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July 20 - 28, 2012 - Most amazing week leading up to and during the XIX International

Diary Prequel Package, pp.290-292 · diary_prequel:entry:00779

Page text: p.290, p.291, p.292 · original PDF

Date
2012-07-20 00:00 (day precision)
Type
diary entry · diary
author
Anthony S. Fauci
Topics
Gain-of-function researchMedia strategy and public messagingIntelligence community assessmentsGates Foundation involvementWHO and international investigationBiosafety and biosecurity
July 20 - 28, 2012 - Most amazing week leading up to and during the XIX International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference. 25,000 people attended (largest AIDS meeting in history). I am including as an attachment my schedule for this week and I will comment below on some salient issues. ASF DC 2012 FINAL Schedule - July 27.do Truly amazing. The theme of the meeting was "Turning the Tide Together". I Delivered the Opening Scientific Plenary Lecture on Monday, July 23, the morning after the Opening ceremony (see below). My talk was entitled: "Ending the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: From Scientific Advances to Public Health Implementation". The DC Convention Center main lecture hall was packed with approximately 10,000 people. It was one of the best Plenary Lectures that I have ever given and I have spoken as a main speaker at every one of the 19 IAS meetings. The number of kudos I got regarding my talk was incredible. The amount of press coverage of the event was astounding. Jon Cohen did a feature on me in Science that came out right before the meeting started and everyone was talking about it. It was a story he wrote after spending an entire day with me at NIH. In addition, there were several articles that I wrote (usually with Greg Folkers) that came out right before or during the meeting such as a piece in Health Affairs, JAMA, JAIDS, etc. In a separate piece in Health Affairs, John Donnelly wrote a history of PEPFAR and described my involvement. He also interviewed Mark Dybul and Mark made it seem that he played a greater role at the White House level than he really did although Mark's role behind the scene was incredibly important during the creation of the blueprint for PEPFAR. But, who cares? It was a good article although Gary Edson got pissed off at it when he saw it since he knows exactly how PEPFAR happened. Gary sent me an e-mail saying there were only 2 important people for PEPFAR - me and pres. Bush. There was major Press and very interesting and entertaining social events. A few comments on my Press appearances: CNN with Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room) on July 16 (days before the meeting started) associated with the FDA approval of Truvada for PrEP; Diane Rehm Show on July 24 (day after my Plenary); Op-ed by me in the Washington Post on the last day of the meeting (Friday July 27); MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell on July 27; Bloomberg News on July 24. Also, about 30 appearances on blog videos. Also, multiple radio interviews (CBS, ABC, NPR, etc.) Mentioned in NY Times Editorial the day after the meeting. On Tuesday, July 24, spoke at panel at Washington Post for 1 hour. With regard to the social events, it was amazing. At a ONE -sponsored event at the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center on July 21 (night before the opening of the meeting), I was asked to give a few remarks from the stage concerning an AIDS-Free generation. I paired up with Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren the pastor of Saddleback Church. Others who presented to the audience and whom I interacted with and talked backstage were: Alysia Keyes, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, among many others. Annie Lennox gave a smashing rendition of her classic song "Sweet Dreams". Right before that, I was invited to an Awards Dinner hosted by AMFAR for Bill Gates (I also had a 1-on-1 meeting with Bill on Monday, July 23). At the dinner, I met and chatted with Anderson Cooper, Sharon Stone among others. During the Opening Plenary Session, I led it off, followed by Phill Wilson of Black AIDS Institute, followed by Hillary Clinton. Big deal social event (July 24) that I really enjoyed was reception given by Open Society Foundation and Syringe Access Fund at the Open Society Foundation D.C. Headquarters in honor of Elton John. I had never met Sir Elton, but he specifically requested that I introduce him at the reception together with his partner David Furnish who is Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Got great pictures of Elton and me and he was very moved by my introduction. I had just finished reading his new book :Love is the Cure" focused on how his relationship with Ryan Whyte turned Elton's life around for good as he was at the time an egregious cocaine addict and alcoholic and bulimic. He has been clean for 22 years. Really nice guy who clearly understands what I have done. Signed Letter of Intent with the French (Jean Francois Delfraissy and Yves Levy) for collaboration on a "cure" on Monday, July 23. Parenthetically, the cure people at the meeting were really egregiously promoting their results with "flushing out the virus" (David Margolis from UNC and Steve Deeks from UCSF). Margolis used to be at NIAID and he really in barely mediocre and is using the enthusiasm for a cure as a means to get new money. Their over-exaggeration is really pissing me off. Thursday, July 26 - called to White House by Heidi Avery for a different issue. I am going to NYC for the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) meeting of influenza scientists to discuss the lifting or not of the moratorium on gain-of-function work on transmissibility/pathogenesis of H5N1 (see above). White House, including the POTUS is concerned about a misleading story by Nell Greenfield ll@einstein.yu.edu] 29 PM Boyce of NPR that said that I was going to expedite the lifting of the moratorium at the NYC meeting and the White House is worried that people will react to my "rushing" things. I told Heidi that this was nonsense and that in the NPR interview I meant that I wanted to expedite a conversation among the flu scientists to try to make their case, but they are not the only voice. We need input from the general public, other non-flu scientists, biosecurity and biosafety people and the global community before we again embark on experiments that some in the rest of the world may perceive could endanger them without input from them. Bottom line is that I told Heidi that I was going to recommend to the CEIRS scientists NOT to lift the moratorium. I suggested she tell the WH staff and the POTUS not to worry and that I will not sanction lifting the moratorium, Also on July 26, Pres. Obama held a reception at the White House East Room for HIV/AIDS "players" and stakeholders. I went straight from Heidi's office to the East Room. Obama gave his usual pep talk. Of note, he thanked the usual people (Pelosi, etc.) and also Eric Goosby (clearly deserved it) and Grant Kolfax the new WH AIDS coordinator who has been on the job for a couple of months. The POTUS speechwriter clearly is out of touch since he did not call me out is his speech to the amazement of many in the room. However, as Obama looked around the room as he was talking from notes, he saw me and clearly recognized me, but obviously could not remember my name and so stuttered a bit apart from his notes and thanked "people from NIH for their good work". I do not blame him for forgetting my name but his staff clearly is out of it. Speaking of names, Bush never would have forgotten. Just shows Obama's weak connection to the AIDS issue. But, to his credit, as he walked the "line" shaking hands afterward, he shook my hand and pointed to me saying "nice job". Whatever.... All in all a truly amazing week. Weather was sunny and hot all week. No rain; typical sunny, hot DC week.

