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MBI3519 Impact Winter05.Indd IMA NEWSLETTER OF THE MACFARLANEP BURNET INSTITUTEA FOR MEDICAL RESEARCHC AND PUBLIC HEALTHT | WINTER 2005 LIVING WITH AIDS Improving quality of life HARM REDUCTION What is it really about? MOZAMBIQUE Fighting the stigma and the spread of HIV www.burnet.edu.au FEATURES DIRECTOR’S REPORT 3 Living with HIV Burnet scientists are working hard to It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the fi rst issue of discover ways to reduce Impact, the new-look newsletter of the Burnet Institute. the side-effects of antiretroviral drugs. This newsletter combines the two publications, Victory over Viruses and Incite, previously produced by the Institute. 4 Mozambique By combining these newsletters, not only will we save on Burnet’s program in production and printing costs, but we are now able to provide Mozambique is working you with more information about the progress of our research with sex workers to and national and international public health programs. help fi ght stigma and the spread of HIV. It was a challenge to come up with a title that refl ected the broad scope of the work of Burnet, but when we looked at the 7 Harm reduction: range of programs that the Institute is involved in, and the saying it like it is impact that our work is making around the world, then the Often shadowed by choice became clear. controversy, harm reduction recognises the Burnet is making an impact in many ways, whether it is through the reality of drug use, but what outcomes of the world-class research undertaken at the Institute, is it really about? or through our fi eld programs that operate in Australia and in many resource-poor communities of our region and in Africa. REGULARS 6 News in Brief Burnet now has permanent staff in nine countries, with programs reaching into more than 30; and research projects 8 Words from around that range from basic virology through to development of the world vaccines for some of the world’s worst infectious diseases. Updates from Burnet’s work in India, Laos The work of Burnet is recognised around the world for its and Myanmar. innovation and excellence; a refl ection of the dedication and passion of the many scientists and public health professionals 9 Talking Heads at the Institute who work in the knowledge that they are making Associate Professor Mike a difference in reducing the devastating affect of infectious Toole, Head of the Centre diseases in many communities. for International Health. I trust you enjoy reading about the good work of the Institute and 10 Working Partnerships thank you for your support in helping us to continue to make an impact on global health in so many ways. 11 Events 11 Staff Spotlight Peter Higgs from the Centre for Epidemiology and Population Professor Steve Wesselingh, Director Health Research. INSIDE IMPACT is the newsletter GPO Box 2284 Photography: Where possible people that this newsletter are of the Macfarlane Burnet Melbourne Australia 3001 Ben Coghlan, Johnson Mak, appear in images included oversubscribed, excess funds Institute for Medical Research Tel + 61 3 9282 2111 Lisa Morris, Jimmy Dorabjee, in this newsletter were will be allocated to projects and Public Health Ltd Fax + 61 3 9282 2100 Chad Hughes, Joanna Hayter, photographed with their of a similar nature at the (Burnet Institute) Email: [email protected] Peter Higgs, Beverley Snell, permission. There is no discretion of the Director ABN 49 007 349 984 www.burnet.edu.au Plan Australia. implication that these people of the Burnet Institute. 85 Commercial Road All donations to the Burnet have any infectious diseases. Contributors will be notifi ed of Melbourne Australia 3004 Institute over $2 are tax Where special purpose the specifi c project that funds 2 deductible appeals included in are redirected to. The development of antiretroviral drugs has meant that life expectancy for people on treatment for HIV infection has signifi cantly increased. However, there are often side effects that can result in a reduced quality of life for those people on long-term treatment. Burnet scientists are unlocking the mysteries of how these drugs interact with cells, with the aim of improving the quality of life for many living with HIV. well with HIV eople who become infected with Project Leader, Dr Kate Cherry said that pervaded the early years of the PHIV still remain infected for life; anecdotal reports suggest that it may AIDS epidemic has slowly subsided, although the development of combination be possible to prevent many toxic side but the number of people affected by therapies that use several different effects with the use of safe, vitamin- HIV continues to rise. Today, there are drugs simultaneously to attack the like substances (micronutrients) that 23,000 Australians living with HIV, virus, has meant that people with HIV help the mitochondria function more about 9,000 of whom have AIDS. can now expect to live for many