Diary Prequel Package — page 236

Hal David, master lyricists and team member with Burt Bacharach. "Mystery" entertainers were B.J. Thomas singing "Raindrops keep falling on my head" and the amazing Dionne Warwick. I helped Dionne a few months ago by referring her friend to a neurologist for MS. We had a pleasant conversation after her performance. May 18, 2010 - Science Management Working Group (SMRG) meeting in Building 31 to discuss the clinical center issues and the proposition to open it to the extramural community in exchange for the inflationary increases being paid for out of the total NIH budget instead of just the IRP budget. Still pending what the decision will be. That night had dinner at Assaggi in Bethesda with Mark Harrington, Gregg Gonsalves and David Barr to discuss the underfunding of PEPFAR and what to do about it. In this regard, big issue looming among the international and national AIDS advocacy community about the POTUS GHI that includes PEPFAR, but funds PEPFAR at almost level instead of the expected increases by the community. POTUS wants to expand GHI beyond just PEPFAR and include, child health, maternal health, women's health, NTDs, etc. Thus, PEPFAR is somewhat competing with others for a limited pot of money. Many African health officials such as Peter Mugyenyi are openly complaining about this and getting agitated. Obama is looking in the eyes of the activists as anti-AIDS, which he is not. However, it is clear that AIDS is not his highest priority. Earlier in the day I appeared on the Diane Rehm show on just this topic of shortfunding of PEPFAR. On with me was Stephen Lewis (former UN envoy at large for HIV and Peter Mugyenyi and Eric Goosby. Lewis as usual was sanctimonious. May 21, 2010 - Waxman's House Energy and Commerce committee want me to testify on May 27 with Craig Venter and others on synthetic biology and the science paper that just came out. White House is balking. I spoke with staffers Naomi Seiler and Steve Cha. Both really want me to testify. May 25, 2010 - Received the Joel A. Toubin Award for Advocacy on Behalf of HIV Infected People from the Whitman Walker Clinic at the Embassy of Sweden at 2900 K street on the Georgetown Waterfront. Amazingly beautiful day. Reception on the rooftop with panoramic views of the Potomac, Watergate, the Key bridge, etc. Check out my speech May 26, 2010 - Met with Francis Collins, Harold Varmus (recently announced as new NCI Director, John Burklow (OC for OD), Kathy Hudson, and Pat White (Leg for NIH OD) regarding the disturbing Administration policy of "muzzling" NIH and other government scientists (see discussions above). Conclusion is that we must strongly suggest to John Holdren (POTUS Science Advisor) that he directly tell the POTUS that scientists, particularly at NIH are being muzzled by the WH and HHS communications people.