A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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Sept. 19, 2007 - Over the past few days, literally hundreds of e-mails and letters coming in regarding Lasker Award from friends, colleagues, people I knew years ago such as nurses from H-4 ward at NY Hospital, White house people, congressmen, etc. Today had meeting at White House (EEOB-428) run by NSC (Mike Falan) and HSC (Rajeev Venkayya) to discuss updating and broadening the vision of the NSC/HSC TB White Paper that we (NIAID) had contributed to a couple of months ago when we introduced our Research Agenda for MDR/XDR-TB. Beautiful Fall day (crisp and sunny). Meeting from 9:00 to 11:00 AM followed by briefing from Tachi Yamada (Gates Foundation) who came from Seattle to present to us (USG) out of courtesy the new $282 million Gates TB initiative. In preparation for this I alerted Rajeev that we really needed to coordinate the many USG activities on TB and present it in a vision format so that the POTUS could claim the legacy of having addressed AIDS (PEPFAR), malaria (President's Malaria Initiative - PMI) and now TB. It would be the 3rd leg in the stool of his Global Diplomacy program. Rajeev agreed - unfortunately, he will be leaving government on Sept. 26. It was great working with him over the past few years. His background is that he trained as an MD at Michigan and was actually Chief Medical Resident when Tachi was Chairman of Medicine at Michigan. In any event, we will update and sharpen our USG White Paper.
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Sept. 20, 2007 - Another great crisp Fall day. Heard real bad news regarding the Merck AIDS vaccine trial 502 in which adenovector HIV was immunogen. Study done mostly on gay men and phase 2b was looked at by DSMB on usual periodic look. Trial closed for "futility" in that the data showed that more people got infected in vaccinate group versus unvaccinated group (19 vs 11 - not significant, but highly suggestive). Also, viral set point exactly same in infected people who were vaccinated versus those that were not. Trail stopped - press releases imminent. It is going to be a hot time. People will focus on whether we should proceed with the Phase IIb of PAVE 100 (Gary Nabel's VRC trial). The latter also was a adeno vector, but is different in 3 ways: 1) it has a DNA prime; 2) it has envelope; 3) it is done also in heterosexuals. More to come. Went to Gate-sponsored dinner at Le Paradou Restaurant at 678 Indiana Avenue, NW in honor of retiring President of Botswana Festus Mogae. I had met the President in 2002 when I went to Africa with Tommy Thompson in 2002 to develop PEPFAR. At the dinner were: Todd Summer and Cheryl Scott (Gates), Jeff Struchio (Merck), Bobby Pittman (NSC Director of African Affairs), Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Tommy Thompson, Max Essex (Harvard School of Public Health), Ambassador John Lange (former Amb to Botswana), Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Nice evening. I commiserated with TGT about his failed attempt at Republican nomination for President. Nice conversations with Nita Lowey about Iraq (Democrat viewpoint), and warm conversation with Mogae regarding my work on AIDS.
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Sept. 25, 2007 - Was panelist at Science Magazine's annual retreat of their staff at their headquarters in Washington, DC. Chaired by Editor Don Kennedy. Lively discussion about the future of science and biomedical research. DSMB discontinues trial of Merck HIV vaccine based on Adenovirus vector. Possible that vaccine actually made things worse. Big setback for HIV vaccinology.
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Sept. 26, 2007 - Farewell reception at White House for Rajeev Venkayya (Deputy Director - Homeland security Council). I have worked closely with Rajeev for 5 years on Biodefense. He rose from WH intern to deputy Director in 5 years. He is someone to watch; good guy; physician trained at U of Michigan and UCSF. Usual cast of WH people, i.e. Fran Townsend, etc.
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2007-09-27 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
Sept. 27 - 28, 2007 - Glorious 2 days in NYC for the Lasker Awards. Dinner on night of Sept. 27 at La Grenouille (Mary Lasker's favorite restaurant). Lasker Lunch at Pierre Hotel on Sept. 28. Ralph Steinman received Basic Science Lasker; Alan Carpentier and Albert Starr (Starr-Edwards heart valve) received the Clinical Lasker; and I received the Public Service Lasker. On Friday, Sept. 28, the Washington Post did a very large piece on me called "The Honored Doctor" talking about the Lasker, the National Medal of Science, the Kober Medal and other honors. I have received literally several hundred letters and e-mails and greeting in person related to the Lasker and the Post article. With me in NYC were Chris, Ali and Jenny. Megan had to stay on Chicago with "City Year".
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Oct. 4 - 5, 2007 - Went to Aspen for the World Biomedical Forum. Gave 4 to 5 talks on AIDS, Pandemic Flu, Emerging infections, etc. Again, usual cast of notables there. Very nice time. Weather in Aspen and DC has been spectacular for past couple of weeks. Sunny, Warm and no rain.
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Oct. 11, 2007 - Featured speaker at a Global Health Symposium at the Italian Embassy on Whitehaven Street in DC. Spoke on "HIV/AIDS in 2007: Much Accomplished, Much To Do". Much congratulatory activity by the Italians related to the Lasker and the Post article.
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Oct. 12, 2007 - Dinner at the Café Milano in association with the national Italian American Foundation (NIAF) dinner the following night (Oct. 13). Franco Luschese found me a prime seat. The whole restaurant was for the NIAF dinner. I sat next to Jerry Vale. So many people who I knew from other such meetings were there: Yogi Berra, Tony LoBianco, Dion (and the Belmonts), Nancy Pelosi, etc. etc. Great meal; nice time.
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Oct. 13, 2007 - Took Ali to the Annual NIAF Gala at the Hilton. She loved it since she wanted to meet Nancy Pelosi and Ellen Pompeio (star of TV's Grey's Anatomy). She got to meet and take picture of both. Usual glitterati were there: Antonin Scalia and Sam Alito; Nancy Pelosi; Yogi Berra; Dion; Jerry Vale; George Tenet (I wanted to connect with him, but we did not cross each other); Connie Stevens; Pater Pace; etc. etc.