But would he be better off joining a trial of a longer-acting treatment, one dosed only every eight weeks?
"PrEP Fails in Gay Man Adhering to Daily Truvada,
He Contracts Drug-Resistant HIV."
(POZ, February 2016)
Researchers have for the first time documented a case of an individual contracting HIV, a multi-drug resistant strain, while apparently adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The scientists concluded that it is indeed possible for individuals who are adherent to PrEP to contract HIV when they are exposed to a virus that is resistant to both drugs included in Truvada. While this case is concerning, experts in the PrEP field suggest that such failures of PrEP will likely remain rare.
He Contracts Drug-Resistant HIV."
(POZ, February 2016)
Researchers have for the first time documented a case of an individual contracting HIV, a multi-drug resistant strain, while apparently adhering well to the daily regimen of Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The scientists concluded that it is indeed possible for individuals who are adherent to PrEP to contract HIV when they are exposed to a virus that is resistant to both drugs included in Truvada. While this case is concerning, experts in the PrEP field suggest that such failures of PrEP will likely remain rare.
"Sorry, Pollyanna, Happiness Doesn't Make You Live Longer."
(Second Nexus, Feb. 2016)
If you pay attention to the preachings of self-help gurus and panacea-promising magazine articles, you might think that a sunny disposition is the key to a long life. But a study published in the Lancet in December casts serious doubt on this received wisdom, finding that, while happiness may influence healthy behaviors, it has no apparent direct effect on the risk of death.
(Second Nexus, Feb. 2016)
If you pay attention to the preachings of self-help gurus and panacea-promising magazine articles, you might think that a sunny disposition is the key to a long life. But a study published in the Lancet in December casts serious doubt on this received wisdom, finding that, while happiness may influence healthy behaviors, it has no apparent direct effect on the risk of death.
"Eyewitness Testimony Is Unreliable… Or Is It?"
(The Marshall Project, Oct. 2015) A new study of the data says it depends on timing.
The question of how confident witnesses are when they first identify a subject in a lineup might seem like a minor detail. But it’s at the center of a vigorous debate among eyewitness memory experts. The outcome of this debate could have important ramifications for the criminal justice system, and could add an important layer of nuance to the critiques of eyewitness testimony.
(The Marshall Project, Oct. 2015) A new study of the data says it depends on timing.
The question of how confident witnesses are when they first identify a subject in a lineup might seem like a minor detail. But it’s at the center of a vigorous debate among eyewitness memory experts. The outcome of this debate could have important ramifications for the criminal justice system, and could add an important layer of nuance to the critiques of eyewitness testimony.
"It's Science: Raising the Minimum Wage Would Make America a Happier Place." The Nation, Oct. 2015
“There’s this idea that our society is premised on the pursuit of happiness,” says Laura Smith, a psychologist at Columbia University’s Teachers College. That premise, she reasons, is tied to the implicit American social contract, “which is that a hard day’s work is going to be the pathway to full enfranchised citizenship. And when full-time contributors to the necessary fabric of society can’t earn enough to lift their families out of poverty, our tacit social contract is compromised.”
“There’s this idea that our society is premised on the pursuit of happiness,” says Laura Smith, a psychologist at Columbia University’s Teachers College. That premise, she reasons, is tied to the implicit American social contract, “which is that a hard day’s work is going to be the pathway to full enfranchised citizenship. And when full-time contributors to the necessary fabric of society can’t earn enough to lift their families out of poverty, our tacit social contract is compromised.”
"The Cure For HIV Is Not Around the Corner." (POZ, Oct. 2015) Cutting through the hope and the hyperbole.
Erroneous media reports aren't the only cause of the public's misperception that a cure for HIV is "within reach." Even non-profit leaders such as amfAR and Bill Gates have contributed, willfully or not, to this gross distortion of the truth. This article seeks to set the record straight and give readers and accurate sense of where we are in the quest for a cure.
Erroneous media reports aren't the only cause of the public's misperception that a cure for HIV is "within reach." Even non-profit leaders such as amfAR and Bill Gates have contributed, willfully or not, to this gross distortion of the truth. This article seeks to set the record straight and give readers and accurate sense of where we are in the quest for a cure.
