Turning knowledge into power

There is a lot of information on HIV research. Most of it is good, but some can be misleading. We want to share a few important facts about research and HIV prevention. With knowledge and education, you can turn up your power to prevent HIV.

Got a burning question? Email us at bridgehiv@sfdph.org and we’ll hit you back with an answer. We may even feature your question in a knowledge article!

Basics of HIV

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system, or the part of your body that works to keep you healthy by fighting off infections. Over time, and without treatment, HIV can cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), as the Read more>>

Respect and Protect: Ethical Scientific Research

Scientific research has brought significant social benefits and health advancements. This includes vaccines for polio and effective treatments for HIV. However, scientific research has also raised troubling ethical questions. Probably the most infamous example in the U.S. Read more>>

What You Need to Know About VISP (Vaccine-Induced Sero-Positivity)

A common concern in HIV vaccine research is vaccine-induced seropositivity, or simply VISP. So besides being a mouthful, what is VISP? And can it affect me? When our bodies meet a foreign substance, like a virus, our immune systems make proteins called antibodies. Read more>>

HIV Vaccine Myths and Facts

Myth: HIV vaccines can give people HIV.
Fact: This statement is false: a person CANNOT get HIV from the study vaccines. These study vaccines do not contain real HIV. Some vaccines, like those for typhoid or Read more>>