Chicago is a Microbicides Kind of Town

Windy City HIV prevention advocates have worked tirelessly for more than ten years to advance the field of microbicides. When available, microbicides will allow women and men to reduce their risk of HIV infection by topically applying the products vaginally or rectally. Though we do not yet have a safe and effective microbicide, clinical trials are taking place around the world, and now right here in Chicago, to bring one to fruition.   The International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) is conducting trials of an anti-retroviral drug known as Dapivirine in three U.S. cities to determine the product’s safety and acceptability. This is the first time any microbicide trial has taken place in Chicago.

IPM’s local partner, the University of Illinois-Chicago Project WISH, is now recruiting healthy HIV-negative women between the ages of 18-40 to participate in this exciting study.  Project WISH is also coordinating a vaccine research trial for HIV- negative men, ages 18-45.  If you are interested in learning more about either of these trials and/or would like to see if you may be eligible to participate, please email  wish@uic.edu or call (312) 413-5897 or (800)575-5758.