On Thursday, October 26th, 2023, SisterLove and Emory University's ERASE HIV research lab took a significant step forward in the fight to find a cure for HIV.
This partnership aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and the communities most affected by HIV. SisteLove’s Founder and President, Dázon Dixon Diallo, joined our Community-Based Research Program (CBRP) team members Program Manager Dr. Nadine Spring and Community Research Coordinator Parie Bhandari. Emory's ERASE HIV team consisted of, Deanna Kulpa, Mirko Paiardini, and Barbara Cervasi were present., while Dázon Dixon Diallo and Deanna Kulpa joined remotely.
The meeting focused on the crucial role of community involvement in HIV research and how to innovate the connection between science and community. Some of the key initiatives we discussed for the next phase of our project involve using the power of media and the arts to communicate the unique experiences of those living with HIV. This focus was the thought behind our ongoing STAGES: Artists Who Live with HIV artists’ showcase.
We also discussed with them the essential importance of sharing information in the forums and spaces where those living with HIV they are most comfortable. SisterLove and the ERASE HIV research lab are committed to exploring innovative ways to host an inclusive and accessible dialog between public health researchers and our communities on meaningful issues like progress in HIV cure research, confronting stigma and myths around living with HIV, and the importance of involving the people who are most significantly affected by HIV in public health initiatives and research.
Our collaboration with Emory University's ERASE HIV lab is already making a profound impact in the quest for an HIV cure and improving the quality of life of those affected by HIV. By combining scientific expertise with a focus on centering the voices and lived experiences of the community, we are helping HIV-cure researchers accelerate progress, build trust, and reduce stigma and misconceptions.
While the science of HIV cure research may take place in a laboratory, you can take part in this groundbreaking effort. To get involved, Support Our community-based HIV cure research or Learn More about our Community-Based Research Program (CBRP) upcoming initiatives.
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