years, effectively. “Using the tests we have “Ironically, the improved outlook for albeit with the problems associated developed to measure the effects of HIV HIV infected people and the reduced with living with a chronic illness. treatments on mitochondria, we are fear of infection in the community The benefi ts of medication for people living with HIV however, often come with signifi cant costs in terms of quality “New infections are still occurring, especially of life. Although access to highly-active amongst men who have sex with men, with more antiretroviral treatments (HAART) have prolonged the life expectancy of than 700 new infections in 2003,” Dr Cherry said. people living with HIV, their quality of life can be severely impaired by now assessing whether micronutrients appears to have been associated with disfi guring changes in body shape from are effective in preventing drug toxicity an increase in risky sexual practices. fat redistribution, and painful feet and at a cellular level,” Dr Cherry said. New infections are still occurring, legs from nerve damage that is a common The aim of this pilot project is especially amongst men who have sex side-effect of some drugs. These long-term to demonstrate that the concept of with men, with more than 700 new drug toxicities can lead to some patients micronutrient treatment is biologically infections in 2003,” Dr Cherry said. stopping effective HIV treatments, so plausible and has potential for further The increased availability of there is an urgent need to develop safer investigation in patients. Burnet effective drug treatments for people ways of using effective HIV therapies. scientists aim to use a successful living with HIV means that more Preliminary work undertaken by outcome from this laboratory work people will be likely to suffer from Burnet scientists has shown that toxic as the basis for a controlled clinical the side effects of these drugs. effects of some HIV therapies can be trial of micronutrients in patients “People are living longer with HIV measured at a cellular level. Research taking combination HIV therapy. infection. Finding safer ways to use the has shown that measurable negative With an estimated 40 million people available, effective HIV therapies will effects on the mitochondria (the power infected with HIV worldwide, the reduce the accumulation of serious side house of the cell) occurs in some ability to reduce the toxic side effects effects and provide great patients taking antiretroviral drugs. of antiretroviral drugs has global benefi ts to many, Burnet Institute scientist and signifi cance. In Australia, the panic many people.” > Electron microscopic view of HIV. 3 From one small outreach project in the city of Chimoio, Burnet’s program in Mozambique has grown to now support four HIV-focused organisations across the country. Our Mozambique program has grown rapidly since 2000 with Burnet offi ces offi cially opening in Maputo and Chimoio in 2004 and 2005. mozambique n 2004, the Australian Partnerships end of 2003, adult prevalence of HIV also includes: support with African Communities Program in Mozambique was 13.6 per cent, for advocacy campaigns; I(APAC) was offi cially launched by the with approximately 1.5 million adults behavioural research; Australian Government’s international and children living with HIV. The and the creation of a aid agency, AusAID, The goal of this majority of new HIV infections in sex worker network to program is to contribute to poverty Mozambique are occurring among young address issues of violence reduction and achievement of sustainable people – those under 29 years old. against women. development in targeted countries in Two major forces have infl uenced the One of Burnet’s key southern and eastern Africa. Through spread of HIV to Mozambique – war partners is Organizacao a joint APAC submission with Plan and commercial transport corridors. da Mulher Educadora Australia, Burnet received funding After gaining independence in 1975, a do SIDA (OMES) to continue and expand its work in 15 year civil war ravaged Mozambique or the Organisation of Women AIDS Mozambique. Burnet’s program is creating nearly six million refugees Educators. OMES works specifi cally focused on strengthening the capacity and internally displaced persons. with sex workers but also with of local civil society organisations The crippling civil war cut transport communities to increase awareness of to respond to HIV and AIDS with routes within Mozambique. This meant HIV and AIDS. OMES celebrated prevention, care and support services. that when the war ended, refugees and its 10th anniversary last November. Mozambique has a complex history and displaced persons fl ooded back from Joana Wache Siahamba has been the certain events made the HIV explosion high HIV prevalence neighbouring coordinator of OMES since its beginning inevitable. Initially, Mozambique countries. At the same time, other in 1994.
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