Saturday, April 2, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Celebrity Doodles

Thursday April 14, 2011

"Dinner at My Place"

 "Dinner at My Place" is an array of privately hosted parties, each individually and smartly planned.  Scrumptious food, drink, and fun conversation, in addition to appealing themes and sometimes even celebrities and entertainers will greet each guest.  Click here for more information on this unique and fun way to support D.A.P. (jl)

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There are special events happening in the Community Center each week.  This week's featured event is listed below.   For an in depth view of other events, just click GO.

Tuesday, March 15, Noon - 1:00 PM

Community Center Presents -

UNDERSTANDING ADHERENCE & RESISTANCE

Please join us in the D.A.P. Community Center for this luncheon and presentation on the importance of adherence and the possible negative outcomes for lack thereof.  Lunch will be served at 11:45 courtesy of Gilead. Please RSVP to Ed at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or escarry@desertaidsproject.org.  Stay in control!

There are also recurring Community Center activities each week including:

• Friday Night Bingo
• Reconnective Energy Healing
• Steve Chase Ticket Raffle
• Pozitively Positive
• Spiritual Living 101  
• Hepatitis C Therapy Education
• Chair Massage
• Diabetes Educatiion
• Community Center Computer Lab
• Lending Library  

Every Thursday, 1:00 PM 

Community Center Presents - LET'S ALL GO TO THE MOVIES

Please join us in the D.A.P. Community Center for movie screenings every Thursday starting at 1:00 PM.  Free pizza, salad, sweets, and drinks provided. 

March 17 - SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (2008)

 A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

 To see the Community Services Wing calendar of support groups and events. GO  

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Tool Shed Erotic Art Expo and silent auction yields $5000 for testing

Tool Shed Erotic Art Expo organizers present $5000 check to Sue Knollenberg of D.A.P. (l -r) Dennis, Chris, Sue, and Dane

Desert AIDS Project would like to extend a special thank you to Chris Rees and the staff at The Tool Shed for sponsoring the 9th Annual Erotic Art Expo and silent auction.  This popular annual event which ran February 3 - 14, 2011 resulted in a $5000 donation for Desert AIDS Project's free and confidential HIV testing. (jl)

CROI 2011 - 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections

Over 4,000 leading researchers and clinicians from around the world convened in Boston, Massachusetts from February 27 through March 2, 2011 for the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). CROI is a scientifically focused meeting of the world's leading researchers working to understand, prevent, and treat HIV/AIDS and its complications. The goal of CROI is to provide a forum for translating laboratory and clinical research into progress against the AIDS epidemic. TheBody.com provides comprehensive coverage of the important studies and new developments in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS that were presented at CROI.  Click here to see the latest information including these highlights:

CROI 2011 Wrap-up: Taking research into practice 

Update on neurological complications among people with HIV 

Promising new gene therapy for HIV immunity  

FDA report suggests Abacavir may not increase myocardial infarction after all 

AIIDSmap.com has also provided comprehensive coverage of CROI.  Visit their website for more information on CROI. (jl)

Rectal gel may help ward off HIV 

Preliminary research suggests that an HIV-fighting gel has the potential to become another weapon in the fight against AIDS when applied to the rectum before anal intercourse.  This is the first time scientists have found evidence that people would tolerate using a gel form of the commonly used AIDS drug tenofovir (Viread) in the rectum. However, there are caveats. The volunteers who tried the gel weren't exposed to HIV and they didn't like the treatment very much. There were side effects in some people, and there's still more research needed to figure out whether the treatment is ready for release to the public. GO (jl)

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The Hepatitis C Treatment Pipeline Report

FDA approval of two hepatitis C-specific protease inhibitors, the first of the coming wave of oral antiviral drugs, is anticipated later this year.  Dozens of drugs are in development to fight hepatitis C virus (HCV).  Treatment Action Group (TAG) has prepared the 2011 Hepatitis C Treatment Pipeline Report, an overview of drugs in clinical trials. The Pipeline covers a range of issues, including diagnostics, drug resistance,  access to, and delivery of treatment, and population-specific focus on the new HCV drugs, as well as TAG's research recommendations. (jl)

Options for help in paying for HIV drugs

While we don't currently have ADAP waiting lists here in California, many states already do.  Even without waiting lists, patients who don't qualify for ADAP may have trouble paying for HIV meds.  The LA Times recently ran an article outlining alternatives, besides ADAP, that are available to patients who need help paying for HIV drugs.  These include various patient assistance programs and information about several websites that offer financial assistance.  Click here to see the full article.  (jl)

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"I think that we are prepared to fight back like never before.  This is not just a labor issue but it is a student's rights and civil rights issue ... if we let this trend continue then what will happen next? ... This will not stand. This is not what people expected coming out of the November elections."

- Lee Saunders, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Secretary-Treasurer, speaking about the Wisconsin's passage of a bill removing collective bargaining rights for public employees.