1. The Joy of Tech: IRMA as a Model for Maximizing Electronic Communications to Build and Nurture an Advocacy Network May 24, 2010 Microbicides 2010 - Pittsburgh Jim Pickett, IRMA & AIDS Foundation of Chicago Marc-André LeBlanc, IRMA

2. This Presentation Who is IRMA? – Advocacy goals Challenges of international organizing on a shoestring – Communications The Joy of Tech

3. IRMA, b.2005 4 people, 3 agencies, 2 countries

4. Today AIDS Foundation of Chicago Secretariat Steering Committee A global network of >860 advocates, leading scientists, funders and policymakers from six continents – w/chapters in Peru and Nigeria Mission: support development of safe, effective, acceptable, and accessible rectal microbicides for all that need them M2010

5. Advocacy Goals/Objectives

6. Advocacy Goals Increase and diversify funding Increase research activities Increase knowledge - For instance Heterosexual anal sex Anal sex behaviors and practices

7. Advocacy Goals Develop Global Rectal Microbicide Development Plan – Every R&D dollar needs to be spent smartly and strategically – Find consensus on research priorities among stakeholders – Coordinate research activities, from discovery through Phase III – Monitor

8. Advocacy Goals Recruit researchers, advocates Recognize anal intercourse as an important driver in the HIV epidemic among gay men, MSM, and between women and men Address burden of HIV among gay men and MSM – particularly in the developing world Promote anal health Determine safety of lubricants for rectal use

9. Communication Challenges

10. Needs and Challenges Engage huge membership on 6 continents Central forum for exchange, debate, and networking among variety of stakeholders Dynamic, engaging, and informative Recruit, recruit, recruit IRMA-ALC IRMA Nigeria

11. Challenges and Needs Small budget Huge membership on 6 continents – Multiple audiences to connect IRMA-ALC, IRMA Nigeria Connect researchers, advocates, policy makers, funders, other stakeholders across disciplines Many time zones Varied access to communication technologies Varied tech savvy-ness

12. Maximizing Communications

13. Making it Work ListservTCWebsiteBlog/FeedFBTwitter 2009 6,906 visits 2009 14,244 visits May 2010 365 pals May 2010 832 followers May 2010 880 members 15 calls ’08- ’09, 500 ppl

15. Teleconference Topics Implications of anal intercourse and rectal use of products in vaginal microbicide trials The anal canal: An important transition zone for rectal microbicide development Epidemiology of HIV among MSM in Africa: Implications for rectal microbicides Efficacy and effectiveness—What is good enough? Who decides? We’re Taking Sexy Back – Sex Can Feel Good, and Be Safe Too! Find the Joy in Stats

17. Special Thanks to IRMA Funders

18. And that’s it

19. Jim Pickett jpickett@aidschicago.org www.rectalmicrobicides.org