A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it
answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.
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May 11, 2011 - Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing for the 2012 NIH budget. Really bad budget times with the feeling that we are doing really well with only a 1.9% increase from 2011 for the PB. Republicans (most Tea Party people) trying to cut discretionary spending back to 2008 level, which would be devastating for NIH. Francis Collins trying to push the NCATS (National Center for Advancing Translational Science). I think this is a big mistake ("everybody wants to be somebody"). This is no time to initiate this, but some of the pols, some in the scientific community who are clueless, and others think this is a good idea. Harold Varmus and I have grave reservations about this (me particularly) since I believe that it will have the unintended consequence of sucking money away from standard NIH research to out into a Center that is Francis's baby. We are already doing $6 Billion in translational research at NIH.
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May 12, 2011 - Big announcement of early stopping of HPTN 052, which is randomized trial among 1763 heterosexual discordant couples to see if immediate treatment with ARVs (350-550 CD4 counts) versus delayed treatment (wait until fall to 250 or AIDSdefining illness) has an effect on transmission. Overwhelming response. 27 infections in delayed arm and 1 transmission in immediate arm (p <0.0001). I held press briefing and got front page in all major papers - NY Times.Wash Post, WSJ; appeared on NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, CNN International, etc.
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May 17, 2011 - The press, scientific, public health and general public interest in the HPTV-052 results in becoming huge. I appeared on New Hour (interviewed alone by Ray Suarez) as well as NBC Today Show. Have done taped interviews with Mark Schoofs that will appear on the Website of WSJ.
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May 18-26, 2011 - Much activity and interest (real buzz) on part of global activists to use the 052 data to pressure the USA (Obama and USAID/PEPFAR) to increase funding and re-prioritize the emphasis on treatment since it is also prevention as well as emphasis those prevention modalities that have been scientifically proven to work such as circumcision (which is now effective at 68% at 40 months into the follow-up study in Rekai, Uganda). I am speaking mre openly on interview about pressing the administration to give more money. Feels like the old days of the beginning of PEPFAR when OMB ridiculed me for asking for so much money and then everything broke lose with PEPFAR. On May 26, I met at the headquarters of the WH Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) with Eric Goosby, Reinhard Schwartzlander (UNIADS), Carl Dieffenbach, Tom Frieden (by phone), Debbie Birx (CDC- GAP Prgram), people for USAID, and State. I made the argument that there is an elephant in the room and that is that we MUST put more resources into treatment since we now know that it is in fact prevention and we will either pay now or pay more later. Eric Goosby was so pleased that I backed what he really wants and needs but since he is a POTUS appointee, he cannot be too up front about. See below his email of May 26, 2011 to me after the meeting: ng and excellent ling" all around. Tony: You achieved what we needed for OMB and State leadership get a feel of the breakthrough and the context of the O52 findings, largely due to your clarity , candor and authenticity... thanks my friend Eric PERSONAL This email is UNCLASSIFIED.
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2011-05-27 00:00
Anthony S. Fauci
May 27, 2011 - Taped interview with the WSJ appeared today . Long and excellent interview.
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May 29, 2011 - My Editorial appeared in the Sunday Opinions Section of the Washington Post entitled "30 Years of AIDS". Many people e-mailed and called about it. Again, the momentum building up about a change in paradigm to support universal voluntary testing and universal access to treatment and care.
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May 31, 2011 - Delivered lecture at NIH on "30 Years of HIV/AIDS: A personal Journey" in Masure Auditorium. It likely was the most widely attended lecture in NIH history. Julie Marquardt ()NIAID) kept track. The attendance completely filled Masur Auditorium (492 people), overflow completely filled Lipsett Auditorium (260) and 1130 people watched on Webcast. In total, 1947 people watched the presentation live, either in person or via webcast.. Incredible amount of attention to the 30th Anniversary. As I have said, the press attention to me and my field varies from intensity to very low levels. This is one of the periods of extreme intensity.
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June 1, 2011 - Took Amtrak to NYC to give Commencement Address at Albert Einstein College of Medicine Commencement at Lincoln Center. Incredibly hot and sunny day in NYC and DC - up to mid-90s. Came back home to find the air conditioning in my house broke - Oy!
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June 2-5, 2011 - Press interest continues. Was on NBC Nightly News on June 5 and Fox Local News as well as Canadian Broadcasting System (CBC) Also, big outbreak of Shiga-Toxin producing E.Coli (STEC) diarrhea and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Germany and other countries in EU related to contamination of bean sprouts. >1600 people affected with ~600 HUS and 22 deaths. Was on BBC with Katty Kay discussing this.