Berkeley

HIV Research Must Include African American Participants

Published

12 years ago

May 11, 2013

For over a decade, Blacks have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Although they account for over half of new infections each year in the United States, African Americans account for a low percentage of experimental vaccine participants.

According to Dr. Susan Buchbinder, director of Bridge HIV research department at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), the reluctance for people of color and especially African Americans to participate in medical trials is warranted.

May 18 is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), an annual observance that recognizes the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who are working to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine. The day is also about educating communities on the importance of preventive HIV vaccine research. Because, in past situations, there has been misuse and mistreatment of vulnerable populations, including the infamous Tuskegee experiments.

The Tuskegee experiments involved a 40-year clinical study between 1932 and 1972, in which scientists at the Tuskegee Institute and the Public Health Service allowed nearly 400 poor, Black sharecroppers with syphilis to go untreated, even after Penicillin was validated as an effective treatment in 1940.

For some Blacks, distrust of government may be the main barrier, but for others, family responsibilities, health risks and social concerns prevent participation. Fortunately there are better systems of protection built into today’s government sponsored research. Furthermore, no live, dead, or weakened HIV is used in the making of the vaccine. So there is no way a person can become HIV positive by participation.

HIV vaccines teach the body’s immune system to recognize and fight off HIV. The hope is that the vaccines will mimic HIV just enough to train the body on how to fight it off if a person is ever exposed to the disease. A recent study HVTN 505 was halted on April 25. The study began in 2009, testing an investigational prime-boost vaccine regimen developed by The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) through the Vaccine Research Center.

The study was halted after a vaccine regimen could not prevent HIV infection or reduce viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) among vaccine recipients who were infected with HIV. She said it was a failed 2009 study in Thailand that pointed to mechanisms of HIV that were unknown before, and the findings gave them hope, she said.

African Americans must participate in clinical studies, if biological and culturally appropriate conclusions are to be reached. Blacks who volunteer for trials must realize they may be moving science forward to help future African generations. Right now, there’s no vaccine that can prevent someone HIV negative from being infected, but imagine if there were.

An update to discuss the results of HVTN 505 and the future of HIV vaccine research will be held on Wednesday, May 15, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Private Dining Room of the Lake Chalet Seafood Bar& Grill in Oakland at Lake Merritt. The event is free: Interested community members should register online at http://bayareahvad.eventbrite.com/. For more information, contact Nichole Little at bayareashero@yahoo.com.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Bay Area

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

1 week ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.