Oct. 10, 2000

Current HIV and AIDS treatment, research, clinical trials and outreach programs offered by UCSD will be discussed at a free HIV/AIDS Community Forum scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 in the Garren Auditorium of the Basic Science Building on the UCSD campus in La Jolla. An overview for the general public with an opportunity for questions and answers will be provided. Free parking and shuttle services will be available.

More than 384,000 Americans are living in all stages of HIV disease. Worldwide, there are 18,000 new infections each day, and, in San Diego, an estimated 14,000 men, women and children are infected with the virus.

UCSD researchers and health care providers note that despite tremendous medical advances in the treatment of AIDS, challenges remain. Many patients have trouble adhering to the grueling lifelong therapy, while others develop resistance to available treatments. Many individuals suffer life-restricting drug side effects, and some patients are not helped by current therapies for brain-related problems.

Douglas Richman, M.D., director of UCSD’s AIDS Research Institute, notes that the university has a large number of researchers and clinicians addressing these and other challenges. The UCSD HIV/AIDS program, which is ranked in the nation's top 10 AIDS programs in the United States by U.S. News and World Report, includes:

• The Owen Clinic, providing primary health care services;
• The UCSD Treatment Center, for patient clinical trials and educational programs;
• The UCSD Mother, Child and Adolescent Program, for care, psychosocial services and clinical trials;
• The HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center (HNRC), which investigates the causes, effects and treatments of HIV associated brain disorders;
• UCSD/UT Southwestern Program in Acute and Early HIV Infection; and
• Numerous projects investigating important areas of HIV virology and pathogenesis.

Speakers at the Oct. 20 forum include Richman; Igor Grant, M.D., director, HNRC; Diane Havlir, M.D., director, UCSD Treatment Center; and Chris Mathews, M.D., director, Owen Clinic.