The Population Council announces the appointment of leading South African AIDS researcher, Salim S. Abdool Karim, to the Council Board of Trustees. Dr. Karim, a clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist is the Director of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), CAPRISA Professor of Global health at Columbia University in New York and Honorary Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA — More than 60 new analyses from the Population Council will elevate the scientific discourse on critical health and development issues this week at the 2017 International Population Conference (IPC) in South Africa, with a particular focus on the risks and realities faced by adolescents. 

First in-human clinical trial of griffithsin, a naturally occurring anti-HIV protein, which limits risk of cross-resistance to antiretroviral (ARV) products

NEW YORK, NY—The Population Council today announced the enrollment of the first participant in the Phase I clinical trial evaluating PC-6500 (griffithsin in a carrageenan gel), an investigational multipurpose technology to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), two major threats to sexual health around the world. This is the first in-human study of griffithsin (GRFT), a naturally occurring algae protein that inhibits HIV and other pathogens, including Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-2).                                                                                                              

New York, NY (August 17, 2017) — The Population Council has been awarded Breakthrough-RESEARCH, a five-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The project aims to improve healthy behaviors and norms across key global health areas, including family planning and reproductive health; HIV/AIDS; maternal, newborn and child health; emerging infectious diseases; and malaria. Led by the Population Council, consortium partners include the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University, Population Reference Bureau, Tulane University, Avenir Health and ideas42.

NEW YORK, NY, June 28—The Population Council today announced the launch of the Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center, a new global research and thought leadership hub that will generate, synthesize, and translate evidence on adolescent girls. Led by Thoai Ngo, Ph.D., director of the Population Council’s Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program, the Center seeks to direct strategic investment into solutions proven to transform the lives of adolescent girls. 

The Population Council expresses its sorrow at the passing of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), who passed away Sunday. Dr. Osotimehin made tremendous contributions to global health as a defender and champion of the health and rights of women, girls and families around the world.

CHIGACO, ILLINOIS (April 26, 2017) — Population Council experts will present 23 abstracts on key health and development issues at the Population Association of America (PAA) 2017 Annual Meeting in Chicago from April 27-29. The annual meeting gathers more than 2,000 demographers, public health experts, sociologists, economists, scholarly publishers, and students to examine the latest population trends and topics in the US and around the world.

NEW YORK (12 December 2016) — The Population Council announces the appointment of two new board members: Ms. Wanda Olson, who has over three decades of experience with the international law firm of Cleary Gottlieb, and Mr. Jonathan H. Kagan, an internationally recognized finance expert who serves as Managing Principal at Corporate Partners LLC.

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (December 19) — The Population Council announced the opening of its Cambodia office in Phnom Penh. Dr. Ashish Bajracharya, associate in the Population Council’s reproductive health program will lead the office. 

NEW YORK (November 8) — The Population Council awarded David Coleman and Helen Epstein with the 2016 Olivia Schieffelin Nordberg Award for excellence in writing and editing in the population sciences. The award was presented at a reception at the Population Council in New York on Monday, November 7.