June 27 marks National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), recognized annually in the United States since 1995. On Tuesday, Project ACHIEVE staff and collaborators from Columbia Collaborative HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Unit gathered for a NHTD event in Manhattan’s Union Square Park, where they distributed educational material and spoke with community members about HIV prevention, vaccine research, and intervention trials.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens the immune system by destroying T cells, white blood cells that fight infections and protect the body from disease. If left untreated, HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS). Although there is no known cure to HIV, prevention methods and treatments exist.
Housed within New York Blood Center’s Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention, Project ACHIEVE is a global leader in HIV prevention research, working to find a safe, effective vaccine to end HIV. The event theme “Level up your self-love: check your status” highlighted the importance of knowing your HIV status to make health-conscious decisions, and served as a celebration of Pride Month.