Tag: adolescent girls

Invitation to apply for research funds: 2019 round

We invite researchers in various fields related to sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted viruses to apply for research funds.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Foundation (STIRF) was set up to pump prime research projects relating to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and health care delivery of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the West Midlands, Trent, Yorkshire, Northern and North West regions.

The primary aim is to provide initial funding to allow promising projects from researchers early in their career to obtain preliminary results as a prelude to acquire further funds from larger funding bodies.

We invite applications from researchers in the above regions on projects relating to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. All projects will be initially screened by the Scientific Committee of STIRF and those considered suitable will be sent for peer review by experts in the field.

The following fields of research will be considered in relation to STIs and HIV

  • Epidemiology of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases
  • Research on HPV and other sexually transmissible malignancies
  • Health care delivery including views of clients
  • Issues relating to deprived or marginalised communities.
  • Pathophysiology of diseases and syndromes
  • Inter-relationship between diseases
  • Treatment modalities
  • Complications of treatment and co-morbidities

 

Applications should not exceed £50,000 in the first year. Depending on satisfactory reports a further £25,000 may be available for the second year. Joint funding with other grant giving bodies will be considered.

For further information and guidance on how to apply visit

https://stirf.org/application-for-research-funds-from-stirf/

 

Deadline for applications:  February 29 2019

Applications using the appropriate form downloaded from the STIRF web site should be sent with a short CV of the lead investigator by email to:

Dr Mohsen Shahmanesh, (Hon Secretary STIRF)

Stirfweb@gmail.com

PrEP introduction for adolescent girls and young women

Pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP use in the sexually active females prevents HIV acquisition.

The International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, in July 2016, has renewed interest and momentum around HIV prevention. High and sustained HIV incidence rates—about 2 million people acquiring HIV every year for the past 5 years—highlight the need for new prevention technologies for populations at substantial risk of HIV.1 As many as 7000 new infections a week are occurring in the most vulnerable adolescent girls and young women in eastern and southern Africa.1 75% of young people in sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV are adolescent girls and young women age 15–24 years; AIDS is the leading cause of death for girls age 10–19 years in Africa.1 To date, prevention efforts have not had sufficient effect on risk of HIV in adolescent girls and young women.

Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—the use of antiretroviral medications by HIV-negative people to avoid getting HIV—is a new biomedical intervention that has the potential to substantially reduce HIV acquisition in the people at greatest risk. Recent evidence suggests that PrEP was effective among several populations in reducing the risk of HIV infection by 70%.2 Less is known about the effectiveness of PrEP for young women,2 but the intervention could greatly increase the ability of adolescent girls and young women to protect themselves from HIV if they are able to access and use it effectively.

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