AIDS Research Alliance

AIDS Research Alliance of America (ARAA) is a national community-based non-profit medical research institution that seeks to develop a cure for HIV/AIDS, medical strategies to prevent new HIV infections and better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS.[1] Since 1989, ARAA has conducted over 90 clinical and pre-clinical studies,[2] ranging from alternative therapies[3][4][5] that employ a complementary approach to HIV care to the first in-human HIV vaccine trial.[6]

Contents

History

In 1989, a group of Southern California physicians and philanthropists, led by Paul Joseph Rothman, M.D. and Matthew Rushton, Hollywood film producer of Mrs. Doubtfire, founded Search Alliance to speed the discovery and development of effective treatments against HIV and its complications.[7]

Working with physicians who were experimenting with potential treatments in their private practices, the organization pooled data and identified promising experimental regimens. The staff designed the studies, coordinated the data collection of Alliance physicians, and analyzed and published the results.[8]

In 1995, Search Alliance changed its name to AIDS Research Alliance of America and centralized all research activities in one licensed facility based in Los Angeles.[8] This allowed ARAA to identify and manage scientific, clinical and organizational strategies with a staff of dedicated research professionals, while maintaining affiliations with physicians, academics and scientists in research institutions around the world.[9][10][11][12][13]

In 2009, ARAA relocated from West Hollywood, where it had been located for 14 years, to a larger research facility in downtown Los Angeles.[14]

As a community-based organization, ARAA serves as a bridge between communities at risk of HIV and government funded research. It collaborates with government-sponsored researchers and pharmaceutical companies, but also advocates for and conducts research that is not driven by the demand for profitability.[15] ARAA has been licensed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a drug to combat HIV.[16] Carolyn H. Carlburg, J.D. is the current Chief Executive Officer,[17][18] and Stephen J. Brown, M.D. is the current Medical Director.[19]

Research

Today, AIDS Research Alliance of America focuses its research and development program on several core areas, including the clinical trials of anti-HIV drugs that inhibit the virus in novel ways, and new medical strategies – like microbicides and vaccines – that prevent the spread of HIV.[20] ARAA conducts clinical trials aimed at treating the medical disorders that accompany HIV, including HIV-associated lipodystrophy,[21] diarrhea and neuropathy.[22] Developing strategies that will eliminate HIV viral reservoirs has become a major research initiative of ARAA.[23] This includes its work on prostratin,[24] a potential reservoir ablative agent that ARAA has in-licensed from NIH.[16] In 2008, ARAA filed a new patent on prostratin and its analogues, thus broadening its research platform targeting the HIV reservoirs.[25]

Funding

AIDS Research Alliance of America funds its research by using a business model that includes contract research conducted for major pharmaceutical sponsors,[26][27][28][29] as well as tax-deductible donations from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Major funders to ARAA include The Ahmanson Foundation, The MacDonald Family Foundation, The Richard Gere Foundation,[30] and MacHeist[31] among many others.[32] ARAA is a participating charity in the U.S. Combined Federal Campaign,[33] and has received high ratings from charity watchdog groups such as the American Institute of Philanthropy[34] and Charity Navigator.[35] ARAA hosts a number of fundraising events – including ArtSeen featuring A Taste of Los Angeles[36] and has been a beneficiary of events like Macy’s Passport In-Store, Spinning Nation and the Game Show Congress.