Extracted statements

Rule-extracted, not adjudicated. The grade says what may be done with each one; read the document above before relying on any of them.

StatementGradeAttributionStance
A few comments on my Press appearances: CNN with Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room) on July 16 (days before the meeting started) associated with the FDA approval of Truvada for PrEP; Diane Rehm Show on July 24 (day after my Plenary); Op-ed by me in the Washington Post on the last day of the meeting (Friday July 27); MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell on July 27; Bloomberg News on July 24. quoted / not their view quoted_external message body appears to be pasted content asserts
White House, including the POTUS is concerned about a misleading story by Nell Greenfield ll@einstein.yu.edu] 29 PM Boyce of NPR that said that I was going to expedite the lifting of the moratorium at the NYC meeting and the White House is worried that people will react to my "rushing" things. quoted / not their view quoted_external sentence carries quotation marks asserts
Bottom line is that I told Heidi that I was going to recommend to the CEIRS scientists NOT to lift the moratorium. quoted / not their view quoted_external message body appears to be pasted content asserts
I suggested she tell the WH staff and the POTUS not to worry and that I will not sanction lifting the moratorium, Also on July 26, Pres. quoted / not their view quoted_external message body appears to be pasted content asserts

In context

A single line often inverts meaning once you see what it answers, so neighbouring messages are always shown.

