About Us Founded in March 2005, Project THAMES (Transparency in HIV Authorship, Medical Education and Scientific Investigation) grew out of nearly 20 years' experience in the world of AIDS activism, research, clinical care and education from what appeared to be a growing need for research, advocacy and medical education free of the quid pro quo funding of drug & device companies and the medical communications (PR) companies which serve to broaden and camouflage their reach. While fully acknowledging the contributions of the for-profit pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry to improvements in the medical management of HIV/AIDS, Project THAMES believes that in the time since 1996 a commercial imperative to increase sales has not always coincided with the patient's best interest. In the near term, full transparency of any and all potentially competing outside commercial interests among researchers, educators, thought leaders and conference program committees is the least onerous of proposals to date that would provide some form of ethical oversight. Longer term, elimination of financial exchanges in all forms--including speaking fees, honoria for attending dinner lectures, symposia, conferences or Grand Rounds, consulting & advisory board arrangements, funds for physician travel, service on speakers bureaus, provision of funds for continuing medical education programs, monies for research contracts--is our goal. (cf. Brennan TA, Rothman DJ, Blumenthal D et al. "Health industry practices that create conflicts of interest: A proposal for reform." JAMA 2006;295:429-433.) (cf. Submitted Statement, to the Institute of Medicine, on behalf of the Center for Science in the Public Interest--March 13, 2008) In the interim, Project THAMES will to standardize disclosure requirements at journals, medical education programs, professional societies, conference program committees and government bioscience entities, and to advocate for more effective monitoring and evaluation. Project THAMES is a non-profit 501c(3) public education & advocacy organization. The Project THAMES Team Mike Barr, Founder & Director Jaye Foucher, Web design & programming Cindy Ly, Legal assistant Peter Calmishiel, FOIA specialist Natalie Belanger, Research intern Board of Directors Joseph A. Sonnabend, MD Retired physician, researcher & community activist London, England Diana Ramirez, MD North Bronx Healthcare Network Albert Einsten College of Medicine Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, NY Jesus Aguais Founder & Executive Director Aid for AIDS New York, NY Mauricio Zacharias Screenwriter New York, NY Project THAMES thanks Tom Viola and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS for their generous and reliable support. 148 West 23rd Street #10H • New York, NY 10011 • Phone: (646) 233-3024 • Fax: (866) 301-9349 • info@projectthames.org A 501c(3) public education and advocacy organization. © 2007 Project THAMES - Website Design by IX Interactive, Inc.