Project Inform praises appointment of Dr. Grant Colfax as the Director of National AIDS Policy

Project Inform today praised President Obama’s appointment of Dr. Grant Colfax as the new Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy.  Dr. Colfax previously served as the Director of HIV Prevention for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, where his leadership has been instrumental in improving the health outcomes of people living with HIV/AIDS and reducing new infections nearly by half.

 

“Dr. Colfax is the ideal choice for this position at this moment,” said Dana Van Gorder, Project Inform’s Executive Director.  “Following in the footsteps of Jeff Crowley, who did a brilliant job leading the development of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy as ONAP Director, Grant perfectly embodies the philosophy and skills needed to help the nation secure much needed gains over the epidemic.”

 

Under Colfax’s leadership, San Francisco has focused its HIV control efforts on a significant increase in HIV testing, and early linkage of HIV-positive people to care and treatment.  These initiatives responded to studies establishing that early and effective treatment of HIV lengthens the life of HIV-positive people and can be up to 96 percent effective in reducing new infections.   This approach is identical to the main focus of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, released by President Obama in 2010.

 

Van Gorder also noted that Colfax has been a leader of research establishing that gay and bisexual men at high risk of acquiring HIV infection can be up to 95 percent less likely to acquire HIV by taking a daily HIV medication in combination with practicing safe sex.  This prevention approach is called Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, or PrEP.   “The data on the effects of HIV treatment as prevention and PrEP, combined with the promise of national healthcare reform to make access to treatment more available, make this a moment of incredible opportunity to stop HIV/AIDS.  We look forward to working with Grant to do so.” 

 

“One of the greatest barriers to progress in the epidemic today lies in the complex interactions and lack of coordination between federal, state and local government agencies,” Van Gorder continued.  “As the Director of local HIV/AIDS programs, Dr. Colfax  understands perfectly how streamlining of the enormous bureaucracy involved in the epidemic, and improved communication among agencies at all levels, could help us to make greater strides.  We know that he will be an outstanding ONAP Director and thank President Obama for this appointment, which further establishes his outstanding record on this critical issue.”