  1. 2012-06-28 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    June 28, 2012 - Supreme Court with Chief Justice Roberts pulling an amazing maneuver actually confirms the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, but calls the Individual Mandate a "tax". Everyone thought that he would be the deciding vote against, but he was the deciding vote for the Law. Nonetheless, by calling the mandate a "tax" he makes Obama look bad since Obama has always insisted that it was not a tax.
  2. 2012-06-29 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    June 29, 2012 Had a historic thunderstorm with winds up to 80 to 90 miles an hour on the night of June 29. Major power outages were experienced throughout the area. No major damage to my house but again we have several days and up to a week of power outages. Incredible how PEPCO can let outages go for 1 week. ul play. Many
  3. 2012-07-03 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    July 3, 2012 - Saw "Normal Heart" again at Arena Stage. Wonderful play. Many people in audience recognized me and thanked me for my work.
  4. 2012-07-09 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    July 9-18, 2012 - Went to Martha's Vineyard (MV) for the "Big" meeting of the editorial Board of HPIM-19 with the McGraw-Hill people. Great meeting, great weather. Chris and Megan came for 2 days on July 14-15. Went sailing with Dennis Kasper on his boat on July 14. Great time. Democratic National Committee also has meeting on island. Met and chatted a few times with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Good guy. I know him for years. Left 1 day early. July 18, 2012. Good that I did since at the airport at MV I got a call from CNN that Wolf Blitzer wanted me on the show tonight to discuss the FDA approval of Trivia as Prep I accepted and had a scare since the plane took off late from MV and then circled DCA for 25 minutes before landing. I had intended to go home and change first from my casual clothes to TV clothes. However, there was no time and CNN send limo to airport to pick me up and go directly to CNN studio for the live shot. Had just a few minutes to change into shirt and tie. All went well. Also did WTOP News, local Channel 9 TV, and ABC radio. Looking forward to IAS meeting in DC this coming week.
  5. 2012-07-20 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci
    July 20 - 28, 2012 - Most amazing week leading up to and during the XIX International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference. 25,000 people attended (largest AIDS meeting in history). I am including as an attachment my schedule for this week and I will comment below on some salient issues. ASF DC 2012 FINAL Schedule - July 27.do Truly amazing. The theme of the meeting was "Turning the Tide Together". I Delivered the Opening Scientific Plenary Lecture on Monday, July 23, the morning after the Opening ceremony (see below). My talk was entitled: "Ending the HIV/AIDS Pandemic: From Scientific Advances to Public Health Implementation". The DC Convention Center main lecture hall was packed with approximately 10,000 people. It was one of the best Plenary Lectures that I have ever given and I have spoken as a main speaker at every one of the 19 IAS meetings. The number of kudos I got regarding my talk was incredible. The amount of press coverage of the event was astounding. Jon Cohen did a feature on me in Science that came out right before the meeting started and everyone was talking about it. It was a story he wrote after spending an entire day with me at NIH. In addition, there were several articles that I wrote (usually with Greg Folkers) that came out right before or during the meeting such as a piece in Health Affairs, JAMA, JAIDS, etc. In a separate piece in Health Affairs, John Donnelly wrote a history of PEPFAR and described my involvement. He also interviewed Mark Dybul and Mark made it seem that he played a greater role at the White House level than he really did although Mark's role behind the scene was incredibly important during the creation of the blueprint for PEPFAR. But, who cares? It was a good article although Gary Edson got pissed off at it when he saw it since he knows exactly how PEPFAR happened. Gary sent me an e-mail saying there were only 2 important people for PEPFAR - me and pres. Bush. There was major Press and very interesting and entertaining social events. A few comments on my Press appearances: CNN with Wolf Blitzer (The Situation Room) on July 16 (days before the meeting started) associated with the FDA approval of Truvada for PrEP; Diane Rehm Show on July 24 (day after my Plenary); Op-ed by me in the Washington Post on the last day of the meeting (Friday July 27); MSNBC with Andrea Mitchell on July 27; Bloomberg News on July 24. Also, about 30 appearances on blog videos. Also, multiple radio interviews (CBS, ABC, NPR, etc.) Mentioned in NY Times Editorial the day after the meeting. On Tuesday, July 24, spoke at panel at Washington Post for 1 hour. With regard to the social