Workshops

Is That a Microbicide in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me?: Advances in HIV Prevention Research and How to Protect Ourselves

Damon L. Humes and Bertram Johnson, The Legacy Project

The last two years have produced significant advances in HIV prevention research with promising results for gay, bi, and trans (GBT) men. HIV vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment as prevention have proven partially effective (31-96%) in preventing sexual transmission of HIV among gay and bisexual men. Be the Generation Bridge Project, a collaboration between the Legacy Project and FHI 360, works with 18 national community partners to foster community discussions aimed at increasing scientific literacy of these modalities for HIV prevention. This stimulating conversation and workshop will address:

• How GBT men share information about condoms and behavioral prevention strategies, and incorporate messages about advances in biomedical prevention.
• What we can do to make our communities aware of and/or involved in HIV prevention research.
• The questions and challenges these research results present for our community.
• How researchers can work with the GBT community to better understand our needs and concerns around the introduction of vaccines, microbicides, PrEP and TaP.

There will be a moderated discussion about the intersections among these emerging prevention strategies, the challenges that community members face discussing research information with their peers, and what needs to happen to be effective in the community. Together, participants and presenters will gain a better understanding of the challenges facing GBT men as they try to understand and incorporate advances in biomedical prevention research into their work. Attendees will receive materials to inform others about HIV prevention research and how to protect their sexual health.