PrEPX study taking participants from July 26

People across Victoria?will be able to?enrol?in the highly-anticipated new pre-exposure prophylaxis?study -?known as PrEPX -?from 26 July 2016, Alfred Health announced this week..

Pre-exposure prophylaxis?(PrEP) is the use of medication to prevent HIV infection in people who are at high risk.

The study, sponsored by the Victorian Government, the Victorian AIDS Council and Alfred Health, will examine the impact of expanding the use of PrEP?on the rates of new HIV infections in Victoria. Trial participants will be able to book in at one of six clinics?across?Melbourne.??? Dr Edwina Wright, lead researcher and?Infectious Disease Physician at The Alfred, said this was an important progression in the long-anticipated?study and?will offer PrEP access to?2,600 people.? “The necessary approvals are in place and now we are asking people interested in the trial to make an appointment at a PrEPX listed site or clinic," Dr Wright said. ? “All gay, bisexual, transgender, heterosexual people or people who inject drugs who are at risk of HIV are eligible to enrol. This is an important study for this community.”

Find out more about the PrEPX Study.

?

We are planning to expand our sites in August/early?September to a number of key rural and regional sites. We have been working with a number of GPs and sexual health services to identify potential new sites in?Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Wodonga and?Gippsland.?

We are required to?seek Ethics Approval before we can implement this part of our PrEPX model.? In the mean time you can enrol in Melbourne and then have your ongoing PrEPX care in our regional sites once they are set up. ?

Your next steps ?? ??? ?Contact your preferred enrolment site to book an appointment from?26?July 2016. ? ??? ?If you are already self-importing PrEP,?book in to your doctor close to when your next script needs to be filled. ?Be mindful that over the next two to three?months, clinics may be busier than normal due to enrolling people in the PrEPX study. ? ??? ?If you can’t get in to see your GP in a timely manner and want to enrol, please contact the organisers of the PrEPX Study and we may be able to see you at The Alfred quicker.