events, it was amazing. At a ONE -sponsored event at the Eisenhower Theater at the Kennedy Center on July 21 (night before the opening of the meeting), I was asked to give a few remarks from the stage concerning an AIDS-Free generation. I paired up with Kay Warren, wife of Rick Warren the pastor of Saddleback Church. Others who presented to the audience and whom I interacted with and talked backstage were: Alysia Keyes, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, among many others. Annie Lennox gave a smashing rendition of her classic song "Sweet Dreams". Right before that, I was invited to an Awards Dinner hosted by AMFAR for Bill Gates (I also had a 1-on-1 meeting with Bill on Monday, July 23). At the dinner, I met and chatted with Anderson Cooper, Sharon Stone among others. During the Opening Plenary Session, I led it off, followed by Phill Wilson of Black AIDS Institute, followed by Hillary Clinton. Big deal social event (July 24) that I really enjoyed was reception given by Open Society Foundation and Syringe Access Fund at the Open Society Foundation D.C. Headquarters in honor of Elton John. I had never met Sir Elton, but he specifically requested that I introduce him at the reception together with his partner David Furnish who is Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Got great pictures of Elton and me and he was very moved by my introduction. I had just finished reading his new book :Love is the Cure" focused on how his relationship with Ryan Whyte turned Elton's life around for good as he was at the time an egregious cocaine addict and alcoholic and bulimic. He has been clean for 22 years. Really nice guy who clearly understands what I have done. Signed Letter of Intent with the French (Jean Francois Delfraissy and Yves Levy) for collaboration on a "cure" on Monday, July 23. Parenthetically, the cure people at the meeting were really egregiously promoting their results with "flushing out the virus" (David Margolis from UNC and Steve Deeks from UCSF). Margolis used to be at NIAID and he really in barely mediocre and is using the enthusiasm for a cure as a means to get new money. Their over-exaggeration is really pissing me off. Thursday, July 26 - called to White House by Heidi Avery for a different issue. I am going to NYC for the Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) meeting of influenza scientists to discuss the lifting or not of the moratorium on gain-of-function work on transmissibility/pathogenesis of H5N1 (see above). White House, including the POTUS is concerned about a misleading story by Nell Greenfield ll@einstein.yu.edu] 29 PM Boyce of NPR that said that I was going to expedite the lifting of the moratorium at the NYC meeting and the White House is worried that people will react to my "rushing" things. I told Heidi that this was nonsense and that in the NPR interview I meant that I wanted to expedite a conversation among the flu scientists to try to make their case, but they are not the only voice. We need input from the general public, other non-flu scientists, biosecurity and biosafety people and the global community before we again embark on experiments that some in the rest of the world may perceive could endanger them without input from them. Bottom line is that I told Heidi that I was going to recommend to the CEIRS scientists NOT to lift the moratorium. I suggested she tell the WH staff and the POTUS not to worry and that I will not sanction lifting the moratorium, Also on July 26, Pres. Obama held a reception at the White House East Room for HIV/AIDS "players" and stakeholders. I went straight from Heidi's office to the East Room. Obama gave his usual pep talk. Of note, he thanked the usual people (Pelosi, etc.) and also Eric Goosby (clearly deserved it) and Grant Kolfax the new WH AIDS coordinator who has been on the job for a couple of months. The POTUS speechwriter clearly is out of touch since he did not call me out is his speech to the amazement of many in the room. However, as Obama looked around the room as he was talking from notes, he saw me and clearly recognized me, but obviously could not remember my name and so stuttered a bit apart from his notes and thanked "people from NIH for their good work". I do not blame him for forgetting my name but his staff clearly is out of it. Speaking of names, Bush never would have forgotten. Just shows Obama's weak connection to the AIDS issue. But, to his credit, as he walked the "line" shaking hands afterward, he shook my hand and pointed to me saying "nice job". Whatever.... All in all a truly amazing week. Weather was sunny and hot all week. No rain; typical sunny, hot DC week.
