News — PHILADELPHIA—(October 20, 2022)—William Way Community Center, philadelphia cream STRUGGLE, TO BEAT–HIV Delaney Collaborative, Philadelphia Foundation, The Penn Center for AIDS To researchand The Wistar Institute are proud to announce that “The London Patient” Adam Castillejo will participate in a reception, followed by a round table and Questions and answers on Wednesday October 26 of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the William Way Community Center.
Castillejo is the second person known to be cured of HIV when his body became resistant to HIV infection after receiving a bone marrow transplant. In his case, the transplant was to treat Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Timothy Ray Brown, known as the “Berlin patient”, was the first person cured of HIV with a stem cell transplant, similar to Castillejo. Brown died in 2020 from a recurrence of cancer, and Castillejo revealed his identity that year so he could be an ‘ambassador of hope’ to inspire others living with it. HIV.
Castillejo is an English-Venezuelan who has lived in London since 2000. In 2003 he was diagnosed with HIV. From then on, he chose a life of health – exercising, eating well and becoming a chef. In 2011, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. After intense monitoring, many ups and downs in treatments, and intensive preparation, Castillejo received the stem cell transplant that cured him of HIV in London in 2016. After this treatment, his body became resistant to HIV the infection, and he subsequently stopped HIV medicines in 2017. Since 2020, he is international champion of HIV to research. His presentation in Philadelphia is the last leg of his international tour before returning home to London, UK.
“More than 30 years ago, when the AIDS pandemic began, many of us thought we would not live to this day — to hear of someone being cured. But here we are. said William B. Carter, TO BEAT–HIV Chair of the Delaney Collaborative Community Advisory Board. “Sharing Mr. Castillejo’s story shows the importance for researchers to work with the community to develop a cure.”
“Adam is a pillar of strength and inspiration and a testament to what HIV healing research can do. By sharing his story, he amplifies attention to this critical need in biomedicine and highlights the impact science can have,” said Luis J. Montaner, DVM., D.Phil.Herbert Kean, MD, family teacher, head of HIV Research Program at the Wistar Institute, and Co-Principal Investigator of the TO BEAT–HIV Collaborative Delaney. “Adam represents and champions what we are all working towards, a cure for HIV during our lifetime.
To register for the event: https://redcap.med.upenn.edu/surveys/?s=FXW4TWKFRLJAKXLK
Editor’s note: For more information or to cover the event, contact Darien Sutton at 215-870-2048 or [email protected].
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The Wistar Institute, the first independent, not-for-profit biomedical research institute in the United States, brings together the talents of an international team of outstanding scientists through a highly enabled culture of biomedical collaboration and innovation, to solve some of the problems the world’s most challenging and important in cancer, immunology and infectious disease, and to produce groundbreaking advances in global health. In keeping with a pioneering heritage of leadership in nonprofit biomedical research and a track record of vital contributions in immunology and cell biology, Wistar scientists pursue innovative and courageous research pathways toward life science discovery and to accelerate the impact of the first scenic discoveries by shortening the path from the bench to the bedside. Wistar.org
TO BEAT–HIV Delaney Collaboratory is part of an international consortium of more than 80 HIV researchers from academia, industry, government, and not-for-profit sectors working at a HIV cure. The Collaboratory is conducting three advanced trials to define effective ways to combine immunotherapy regimens towards a cure. TO BEAT–HIV.org
philadelphia cream STRUGGLE is a federally licensed health center (FQHC) offer HIV treatment and primary care for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk, as well as community education and awareness programs on HIV, hepatitis and other topics with an impact on public health. During the covid-19 pandemic, STRUGGLE provided no barriers, direct access covid testing more than 13,000 people in low-income neighborhoods across Philadelphia, and partnering with ten community organizations to bring covid vaccines to these communities.
The Philadelphia Foundation, founded in 1918, strengthens the economic, social and civic vitality of Greater Philadelphia. It develops effective philanthropic investments, connects individuals and institutions across sectors and geography, and advances civic initiatives through partnerships and collaboration. A state-supported foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation administers more than 1,000 charitable funds created by its donors and awards more than 1,000 grants and scholarships each year. To find out more visit www.philafound.org.
The William Way Community Center seeks to engage and support diversity LGBTQIA+ communities in the greater Philadelphia area through the arts & culture, empowerment and community connections. The Center wants it all LGBTQIA+ people feel safe, connected and empowered. We strive to be a community center whose staff, management and board of directors reflect the vibrant and diverse communities we serve. In these difficult times, the William Way LGBT The community center, and what it stands for, has evolved to meet the needs of the diverse people it serves.
The Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR) is one of 18 NIH-finance CFARs and understands HIV and AIDS researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Wistar Institute. The mission is to support and advance research in all areas of HIV/AIDS on the Penn/CHOP/Campus Wistar through campus, regional and national leadership; catalyze collaborative research through working groups, advocacy and strategic planning; education through seminars, courses and workshops; develop new HIV/AIDS researchers and research programs through pilot funding, mentorship and partnership programs; and research support through innovative shared resource hubs that offer unique services, materials, technical training and assistance, and collaborative support.