Issue No. 22

25 Years of AIDS Research at NIH—A Commemorative Event

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will host a commemorative exhibit recounting the Institute’s 25 years of HIV/AIDS Research on Monday June 5, 10:00 am–12 noon, Masur Auditorium, Clinical Center, Building 10.

The first cases of what is now known as AIDS were reported on June 5, 1981, in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  The NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) invite NIH employees, patients, families, and friends to an event highlighting the history of AIDS, NIH's critical AIDS research contributions, and the formidable challenges that lie ahead.  This special event will present the perspectives of key NIH scientists, a TV news reporter who has covered the epidemic since the 1980s, the director of UNAIDS, who was in Africa at the beginning of the epidemic, and a participant in NIH intramural clinical trials. Featured speakers from NIH include NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni, OAR Director Dr. Jack Whitescarver, NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, OAR Director of Clinical Research and Minority Programs Dr. Victoria Cargill-Swiren, and NIAID Dale and Betty Bumpers Vaccine Research Center Director Dr. Gary Nabel.  Special guest speakers include UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot; NBC News Chief Science and Health Correspondent Robert Bazell; and Ms. Yvonne Green, a clinical trial participant.

Swedish filmmaker Staffan Hildebrand of the Face of AIDS Project in Stockholm will premiere his documentary, "America and AIDS—A 25-Year Perspective," which includes interviews with numerous scientists, activists, and people living with AIDS.  Several exhibits providing information about NIH AIDS research and resources will be displayed in the Clinical Center during the week of June 5, including an exhibit of artwork by children who participated in National Cancer Institute (NCI) pediatric AIDS clinical trials. 

The event will be videocast live on the Web at http://videocast.nih.gov.

A special Web site will be available beginning on June 1 with additional information, links, timeline, and historical resources at http://www.25yearsofaids.oar.nih.gov.

For additional information, please contact the Office of AIDS Research at 301-496-0357.  Sign Language Interpreters will be provided. Individuals with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should contact Denita Norris in the OAR at 301-496-0357 or the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.

New HRSA Web Page on Cultural Competence

The U.S. Department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently unveiled a new Web site on Cultural Competence Resources for Health Care Providers. The site highlights approximately 40 HRSA-supported projects on cross-cultural health care.  The site includes resources designed to help health care providers enhance their clinical and organizational skills in cultural competence.