Join Us for the 2nd Annual HIV Cure Research Day on December 14!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kimberly Knight
Kmk0705@ad.unc.edu
Allison Mathews
DURHAM, NC — The Durham County Board of Commissioners and the state of North Carolina will officially proclaim December 14, 2017 as HIV Cure Research Day. This is the second year celebrating the official proclamation of HIV Cure Research Day. Dr. Allison Mathews, founder of the 2BeatHIV project and HIV Cure Research Day, reflected on its importance, “HIV Cure Research Day marks the one year anniversary of the founding of the 2BeatHIV project, which has far reaching impact in North Carolina and across the world. I’m excited and proud to announce that Durham is the first city in the world to proclaim this day.” The purpose of HIV Cure Research Day is to promote community involvement in shaping the future of HIV cure research. To date, one man named Timothy Ray Brown (also known as “The Berline Patient”) has been cured of HIV. Scientists are examining multiple strategies to develop long-lasting therapies to completely eradicate HIV from the body and/or achieve HIV remission.
To celebrate the 2017 proclamation, the 2BeatHIV project will host “HIV Cure Research Proclamation Day” on Thursday, December 14th from 6-8pm at Eastway Elementary School located at 610 N Alston Ave. Durham, NC.
The event will provide a review of the project’s accomplishments and summarized community feedback on the next steps to ensure equity in HIV prevention, treatment, and cure efforts for people affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. There will be community partner vendors with HIV cure educational activities, the revealing of an HIV cure inspired mural, and much more. Additionally, Nasir Jones Harvard Hip Hop Fellow, Dasan Ahanu, will perform his original 2BeatHIV theme song entitled, “Spit for a Cure.” The event will be hosted by K97.5 Radio Personality Autumn Joi, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and DJ Rem.E.
2BeatHIV is a research project at UNC Chapel Hill in the Department of Social Medicine and the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease, and is funded by the NIH NIAID. Dr. Allison Mathews is the founder and director of the project, which has developed partnerships with over 50 community-based organizations, businesses, and community leaders; had over 1000 attendees at its local events; and reached over 350,000 people online. Dr. Mathews has presented her research findings at several universities, regional, national, and international conferences, and was a speaker at TEDxDurham.
Follow @2BeatHIV on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit 2BeatHIV.org for more information.
