STARFISH NEWS

Long Distance Adoption Project - 2010

Rutger and his organization, with the precious help and contributions of our supporters, started a long-distance 'adoption' project. We started by supporting one kid. But more will follow soon...

More information about this initiative can be found on this page.

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Starfish Scientific Committee

We are pleased to announce that Starfish, in its efforts to help HIV-stricken children and pregnant women, now can count on a Scientific Committee.

This Scientific Committee is coordinated by Dr. Franco Lori, who is also a member of our Board of Advisors. Dr. Franco Lori’s professional experience includes many different areas within the biotechnology industry. He is the Founder of Georgetown University’s RIGHT (Research Institute for Genetic and Human Therapy) Institute and has extensive experience in research, virology and medicine.

Dr. Lori discovered that hydroxyurea can inhibit the growth of HIV and designed pilot clinic studies to prove its efficacy. Presently, Dr. Lori and his medical staff are entering a major human trials phase of their topical DNA vaccine called "DermaVir" ™. This therapeutic vaccine for patients already infected with HIV is applied as a skin patch. This patch is impregnated with a sugar solution containing HIV genetic material. Hair-thin needles underneath penetrate the skin and transport the vaccine to where it can do its work of suppressing the further development of chronic viral infections by reducing their viral load. This vaccine induces T-cell immunity and has proved to be very successful on tests performed on monkeys. In August, DermaVir ™ has been elected "Molecule of the Month" by the 2002 FDA Science Forum.

Dr. Lori and his staff are donating their time and skills to be of any possible assistance to St*rfish with focused interventions, by giving advice, guidelines, suggestions and know-how contacts in all the HIV/AIDS-related areas where this help is utmostly deemed necessary.