The CDC Funds Black Organizations

Eugene McCray, M.D., Director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention in CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
It's no secret that Black people are more adversely affected by HIV/AIDS than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. But new funding by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is giving African American organizations an infusion of financial resources that activists hope will go a long way toward turning the tide.
Early Antiretroviral Therapy Prevents Non-AIDS Outcomes in HIV-Infected People: NIH-supported findings illustrate manifold benefit of therapy

Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Starting antiretroviral therapy early not only prevents serious AIDS-related diseases, but also prevents the onset of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other non-AIDS-related diseases in HIV-infected people, according to a new analysis of data from the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) study, the first large-scale randomized clinical trial to establish that earlier antiretroviral treatment benefits all HIV-infected individuals. Rates of both serious AIDS-related events and serious non-AIDS-related events were significantly reduced with early therapy.
PrEP and Additional Benefits of HIV Treatment Among Science Highlights from IAS 2015

Carl Dieffenbach, Ph.D., Director of the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
More HIV research findings were shared as the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2015) continued in Vancouver, Canada. We spoke by Skype with Dr. Carl Dieffenbach, Director of the Division of AIDS at NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to learn about some of the highlights.
Read more: PrEP Feasible for Individuals at High Risk of HIV Infection in U.S.
Welcome, BTAN Charlotte!

Ophelia E. Garmon-Brown, M.D., M.Div., Vice President, Business and Community Partnerships, Novant Health
The latest chapter of the Black Treatment Advocates Network (BTAN) is geared up for success. BTAN Charlotte in North Carolina had its official launch and three-day training July 15-17, 2015, with representatives from partnering organizations, including the Mecklenburg County Health Department, Carolinas Care Partnership, Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Novant Health and BTAN Charlotte's host agency, PowerHouse Project, a drop-in center and safe space for Black and Latino MSM.
In This Issue

Today is World Hepatitis Day. To mark both it and National African American Hepatitis C Action Day, which took place over the weekend, this issue is devoted entirely to ending the epidemic of the hepatitis C virus (HCV).