  6. 2012-07-31 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    July 31, 2012 - Controversy continues regarding CEIRS investigators and the "moratorium" on H5N1 research (see immediately above meeting with Heidi Avery). I went to NYC to the Marquis Marriott Hotel on 46th and Broadway to address the investigators of the CEIRS (Centers of Excellence on Influenza research and Surveillance). We opened it to the Press and NPR (Nell Greenfield Boyce) and Science and Nature were there. I insisted that my presentation (25 minutes) be fully recorded as with the Qs and As so that there would be no misquotes. I made a firm argument for continuing the moratorium. The usual people opposed it such at Ron Fouchier, Danny Perez, Peter Palese; however they respected my opinion. They still do not "get it' and think with all the public furor that they can just go on and do these DURC experiment without full public by-in and comment. See my written remarks file for July 31, 2012. Also, I got great kudos from many investigators (see Arturo Casadevall's e-mail below). Also, great stories in NPR radio the next AM (Aug. 1) and in various blogs and Science, Nature, etc.
  7. 2012-08-31 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    August 31, 2012 - Slow month of August in D.C. Summer. On Aug. 8, 2012 did a "Science in the Cinema" performance at the AFI Theater in Silver Spring with Ian Lipkin for the movie "Contagion". Fun being with Ian. Always a character. Problem over past 2 weeks with the PR associated with Klebsiella pneumonia - carbapenam-resistant organism (KPC) in the NIH Clinical Center. The Clinical Center (CC) and NHGRI people published a paper in Science Translational Medicine on the genetic analysis by deep sequencing of a KPC the originated from an index case in the CC and then infected spread by people or fomites to 17 other people in the CC - 11 deaths - 6 from KPC bacteremia. The PR people at CC did not handle it well. They got so absorbed in the science of the paper that they did not realize that the community reaction would be "Why did not anyone tell us about this outbreak - even though there was no actionable information here since the organism does not bother healthy people and the man-on-Wisconsin Avenue is at no risk. Aug 15 to 25, I had bad URI with fever and malaise that took 2 weeks to resolve. Over the past few weeks, I have become enamored/obsessed with the Washington Nations baseball team. I feel like I felt when I was 12 years old and knew the batting averages of all of the N.Y. Yankees. The Nats are 7 1⁄2 games in first place and they have the best pitching staff in baseball - Steve Strasburg, Gio Gonzales, Jordan Zimmerman, Ross Detwiler, Erwin Rodriguez. There hitters are amazing. Bryce Harper (19 years old) is pounding the ball and he runs and throws and fields like Mickey Mantle. Also, Jason Werth, Adam La Roche, Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Ian Desmond, Danny Espinoza - all very good hitters.
  8. 2012-09-07 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept. 7, 2012 - As part of the kick-off of the "Celebration of Science" weekend here in D.C. and at NIH sponsored by Michael Milken, I was on a 2 man panel run by Greg Simon, formerly of Faster Cures". The panel (filmed for TV) was on the science and real world of HIV/AIDS. My co-panelist was Magic Johnson. It was a fun experience. He is a wonderful guy with an amazingly infectious smile. He commented to the audience during the panel that he wanted to go on a "road show" with me since I explain "stuff" so well. He said that I "...really get it and can speak to the common man". We spoke about basketball and baseball. We spoke about our children. His son is at NYU, and loves NYC as do Jenny and Megan. He has another son who works for him in his Company/Foundation. His daughter is a High School student in L.A. He is part-owner of the L.A. Dodgers and we spoke about how good the Washington Nationals are this year (see above).
  9. 2012-09-08 00:00 Anthony S. Fauci open
    Sept 8-12, 2012 - The past few days have been very intense, but exciting. Following the Celebration of Science meeting in Washington DC, I immediately went up to Boston to deliver the opening plenary lecture at the 2012 AIDS vaccine meeting. It was extremely well received. Following my talk Gov. Deval Patrick got up and welcomed the audience to Boston and made the comment that it was an honor to be on the same stage with Dr. Tony Fauci and the thanked me for my service to the country. Over the past few days that has been continued activity concerning the dual use research of concern issue particularly regarding highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus. I had a conversation with Heidi Avery of the National Security Staff on September 12 during which she encouraged me to continue to try and find the right balance between safety and security as well as the benefits of doing such research. Heidi has always been a very good friend to me and she informs me that she will be leaving the national security staff to go back to her major post at the CIA. We have a major meeting coming up in December, 2012 to discuss the moratorium on H5N1 research. This should be an important meeting to set general principles of the types of research that should or should not be done. I have really enjoyed working with Heidi over the past few years.

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