Standing up for Transgender Individuals in HIV/AIDS Research

Here's a quick update on what's happening around the Open Letter on Sex and Gender.

But first, a recap for those who are new. I know this is confusing, but please stick with me. Several DC HIV/AIDS research community advisory boards have expressed concern over how information on sex and gender is collected in HIV/AIDS research, and how transgender folks are treated in HIV/AIDS research. This is one of those issues that can't be addressed at the local level. Local research sites told us this is something that we needed to address with the NIH NIAID Division of AIDS.

In March 2007, DC CABS (Howard University IMPAACT, VA Hospital INSIGHT, Capital Area Vaccine Effort VRC, Georgetown University ACTG) wrote a letter to which is the community advisory board for the Division of AIDS. Community Partners is made up of CAB members from all around the world representing all six DAIDS research networks, (ACTG, HVTN, IMPAACT, HPTN, INSIGHT, and MTN)

Also, in June 2007, we scheduled an ACTION lunch with Karin Klingman from the Division of AIDS to discuss this issue.

So here's the update

The Community Partners discussed the issue on one of their monthly conference calls. They decided to form an ad-hoc committee to explore this issue further. As fate would have it, many of the members of the ad-hoc committee in DC are in town for the ACTG and IMPAACT group meetings this weekend.

The Community Partners adhoc work group has scheduled a meeting with us to discuss this issue. All interested DC HIV/AIDS Research Community Advisory Board Members are welcome to join us. The meeting will be Friday, October 12th at 8:00 PM at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. If you are interested in coming please e-mail me and I will send you the exact location when I have it. I'm hopefull that this meeting will move us yet one step closer to the ultimate goal.

Thanks to everyone who has worked on this. Trust me - I've been working on this issue since November 2002 when the Forum for Collaborative HIV/AIDS Research held their summit on Sex and Gender. Don't worry though, we'll stay at it till the job is done.