August “Statement on NIH Efforts to Focus Research to End the AIDS Pandemic NIH high-priority areas of HIV/AIDS research: aim to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS, including the development of safe and effective vaccines develop the next generation of HIV therapies with improved safety and ease of use develop a cure for HIV/AIDS improve prevention or treatment of HIV-associated comorbidities and co-infections support cross-cutting areas of basic research, health disparities, and training FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG
Office of AIDS Research Update New Director to be appointed beginning of 2016 Acting Director Eisinger working on sorting of HIV grantsino into high, medium and low priority The final report on the portfolio review process will be presented for approval at the December 10-11, 2015 meeting of the Advisory Committee to the Director No bypass budget issued since FY13 FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG
Oct. 7 Senate Labor-HHS SubCom Hearing: National Institutes of Health: Investing in a Healthier Future Collins meets with the committee without Fauci Cassidy focuses on “Can we move NIH money out of HIV?” Questioning global HIV research in MSM populations; claiming incorrectly that HIV researchers take up a large % of heart research, and questioning the amount of vaccine research and the value of drug abuse research. Collins concedes no 10% set aside; agrees that other HIV research areas also have priorites, agrees that research in Chinese MSM not a priority, and doesn’t correct errors. FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG
Concerns: Where to Start? 10% allocation is no longer being considered by NIH Grants wont be reprioritized to HIV/AIDS because pressure from other disease groups or institutes Congressional interference in grant-making Deprioritization of international research. FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG
Next Steps-RWG, ABAC & broader HIV advocacy community Request that OAR issue a bypass budget for FY16 Hold Collins to promise to reallocate low priority HIV grants back to HIV & correct record from hearing Engage our allies (congressional, industry, public) Engage Committee staff (Louisiana strategy and Missouri strategy) ONAP, HHS, NIH leg affairs engagement Develop new messaging on the broader impact of HIV research FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG
Research Working Group Next call RWG Nov pm EST Sign-on letter coming to you FAPP Meeting Presentation by RWG