Sept. 2015: For my coverage of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) against HIV, I received the Excellence in HIV/AIDS Coverage Award from NJLGA, the Association of LGBT Journalists, as well as a bronze award for health information reporting from the National Health Information Awards. The article, "PrEP and Prejudice", which appeared in POZ magainze's Oct/Nov 2014 issue, examines the science surrounding the new HIV prevention method (taking a pill each day reduces risk by over 99 percent) while asking tough questions about whether PrEP will ultimately reduce HIV incidence among gay and bisexual men.
Michelangelo Signorile interviewed me for his SiriusXM satellite radio show, The Gist, on Sept. 4, 2015.
We spoke about the new scientific paper about the group of more than 650 men who have sex with men who have been receiving Truvada as PrEP (to prevent HIV) from a San Francisco clinic. During the average seven months that the members of the group have been on PrEP, there have been no new HIV infections among them.
We spoke about the new scientific paper about the group of more than 650 men who have sex with men who have been receiving Truvada as PrEP (to prevent HIV) from a San Francisco clinic. During the average seven months that the members of the group have been on PrEP, there have been no new HIV infections among them.
"What 311 Calls Can Tell Us About Gentrification."
New York magazine, August 2015
A fascinating sociological study out of NYU found that New York City complaints about neighbors tend to spike at the "fuzzy," ill-defined boundaries between segregated neighborhoods. New York, which is one of the most racially diverse cities in the country and also one of the most starkly segregated, is quite the crucible, with a long history of such racial tension.
“Fact-Checking AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Latest Anti-PrEP Screed.”
POZ, July 2015
An audit of AHF's anti-pre-exposure prophylaxis ad, which the nonprofit published in various gay newspapers, revealed a laundry list of errors, if not flat-out lies about Truvada's use as HIV prevention. AHF eventually issued a strident rebuttal to the POZ fact check.
POZ, July 2015
An audit of AHF's anti-pre-exposure prophylaxis ad, which the nonprofit published in various gay newspapers, revealed a laundry list of errors, if not flat-out lies about Truvada's use as HIV prevention. AHF eventually issued a strident rebuttal to the POZ fact check.
“Is It Time for the End of ‘AIDS’?”
POZ, July 2015
Two decades into the antiretroviral era, the often misused term 'AIDS' has an awkward place in the dialogue about the HIV epidemic. Is it time to phase the term out altogether?
POZ, July 2015
Two decades into the antiretroviral era, the often misused term 'AIDS' has an awkward place in the dialogue about the HIV epidemic. Is it time to phase the term out altogether?
“The Audacity of New York's Hope to End AIDS”
POZ, May 2015
“We’re beginning to see a real ray of light in what has been a 35-year nightmare,” said Andrew Cuomo, who presides over the state with the largest number of people living with HIV, an estimated 154,000 New Yorkers. He acknowledged that when the early sketches of the blueprint were drawn, “people thought it was an outrageous goal.” He then asserted that “sometimes what sounds outrageous is exactly what we need to do.”
POZ, May 2015
“We’re beginning to see a real ray of light in what has been a 35-year nightmare,” said Andrew Cuomo, who presides over the state with the largest number of people living with HIV, an estimated 154,000 New Yorkers. He acknowledged that when the early sketches of the blueprint were drawn, “people thought it was an outrageous goal.” He then asserted that “sometimes what sounds outrageous is exactly what we need to do.”
“PrEP Is Ready for Primetime.”
(POZ, March 2015)
The use of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay and bi men has entered a new, particularly exciting phase. Gone is the silence surrounding this daily-pill HIV prevention method. Increasing signs indicate that Truvada use will ultimately slow, and actually send into retreat, the expanding rates of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men . And a chorus of advocates is clamoring to promote the powder-blue pills where they’ll do the most good.
(POZ, March 2015)
The use of Truvada as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among gay and bi men has entered a new, particularly exciting phase. Gone is the silence surrounding this daily-pill HIV prevention method. Increasing signs indicate that Truvada use will ultimately slow, and actually send into retreat, the expanding rates of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men . And a chorus of advocates is clamoring to promote the powder-blue pills where they’ll do the most good.
