AIDS Research Alliance
Encyclopedia
AIDS Research Alliance of America (ARAA) is a national community-based non-profit medical research institution that seeks to develop a cure for HIV
/AIDS
, medical strategies to prevent new HIV infections and better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since 1989, ARAA has conducted over 90 clinical and pre-clinical studies, ranging from alternative therapies that employ a complementary approach to HIV care to the first in-human HIV vaccine
trial.
, founded Search Alliance to speed the discovery and development of effective treatments against HIV and its complications.
Working with physicians who were experimenting with potential treatments in their private practices, the organization pooled data and identified promising experimental regimens. The staff designed the studies, coordinated the data collection of Alliance physicians, and analyzed and published the results.
In 1995, Search Alliance changed its name to AIDS Research Alliance of America and centralized all research activities in one licensed facility based in Los Angeles
. This allowed ARAA to identify and manage scientific, clinical and organizational strategies with a staff of dedicated research professionals, while maintaining affiliations with physicians, academics and scientists in research institutions around the world.
In 2009, ARAA relocated from West Hollywood, where it had been located for 14 years, to a larger research facility in downtown Los Angeles.
As a community-based organization, ARAA serves as a bridge between communities at risk of HIV and government funded research. It collaborates with government-sponsored researchers and pharmaceutical companies, but also advocates for and conducts research that is not driven by the demand for profitability. ARAA has been licensed by the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) to develop a drug to combat HIV. Carolyn H. Carlburg, J.D. is the current Chief Executive Officer, and Stephen J. Brown, M.D. is the current Medical Director.
, diarrhea and neuropathy. Developing strategies that will eliminate HIV viral reservoirs has become a major research initiative of ARAA. This includes its work on prostratin
, a potential reservoir ablative agent that ARAA has in-licensed from NIH. In 2008, ARAA filed a new patent on prostratin and its analogues, thus broadening its research platform targeting the HIV reservoirs.
Foundation, and MacHeist
among many others. ARAA is a participating charity in the U.S. Combined Federal Campaign
, and has received high ratings from charity watchdog groups such as the American Institute of Philanthropy
and Charity Navigator
. ARAA hosts a number of fundraising events – including ArtSeen featuring A Taste of Los Angeles and has been a beneficiary of events like Macy’s Passport In-Store, Spinning Nation and the Game Show Congress.
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, medical strategies to prevent new HIV infections and better treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS. Since 1989, ARAA has conducted over 90 clinical and pre-clinical studies, ranging from alternative therapies that employ a complementary approach to HIV care to the first in-human HIV vaccine
HIV vaccine
An HIV vaccine that protects vaccinated individuals from HIV infection is the goal of many HIV research programmes. Currently, there is no effective vaccine against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS...
trial.
History
In 1989, a group of Southern California physicians and philanthropists, led by Paul Joseph Rothman, M.D. and Matthew Rushton, Hollywood film producer of Mrs. DoubtfireMrs. Doubtfire
Mrs. Doubtfire is a 1993 American comedy film starring Robin Williams and Sally Field and based on the novel Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine. It was directed by Chris Columbus and distributed by 20th Century Fox. It won the Academy Award for Best Makeup...
, founded Search Alliance to speed the discovery and development of effective treatments against HIV and its complications.
Working with physicians who were experimenting with potential treatments in their private practices, the organization pooled data and identified promising experimental regimens. The staff designed the studies, coordinated the data collection of Alliance physicians, and analyzed and published the results.
In 1995, Search Alliance changed its name to AIDS Research Alliance of America and centralized all research activities in one licensed facility based in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. This allowed ARAA to identify and manage scientific, clinical and organizational strategies with a staff of dedicated research professionals, while maintaining affiliations with physicians, academics and scientists in research institutions around the world.
In 2009, ARAA relocated from West Hollywood, where it had been located for 14 years, to a larger research facility in downtown Los Angeles.
As a community-based organization, ARAA serves as a bridge between communities at risk of HIV and government funded research. It collaborates with government-sponsored researchers and pharmaceutical companies, but also advocates for and conducts research that is not driven by the demand for profitability. ARAA has been licensed by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
(NIH) to develop a drug to combat HIV. Carolyn H. Carlburg, J.D. is the current Chief Executive Officer, and Stephen J. Brown, M.D. is the current Medical Director.
Research
Today, AIDS Research Alliance of America focuses its research and development program on several core areas, including the clinical trials of anti-HIV drugs that inhibit the virus in novel ways, and new medical strategies – like microbicides and vaccines – that prevent the spread of HIV. ARAA conducts clinical trials aimed at treating the medical disorders that accompany HIV, including HIV-associated lipodystrophyHIV-associated lipodystrophy
HIV-associated lipodystrophy is a condition characterized by loss of subcutaneous fat associated with infection with HIV.-Cause:The exact mechanism of HIV-associated lipodystrophy is not fully elucidated...
, diarrhea and neuropathy. Developing strategies that will eliminate HIV viral reservoirs has become a major research initiative of ARAA. This includes its work on prostratin
Prostratin
Prostratin is a protein kinase C activator found in the bark of the mamala tree of Samoa, Homalanthus nutans . While prostratin was originally isolated and identified as a new phorbol from species of the genus Pimelea in Australia, the antiviral activity of prostratin was discovered during...
, a potential reservoir ablative agent that ARAA has in-licensed from NIH. In 2008, ARAA filed a new patent on prostratin and its analogues, thus broadening its research platform targeting the HIV reservoirs.
Funding
AIDS Research Alliance of America funds its research by using a business model that includes contract research conducted for major pharmaceutical sponsors, as well as tax-deductible donations from private individuals, corporations and foundations. Major funders to ARAA include The Ahmanson Foundation, The MacDonald Family Foundation, The Richard GereRichard Gere
Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
Foundation, and MacHeist
MacHeist
MacHeist is a website that resells Mac OS X shareware. The site has become known for its marketing tactics. These tactics include challenges that entitle successful customers to free software licenses and/or discounts, as well as the concept of selling software in a bundle that increases in size...
among many others. ARAA is a participating charity in the U.S. Combined Federal Campaign
Combined Federal Campaign
The Combined Federal Campaign is a program allowing certain charitable organizations to solicit contributions from employees of the federal government of the United States...
, and has received high ratings from charity watchdog groups such as the American Institute of Philanthropy
American Institute of Philanthropy
The American Institute of Philanthropy is a 501 nonprofit organization, created in the United States by Daniel Borochoff in 1992, to provide information about charities' financial efficiency, accountability, governance, and fundraising. Its official website is known as...
and Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator is an independent, non-profit organization that evaluates American charities. Its stated goal is "to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities."-About:...
. ARAA hosts a number of fundraising events – including ArtSeen featuring A Taste of Los Angeles and has been a beneficiary of events like Macy’s Passport In-Store, Spinning Nation and the Game Show Congress.