A recent Humanosphere article suggests we are at a tipping point in the fight against HIV/AIDS, poised to stem the tide if sufficient funding is allocated. “We have an increasing number of tools but we need to be more effective … We can do a much better job with the tools we have,” Department Chair King Holmes, MD, PhD said recently in an interview at the Gairdner Annual Global Health Symposium. With over 34 million people are living with HIV (WHO), and infections continuing to affect high numbers of people, what are we doing to end HIV/AIDS?

Researchers at the Department of Global Health have been developing solutions to the AIDS epidemic since the beginning, and continue to devote substantial attention to innovative approaches to HIV/AIDS, with at least six of the 26 programs, centers, or initiatives, and over 130 of our faculty involved in HIV/AIDS related projects.  UW is consistently rated in the top three for HIV/AIDS federal funding in research and in AIDS specialty care.

Recent UW Department of Global Health research led to these important developments:

• The landmark Partners PrEP Study led to the first FDA approval of an antiretroviral for HIV prevention.
• The UW International Clinical Research Center and their partners in Africa discovered that hormonal contraception doubles the chances of HIV infection for women.

And perhaps equally important in stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS, Global Health researchers are collaborating with and engaging communities affected by HIV/AIDS.  Whether through participation in the Seattle AIDS Walk, close collaborations with researchers at local institutions in Uganda and other African countries, or the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Community Action Board (CAB), the Department brings together researchers and community members to ensure that researchers and communities are working together.  This has resulted in reciprocal trainings, symposiums, and participatory research to facilitate community involvement, as well as real health outcomes such as widespread HIV testing and prevention. 

Still, most advocates familiar with the complexity of HIV insist that there is much work left ahead.  When asked to reflect on the HIV epidemic and the role of research, CFAR CAB Co-Chair Marcos Martinez responded, “The HIV/AIDS epidemic exists within a system of oppression and marginalization. We cannot hope to bring about the end of AIDS without addressing the problems of homophobia, transphobia, racism, economic injustice, and the lack of access to basics like education and health care for all people.”  Marcos is the Executive Director of Entre Hermanos, a Latino LGBTQ organization based in Seattle.

“On World AIDS Day, we as part of the research community should rededicate ourselves to studying how structural inequalities contribute to the continued spread of HIV and AIDS.” He continued, “And we should take appropriate action to dismantle the structures that promote unhealthy outcomes for people and the planet.” 

Dr. King Holmes, who has been working on HIV/AIDS since the early 80s, summed it up even more concisely: “Expert diagnosis and treatment for those who show up at your clinics is essential, but this alone is a drop in the bucket.”

For more information on current Department of Global Health HIV/AIDS projects, click here.