“Propecia Side Effects. What You Don't Know About Propecia (Because They Don't Know Either)." (AskMen.com, March 2015)
Even though the balding wonder drug Propecia was approved back in 1997 and has been prescribed to millions of follicle-challenged guys since then, scientists still don’t have a firm handle on how safe it is.
Even though the balding wonder drug Propecia was approved back in 1997 and has been prescribed to millions of follicle-challenged guys since then, scientists still don’t have a firm handle on how safe it is.
“Pushing His Luck.” (Hep magazine, spring 2015) How one man finally hit the jackpot of a hepatitis C-free life.
Jack Berlin doesn’t want you to think he’s anything special. He may be a successful businessman, but he’s no smarter than anyone else. He’s just a responsible, pay-it-forward kind of guy who’s been very lucky: fortunate to have found a profession that taps his passions and propels him to work hard; blessed with a rich family life.
Oh, and he kicked hepatitis C in the butt.
Jack Berlin doesn’t want you to think he’s anything special. He may be a successful businessman, but he’s no smarter than anyone else. He’s just a responsible, pay-it-forward kind of guy who’s been very lucky: fortunate to have found a profession that taps his passions and propels him to work hard; blessed with a rich family life.
Oh, and he kicked hepatitis C in the butt.
“It Really Might ‘Get Better’ for LGBT Teens.”
(The Atlantic, February 2015)
In 2010, sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller took to YouTube to reassure LBGT teens, "It Gets Better." So was born a movement.
Now a study out of Northwestern University has lent empirical support to Savage’s promise, showing that life really may improve significantly for many LGBT youths in the U.S. as they grow into young adulthood.
(The Atlantic, February 2015)
In 2010, sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller took to YouTube to reassure LBGT teens, "It Gets Better." So was born a movement.
Now a study out of Northwestern University has lent empirical support to Savage’s promise, showing that life really may improve significantly for many LGBT youths in the U.S. as they grow into young adulthood.
“Selling the End of AIDS.”
(POZ, Oct. 2014)
As excited slogans anticipating an end to the AIDS epidemic gain favor, skeptics worry that such lofty promises will fall flat, leaving once-excited donors and other stakeholders disillusioned to the point of closing their pocketbooks and turning their eyes to other concerns.
(POZ, Oct. 2014)
As excited slogans anticipating an end to the AIDS epidemic gain favor, skeptics worry that such lofty promises will fall flat, leaving once-excited donors and other stakeholders disillusioned to the point of closing their pocketbooks and turning their eyes to other concerns.
“The Normal Heart: From Stage to Screen.”
(POZ, May 2014)
After starring in the Broadway production of Larry Kramer’s cri de coeur about the dawning of the AIDS crisis, Joe Mantello joined the cast of the upcoming HBO version as well. His performance in the emotionally arresting film is nothing short of devastating.
Here he talks with POZ about this piece of theatrical history.
(POZ, May 2014)
After starring in the Broadway production of Larry Kramer’s cri de coeur about the dawning of the AIDS crisis, Joe Mantello joined the cast of the upcoming HBO version as well. His performance in the emotionally arresting film is nothing short of devastating.
Here he talks with POZ about this piece of theatrical history.
“Coinfected With HIV and Hep C? Time To Party Like It’s 1996.” (Hep magazine, March 2014)
If you think that having HIV means you can’t be cured of a coinfection with hepatitis C, then think again. If you think the only way to rid yourself of hep C and to spare your liver of its damaging consequences is to undergo a year of interferon treatment, suffering from the drug’s miserable flu-like side effects, there is good news for you. The hep C treatment revolution is upon us.
If you think that having HIV means you can’t be cured of a coinfection with hepatitis C, then think again. If you think the only way to rid yourself of hep C and to spare your liver of its damaging consequences is to undergo a year of interferon treatment, suffering from the drug’s miserable flu-like side effects, there is good news for you. The hep C treatment revolution is upon us.
In this image, captured by an electron microscope, HIV (orange) is budding off this CD4 T immune cells (green).
