CANFAR

ABOUT CANFAR

The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is the only national organization in Canada dedicated to privately funding HIV and AIDS research. We believe that research benefits everyone, everywhere.

Founded in 1987, CANFAR raises awareness in order to generate funds for research into all aspects of HIV and AIDS. CANFAR mission: to end AIDS through research.

The only organization in Canada that operates for the sole purpose of privately funding HIV and AIDS research, CANFAR finances AIDS researchers across Canada. To date, CANFAR has provided $18 million to HIV and AIDS projects.

CANFAR-funded research breakthroughs include:

Dr. Mark Wainberg’s work, which discovered a critical component in the highly effective ”AIDS cocktail”, which keeps millions of people alive today
Dr. Deborah Money’s research, which provided new insights to guide the safe use of antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy, reducing the mother-to-child transmission rate from 50% to 0%
Dr. Kelly MacDonald’s recent discovery of a new vaccine candidate which can reduce – and in some cases, prevent – HIV progression

ABOUT AIDS

HIV and AIDS around the Globe

34 million people are living with HIV, 2.5 million of them are children
2.6 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2009
Women account for 50% of HIV-positive adults
AIDS-related illnesses remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide

HIV in Canada

65,000 Canadians are living with HIV | Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008
Over a 23% of Canadians who are HIV-positive are not aware of their status | Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008
According to a national study, more than half of grade 9 students wrongly believe that there is a cure or vaccine for AIDS | Public Health Agency of Canada, 2007
16% of Canadians feel afraid of people living with HIV