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HIV Controllers Speak: Our Link to a "Functional Cure" for HIV
December 14, 2008 Not all HIV-positive people are alike in their ability to control HIV. An estimated 1 in 300 HIV-infected persons around the world have a mysterious ability to control their HIV. Their viral loads and CD4 T-cell counts remain in the normal range without their having to take any HIV medications. Researchers call these individuals "long-term non-progressors." As people who have read my blog before know, I am a lucky member of this exclusive group. But I'm writing about this again because I don't think enough attention is being paid to the amazing ongoing research with long-term non-progressors and the strenuous efforts to recruit even more of these people.
Natural Habitat, or, "Who Said Activism Was Dead?"
September 10, 2008 I spent the first week of August glued to my computer screen, watching many hours of webcasts and reading blogs from the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. As a treatment and research advocate, I, like thousands of other interested parties from all over the world, hoped to learn about the new discoveries that science had to offer in the field of medication, and the clinical trials that produce those discoveries. I was also looking out for any ground-breaking announcements that might occur on the vaccine research front. In addition to the many things I learned on those topics, I discovered this truth: Activism is alive and well across the globe and our work is far from over. This was evidenced through protests, banners, posters, drums, feathers, T-shirts, panel discussions, chants, messages -- some loudly delivered by activists from the back of a session room -- and, on one occasion, an unscripted invitation to activists to deliver their message from the stage.
Hour of Destiny
July 14, 2008 There are rare times in life when all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place. The launch of this Blog occurs at such a moment for me, and I am grateful to Bonnie Goldman and The Body for inviting me to share it with you. As an HIV-positive woman in her mid-fifties, I hope to encourage others to strive toward their dreams, whatever those may be. I know that dreams do come true, because I am living mine! |
BLOG: Life as an Elite Controller
Loreen Willenberg is a 16-year HIV survivor from California. She is part of a tiny group of people with HIV that scientists call "elite controllers." What is an elite controller? It's someone with HIV who has never had a detectable viral load, although they have never taken HIV meds. She also has an astonishingly high CD4 count and has never experienced any adverse health effects from HIV. Loreen considers it her responsibility as an elite controller to help other people with HIV, which is why she's currently participating in three clinical studies in which researchers are trying to understand how people like Loreen actually control the virus. In fact, she's created a new organization for people like her called the Zephyr Foundation. More About Loreen: Profile
December 2008 - HIV Controllers Speak: Our Link to a "Functional Cure" for HIV September 2008 - Natural Habitat, or, "Who Said Activism Was Dead?" July 2008 - Hour of Destiny Interviews With Loreen: | ||
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