Federal bill
encourages microbicide research

Democratic congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois this week introduced a bill that would encourage federal research into the development of microbicides that could help women protect themselves against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, Congressional Quarterly HealthBeat reports. The legislation, called the Microbicide Development Act, would prompt the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Agency for International Development to coordinate their microbicide research and development activities. It also would create an NIH division focusing solely on microbicide research. Although most microbicide products currently in development or testing are aimed at helping women prevent sexually acquired HIV infections, some studies have shown that the compounds also might be useful in helping gay men protect themselves against HIV during anal sex. (Advocate.com)