News

The Forum joins the HIV community in mourning the passing of Timothy Ray Brown, who was the first person to be cured of HIV. Mr. Brown was known as the “Berlin Patient” after receiving bone marrow and stem cell transplants in 2007 and 2008 which cured both his leukemia and HIV. Unfortunately, his leukemia returned last year.

Mr. Brown advocated for prioritizing HIV cure research in political and scientific communities. He inspired many researchers and other experts in the field of HIV to find a safe and affordable cure. His commitment to the fight for a cure is deeply appreciated by so many. He will always be remembered, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.   

Washington DC, August 20, 2020 – The Forum for Collaborative Research announced the publication of the manuscript, “Attribution of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis as an Etiology of Cirrhosis for Clinical Trials Eligibility: Recommendations from the Multi-stakeholder Liver Forum” in Gastroenterology.

Washington DC, July 28, 2020 – The Forum for Collaborative Research announced the publication of the manuscript, “Association Between Seroclearance of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Chronic HBV Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 

For more information about these research initiatives, please click here.

The Forum for Collaborative Research joins the HIV community in mourning the loss of Dr. Benigno Rodriguez, who passed away on July 9, 2020.

He was the principal investigator of the Case Western Reserve University AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (CWRU ACTU). Dr. Rodriguez was a physician scientist and clinical trialist who made significant contributions to the HIV/AIDS field. Dr. Rodriguez was honored for his contributions by being presented with the prestigious 2008 ACTG John Carey Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Rodriguez will be deeply missed.

HIV PREVENTION TRIAL DESIGN PROJECT

Towards a feasible regulatory path for new PrEP products

In 2019, under the umbrella of the PrEP Program, the HIV Prevention Trial Design Project was formed and builds on previous working groups and public meetings. The project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in addition to industry sponsors. It uses the “totality-of-evidence” framework and adopts innovative trial designs, including a counterfactual estimate of HIV incidence in communities in which PrEP clinical trials are conducted.

The overall goal of the project is to develop a path to provide convincing evidence of a new PrEP product’s effectiveness and safety, maintain scientific rigor, and create a feasible/pragmatic path for development.

Washington DC, April 27, 2020 – The Forum for Collaborative Research announced the acceptance and online publication of the manuscript, “Standardization of Diet and Exercise in Clinical Trials of NAFLD-NASH: Recommendations from the Liver Forum” in Journal of Hepatology. 

“Lifestyle modification is the foundation of treatment recommendations for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,” said Veronica Miller, PhD, Executive Director of the Forum for Collaborative Research. “But clinical trial design is impeded by the absence of consistent approaches and documentation of lifestyle changes, and understanding the potential influence on trial outcomes.”

Washington DC, June 9, 2020 – The Forum for Collaborative Research announced the launch of a new course from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health: Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Crash Course for Everyone.

The Forum for Collaborative Research joins the HIV community in mourning the loss of Dr. Ron Simmons, who passed away from prostate cancer on May 29th. Dr. Simmons was an activist and advocate for the black LGBTQ+ community and fought tirelessly for justice and equity for black communities who are disproportionately impacted by HIV. Dr. Simmons served as a distinguished faculty member at Howard University and in 1992, he joined Us Helping Us and served as President and CEO until 2016. Through the leadership of Dr. Simmons, Us Helping Us became the oldest and largest Black gay community-based AIDS service organization in the U.S. Dr. Simmons impacted many individual lives and organizations by working to reduce the burden of HIV.

Dr. Simmons' leadership was centered around collective action, equal rights, and unity. Many admired him as a powerful leader and for his lifelong dedication to addressing the HIV epidemic. His legacy will continue to live on. 

Please read these reflections from the Forum community.

“I was so saddened to hear of Ron’s passing earlier this week. His death comes at a time of serious national reckoning, making his advocacy for the well being of Black LBGTQ+ people all the more relevant. I am sorry he will not be here to witness progress directly, but the fruits of his passion for justice will reverberate throughout the coming months and years as we collectively work to ensure justice for all.”

-Veronica Miller, PhD, Executive Director of the Forum for Collaborative Research

“The HIV community has lost a great leader with the passing of Dr. Ron Simmons. He was a visionary and a very effective community-engaged activist. He understood firsthand how the Black community was being ravaged by HIV, particularly Black men who have sex with men, and knew how to develop a local organization that has had national impact. His eloquence and tenacity enabled him to create highly effective coalitions that have been able to create services to improve the lives of many. He will be greatly missed.”

-Kenneth Taymor, MD, Infectious Disease Attending and Director of HIV Prevention Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Larry Kramer, HIV and AIDS Activist, passed away from pneumonia Wednesday morning. Larry Kramer was a pioneer in the fight against AIDS, he sought out the attention of government and medical officials to take action to address the epidemic. Kramer co-founded the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, which was the first organization to provide support and advocacy for AIDS patients. Kramer also founded the activism group Act Up, whose tireless efforts led to the acceleration of research and drug testing.

Kramer was also a playwright, author, film producer, public health advocate and LGBTQ rights activist. Larry Kramer will be remembered for his drive, passion, and determination to speak up and speak out against the injustice that the HIV & AIDS population faced. His contributions paved the way for the progress and many improvements that have occurred in the treatment and care of HIV & AIDS since the 1980s.