RFTCA: Get Involved

FAQs

What do HIV and AIDS stand for?

HIV stands for human immuno-deficiency virus. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

How does one become infected with HIV?

HIV is transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretion, and breast milk. You can become infected with HIV in the following ways:

Having unprotected sex with an infected person
Sharing sharp objects, such as needles, with an infected person
Receiving a blood transfusion
Being born to or breastfeeding from a mother who is HIV+

How does the stigma of HIV affect the response to it?

Stigma and discrimination are the main reasons people resist getting tested, which leads to late diagnoses and a greater chance for HIV to progress to AIDS, making treatment less effective and increasing the likelihood of transmission to others. People who have experienced stigma are four times more likely to report poor access to care. Stigma also affects the emotional well-being of those with HIV, as it leads to loss of hope and feelings of worthlessness.

How do antiretrovirals (AR) work?

Standard AR therapy consists of a combination of at least three AR drugs that work to suppress the virus and stop the progression of the disease.

What are common side effects of ARs?

Side effects can include nausea, vomiting, bleeding events, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and toxic epidermal necrosis. If you or someone you know is taking ARs and experiencing side effects, talk to your doctor to figure out the best treatment plan.

Why are some people resistant to HIV?

People are resistant to HIV if they have a natural genetic mutation on their cells that doesn't allow HIV to latch on.

How can the cure method used for the Berlin Patient be made
widely available?

The cure method used for the Berlin Patient would involve a stem cell transplant. Since stem-cell transplants can cost up to $250,000 and is not viable for many people, the Delta 32 mutation would have to be given without a transplant. This means the Delta 32 mutation would have to be created, instead of donated.

Why hasn’t the Berlin Patient’s cure method already been performed on
people with HIV/AIDS?

It is extremely rare to find someone who is a bone marrow match and rarer still to find someone who is also HIV-resistant. Therefore, the Berlin Patient’s procedure method is not broadly applicable. This is why our Chromovert^® technology is so important in creating curative stem cells, alleviating the need to find rare matches.

How does Chromovert^® Technology work?

Chromovert^® is a proprietary cellular technology that can isolate and enrich rare cells with optimal, desired genetics. It has successfully isolated cells that mimic human taste buds for leading food companies like Coca-Cola^®, Nestle^®, and Kraft^®, as well as pain-blocker cells that allowed the discovery of new drugs that surpass the effects of morphine. It is now being used to create the Delta 32 mutation, which would give rise to an HIV-resistant immune system, ultimately curing the person of AIDS.

How did the RFTCA form?

RFTCA President Kambiz Shekdar realized that the biotechnology he invented called Chromovert^® Technology can create curative stem cells and replicate the cure used on the Berlin and London Patients. Once Kambiz realized his technology may hold the keys to a cure, he sought out organizations and experts that could help him achieve it.

How can I get involved with the RFTCA?

We welcome people from all walks of life to help us in our cause for a cure. Go to the Get Involved page to donate, volunteer, and share your story.

What’s the benefit of having an alliance of so many individuals and
institutions?

An alliance such as ours reflects diverse thinking and experiences. We believe we need experts from scientific, clinical, manufacturing, medical, legal, financial, philanthropic, creative, artistic, and other areas in order to succeed. We welcome those living with AIDS, taking care of someone with AIDS, or affected by AIDS in some other way to take a seat at the table and join us. We need to hear stories from different people from all walks of life to make the most meaningful impact.

They don’t teach you the truth about HIV

by Logan

Greg, one of my best friends from childhood, was diagnosed with HIV when we were around 19 years old. Living in an uppity suburb of New Jersey, HIV was rarely spoken of. And AIDS was no longer seen as a death sentence by that time, so I hardly gave much thought to the virus.
Growing up, we were taught that HIV was contracted only by gay or poor people. I was about as concerned with HIV as I was with Ebola or some other “rare” or “exotic” illness, so Greg’s diagnosis was a huge shock and brought my perception of HIV down to earth. He was exceptionally secretive about his HIV status. The shroud he and his family placed around his illness added a sense of shame to it—as if he had some fault in contracting the disease.
Greg started taking medication, and the sense of urgent concern started to neutralize over time. I asked him about how he managed his disease. Did he ever skip his meds? Did he experience side effects? When did he tell his sexual partners he was positive? Did he always use a condom? Did he only have sex with other positive people? His answers were, respectively: no; not really; only before anal intercourse, and not all the time since he was “undetectable”; not always; and not necessarily.
It seemed the initial stigma-fueled alarm and secrecy faded as he grew more confident in his treatment. He became more relaxed about his infection, and so did I.
For Greg, for the sake of those living without access to treatment, and for those who will be infected in the future with new, possibly more virulent strains of HIV, a true cure is needed. This demand for a cure and the associated cure method the RFTCA is pursuing is what we need today in 2016 and beyond.

CONTACT US

If you have a question or comment, please write to us using the contact information below. We'd love to hear from you.

Email
cure@RFTCA.org

Address Research Foundation to Cure AIDS
c/o Kambiz Shekdar
40 Remsen Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

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They don’t teach you the truth about HIV

CONTACT US