“How HIV Instigates Cellular Suicide to Cause AIDS.”
(POZ, January 2014) Researchers have struggled to assemble the clues as to how the immune systems of people with AIDS are so devastatingly brought to heel. It has been a long and winding path toward under-standing the precise cellular mechanisms con-necting HIV to AIDS. Now, one team of scientists has made a significant break in the case, clarifying the step-by-step process by which the virus causes the syndrome and challenging previous theories about how CD4 cells faced with the virus die off en masse.
(POZ, January 2014) Researchers have struggled to assemble the clues as to how the immune systems of people with AIDS are so devastatingly brought to heel. It has been a long and winding path toward under-standing the precise cellular mechanisms con-necting HIV to AIDS. Now, one team of scientists has made a significant break in the case, clarifying the step-by-step process by which the virus causes the syndrome and challenging previous theories about how CD4 cells faced with the virus die off en masse.
“PEPFAR Turns 10: Success at a Crossroads.”
(POZ, Dec. 2013) Over the summer, the 1 millionth baby was born HIV-free thanks to a huge push by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Worldwide, new HIV infections have fallen by a third since 2001. New infections among children have tumbled 52 percent during the same period. AIDS-related deaths have since dropped 30 percent since 2005. Also, 13 hard-hit nations each recently hit an important tipping point: A greater number of people are getting on ARVs each year than are newly infected with the virus.
(POZ, Dec. 2013) Over the summer, the 1 millionth baby was born HIV-free thanks to a huge push by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Worldwide, new HIV infections have fallen by a third since 2001. New infections among children have tumbled 52 percent during the same period. AIDS-related deaths have since dropped 30 percent since 2005. Also, 13 hard-hit nations each recently hit an important tipping point: A greater number of people are getting on ARVs each year than are newly infected with the virus.
“Too Close for Comfort.”
Out, Nov. 2013
Why serial monogamy isn't so safe. Most HIV transmissions among gay men happen within stable sexual part-nerships, not flings.
According to the latest estimates, a staggering 68% of new HIV transmissions in gay and bi men occur in relationships or in the context of two guys sleeping together regularly. For guys aged 16 to 24, we’re talking about 79%.
Out, Nov. 2013
Why serial monogamy isn't so safe. Most HIV transmissions among gay men happen within stable sexual part-nerships, not flings.
According to the latest estimates, a staggering 68% of new HIV transmissions in gay and bi men occur in relationships or in the context of two guys sleeping together regularly. For guys aged 16 to 24, we’re talking about 79%.
“The Case of the Baby ‘Functionally Cured’ of HIV: A Detective Story.” (POZ, April 2013) Was the famous baby really functionally cured of HIV? (Ultimately the answer was no; the virus rebounded in the child in 2014.)
“A baby is ‘functionally’ cured of HIV.”
Such a claim is so profound and seemingly unprecedented, it should come as no surprise that skeptics would pick over every piece of available data and every last word out of the mouth of the scientists involved with the case.
“A baby is ‘functionally’ cured of HIV.”
Such a claim is so profound and seemingly unprecedented, it should come as no surprise that skeptics would pick over every piece of available data and every last word out of the mouth of the scientists involved with the case.
“Falling Through the Cracks.”
(POZ, March 2013)
We can strengthen two of the weakest links in the U.S. health care chain for people with HIV/AIDS: linking people to care and re-taining them in care. Doing so requires a collective approach. In the meantime, only an estimated 16 to 36 percent of Americans with HIV have a suppressed viral load. This figure is the last calculation in a series of statistical wake-up calls that have shaken the HIV community since the 2010 introduction of a a new catchphrase: the “treatment cascade.”
(POZ, March 2013)
We can strengthen two of the weakest links in the U.S. health care chain for people with HIV/AIDS: linking people to care and re-taining them in care. Doing so requires a collective approach. In the meantime, only an estimated 16 to 36 percent of Americans with HIV have a suppressed viral load. This figure is the last calculation in a series of statistical wake-up calls that have shaken the HIV community since the 2010 introduction of a a new catchphrase: the “treatment cascade.”