HIV treatment update – the final edition

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So here we are – the final edition of HIV treatment update is on its way to subscribers and online at www.aidsmap.com/htu  

Click on these links to get straight to the articles:

Changing to digital

Glossary

cure

To eliminate a disease or a condition in an individual, or to fully restore health. A cure for HIV infection is one of the ultimate long-term goals of research today. It refers to a strategy or strategies that would eliminate HIV from a person’s body, or permanently control the virus and render it unable to cause disease. A ‘sterilising’ cure would completely eliminate the virus. A ‘functional’ cure would suppress HIV viral load, keeping it below the level of detection without the use of ART. The virus would not be eliminated from the body but would be effectively controlled and prevented from causing any illness. 

The kind of features that HTU carried will continue on aidsmap.com. From now on you will be able to read interviews, news summaries and articles that analyse developments in HIV on our website. But we’ve just produced the last issue of HIV treatment update in this form, and as a printed newsletter landing on your doormat or waiting for you at your clinic.

“I am glad that [HTU] will rise, phoenix like, in a web-based form so I will continue to be kept abreast of the latest developments. Give my congratulations to editors and contributors, past and present, for a well produced and informative publication.”

We wish it wasn’t so; but the drastic cuts to voluntary sector HIV funding that have been happening in the last two years, and which have affected NAM as they have other charities, mean we simply can’t afford the cost of a printed newsletter any more – not if it’s at the expense of our core mission to provide information and analysis in the most comprehensive way possible.

“At times HTU has been invaluable to me, has helped me mainly in having informed discussions with medics involved in my care, and leading me to make the right choices for myself.”

Some thank yous… 

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved in HTU over the years. In particular: the writers, editors and designers; our great printers (Cambrian); our faithful review panels who gave us so much of their time; all the people we interviewed and who allowed us to share their stories and opinions; the people and organisations who supported HTU financially, through subscriptions and donations; everyone who sent us feedback; everyone who shared HTU with friends and colleagues; and all of you who took the time to read it.

“I wanted to thank you for the outstanding contribution you have all made in providing accurate information to those living with HIV infection, and equally to all of us in teaching, academic research and patient care who have depended upon HTU for ensuring the competence of our knowledge base. The editors of HTU have been a remarkable and talented group of experts with a friendly, relevant and hopeful style that has informed and reassured for more than two decades all those affected by HIV. The move to the online publication is terrific and is absolutely the right way forward.”

Thank you also to everyone who has been in touch with kind words since we let you know HTU was coming to an end, some of which we have included here. We have been really touched by your messages.

“I know I have been lucky, but I think I am still alive partly due to making the right decisions at the right times, because I had the information to make those choices and have those conversations…[NAM] gave me tools to make those informed choices.”