NIH Announces Plan to Increase Funding Toward a Cure for HIV/AIDS

At a White House event held December 2 to mark the 25th annual World AIDS Day, President Obama announced that the National Institutes of Health plans to redirect AIDS research funds to expand support for research directed toward a cure for HIV. NIH plans to invest an additional $100 million over the next three fiscal years on this increasingly promising area of HIV/AIDS research.

In the three decades since AIDS was first reported, the NIH has been the global leader in research to understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat HIV infection and its many associated conditions. NIH-funded researchers — in partnership with academia and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries — have helped develop more than 30 life-saving antiretroviral drugs and drug combinations for treating HIV infection. These antiretroviral drugs have transformed life with HIV infection for those who have access to and can tolerate the therapies. However, treatment requires lifelong access and adherence to these medications and management of treatment-related toxicities and clinical complications.

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Shared Responsibility to Strengthen Results for an AIDS-Free Generation

Staement relesed by the Office of the Press Secretary, the White House, on December 2, 2013

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have taken enormous steps to address the HIV epidemic, both domestically and globally. This World AIDS Day, we remember those lost to this epidemic, and reflect on the progress of the past year to prevent HIV infections, improve the health of people living with HIV worldwide, and address HIV stigma and discrimination. Earlier this year, PEPFAR celebrated its tenth anniversary. Domestically, we are refocusing our efforts to lower new HIV infections, improve health outcomes, and reduce disparities. In July, President Obama signed an Executive Order to launch the HIV Care Continuum Initiative, the next step in implementing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

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Remarks By The President On World Aids Day

South Court Auditorium, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, December 2, 2013 (remarks By Secretary Kerry follow)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, everybody.  (Applause.)  Everybody, please have a seat.  Well, thank you, Grant, for your outstanding leadership of the Office of National AIDS Policy.  And thanks to all of you for being here.  This is a pretty distinguished crowd, I have to say, and it is wonderful to be here.

I should say, actually, welcome back, because many of you have joined us before as we’ve marked new milestones in our fight against HIV and AIDS.  And I’m honored that you could join us in commemorating World AIDS Day, which was yesterday.  And this is a time for remembering the friends and loved ones that we’ve lost, celebrating the extraordinary progress -- thanks to some people in this room -- that we’ve been able to make, and most importantly, recommitting ourselves to the mission that we share, which is achieving an AIDS-free generation.

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Winter Dance Party: A Buddy Holly Tribute

By Colt McGraw

The "Winter Dance Party" encompasses the energy and excitement of 1950's Rock and Roll.  Spirits will rise and your feet will come alive when you hear Buddy Holly's rockabilly treasures: "That'll Be the Day", "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy!".  This tribute show is the only one endorsed by the estate of Buddy Holly and includes tributes to Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper.

The three Knights of Rock and Roll fell before their time but left an impression that would change the future of music forever.  Don McLean's "American Pie" pays homage to the threesome and reminisces on "the day the music died."  Groups such as The Beatles were openly influenced, as were The Rolling Stones who received their first major British hit with Holly's "Not Fade Away."

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