References

  1. ^ CenterWatch Research Center Profile Pages
  2. ^ CenterWatch
  3. ^ Broad-Spectrum Micronutrient Supplementation in HIV-infected Patients With Dideoxynucleoside-related Peripheral Neuropathy: A Prospective, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial, J Kaiser, J Ondercin, G Santos, G Leoung, S Brown, M Mass, M Baum; 11th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, San Francisco, February 8–11, 2004 [abstract 494]. www.retroconference.org/2004/cd/PDFs/494.pdf
  4. ^ Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research Report on the 11th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, February 2004
  5. ^ Allium sativum: Antibiotic and Immune Properties. Bergner, P; Medical Herbalism - Journal for the Clinical Practioner 1997
  6. ^ VaxGen AIDSVAX B/B Vaccine Trial: Recruitment, Demographics, and Changes in Risk Behaviors - Lessons for Future Trials. Brown SJ, Harro C, Mayer KH, and others; the VAX004 Study Team; National HIV Prevention Conference (2003: Atlanta, Ga.)Abstr Book 2003 abstract no. T3-D0502.
  7. ^ AIDS Research Alliance website
  8. ^ a b AIDS Research Alliance website, retrieved 05/01/09
  9. ^ Researchers Discover Gut Tissue To Be A Major Reservoir Harboring HIV. ScienceDaily 26/08/06
  10. ^ Female research study. OC Weekly 05/05/09
  11. ^ Anorectal Microbicide Project - Rectal Health Behaviors & Microbicide Acceptability. consent form; National Institutes of Health June 2006
  12. ^ Dual Role of Prostratin in Inhibition of Infection and Reactivation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus from Latency in Primary Blood Lymphocytes and Lymphoid Tissue. Biancotto A, Grivel J, Gondois-Rey F, Bettendroffer L, Brown S et al; Journal of Virology, October 2004, p. 10507-10515, Vol. 78, No. 19
  13. ^ Safety, pharmacokinetics, and antiviral activity of AMD3100, a selective CXCR4 receptor inhibitor, in HIV-1 infection. AMD3100 HIV Study Group, Hendrix C, Collier A, Lederman M, Schols D, Pollard R and Brown S et al, Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes 2004, vol. 37, no2, pp. 1253-1262
  14. ^ Research space: AIDS Research Alliance has leased office space at the California Professional Center building. Los Angeles Business Journal 12/01/08
  15. ^ Trials By Fire. Williams, S; POZ No. 12, P. 56; (02/96-03/96)
  16. ^ a b Federal Register 2000: 65 FR 79873 Prospective Grant of Exclusive License: Treatment of HIV
  17. ^ Forbes.com retrieved 05/08/06
  18. ^ The Chronicle of Philanthropy v.17 06/01/2005
  19. ^ AIDS Researchers Say the Work is Personal. Fair F; NYU Journalism School – NYC Pavement Pieces 01/11/08
  20. ^ AIDS Research Alliance website
  21. ^ Recombinant human growth hormone to treat HIV-associated adipose redistribution syndrome : 12-week induction and 24-week maintenance therapy. Grunfeld Carl; Thompson Melanie; Brown Stephen J.; Richmond Gary; Lee Daniel; Muurahainen Norma; Kotler Donald P.; Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes 2007, vol. 45, no3, pp. 286-297 ref.
  22. ^ Controlled trial of high-concentration capsaicin patch for treatment of painful HIV neuropathy. DM Simpson, S Brown, J Tobias, and others. (NGX-4010 C107 Study Group: 31Collaborators). Neurology 70(24): 2305-2313. 06/10/08.
  23. ^ Luring HIV from Hiding. Stix G; Scientific American 05/13/08
  24. ^ Prostratin as a New Therapeutic Agent Targeting HIV Viral Reservoirs. Hezareh, M.; Drug news & perspectives Vol. 18 Issue 8 Pg. 496-500 (Oct 2005)
  25. ^ Methods of Administering Prostratin and Structured Analogues Thereof. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (ISA/US), 11 April 2008
  26. ^ AIDS Treatment News 12/03/99;(No 332):8.
  27. ^ Business Wire 03/29/01
  28. ^ PR Newswire 09/17/95
  29. ^ Financial Times - Europe Intelligence Wire 08/29/06
  30. ^ The Gere Foundation
  31. ^ MacHeist raises $500,000 for Charity. Wolsey, G; MacTeens Magazine 12/14/2006
  32. ^ AIDS Research Alliance 2007 Annual Report
  33. ^ Federal Globe website
  34. ^ American Institute of Philanthropy Charity Listing
  35. ^ Charity Navigator
  36. ^ YouTube ArtSeen Footage

External links

Official website