With deep regret the trustees of NAM Publications, publishers of aidsmap.com, decided in July 2024 that the charity was no longer financially sustainable. While honouring their commitment to staff, partners and service users, the trustees set about ensuring a longevity for the assets aidsmap had built up over four decades. 

HIV Lens – which maps the impact of HIV across England – was transferred to National AIDS Trust. Proposals were sought to host aidsmap.com alongside the other resources developed by the organisation. This was with the intention of ensuring the core HIV content did not fall into disrepair and the resources could continue to be used.  Following careful consideration and debate, the trustees selected Terrence Higgins Trust as that partner. 

Terrence Higgins Trust’s proposal was not just to meet the trustees brief but attempt to keep the conference and academic journal reporting available so expert patients, advocates and clinicians have access to the leading HIV research, thinking and enquiry. aidsmap will be reporting from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), March 9 to 12, and the International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science, July 13 to 17. However, given the financial situation, it will not be possible to revive all of aidsmap’s former activities and information resources.

The new stewards of aidsmap.com will work with pharmaceutical companies and other potential funders to find a long term solution to providing the information the HIV sector needs to support people living with HIV and end new HIV cases by 2030.

While Terrence Higgins Trust is a UK-focused charity, the global reach of aidsmap.com will continue to be cultivated. The site will draw upon a diverse range of writers from the global north and the global south – something that has been greatly improved in recent years and must be maintained. 

Jonathan McShane, chair of trustees at Terrence Higgins Trust said:
'The work of aidsmap is something everyone in our sector respects and appreciates and something expert advocates and clinicians will continue to need if we are to reduce inequalities and end new HIV cases by 2030.  

'Clearly keeping this going will be a tough endeavour but the team at Terrence Higgins Trust will put every effort into making this a success. We can only do this with the support of the sector and the generosity of funders. I am hopeful and hope you are too.'

Tom Abell, chair of trustees at NAM Publications/aidsmap said:
'This transition marks the end of aidsmap as an independent entity and I, alongside our Trustees thank both Terrence Higgins Trust and National AIDS Trust for taking on our resources and working to find a sustainable future for these. This next stage will be different and likely more limited than the work of the independent charity.

'I look forward to seeing how the stewardship of the National AIDS Trust will continue to develop HIV Lens and that of Terrence Higgins Trust with our other resources as they work to find a longer-term legacy for the work that started as the National AIDS Manual. I would also encourage the wider sector to come together and support them in this work.

'Clinicians and patient experts need the resources to get their respected health information to patients and activists need the latest information to ensure wider society provides the best treatment and support for people living with HIV. Aidsmap has been critical to this, long may it continue.'

Roger Pebody, Commissioning Editor of aidsmap said:
'Since aidsmap closed last summer, so many people have told me that something important and valuable has been lost. I’m very pleased that Terrence Higgins Trust have committed to keep the website online for five years and delighted that they are trying to keep some of the conference coverage and HIV news going. I’m pleased to be involved and would encourage those who value aidsmap to step up and support our continued reporting.'

Notes to Editors

• NAM’s Board of Trustees published a public statement on their decision in February 2024, which can be found here
• The aidsmap website will continue to be accessible worldwide

In order to receive email updates and conference reports from aidsmap, please sign up here.

HIV Lens is an interactive mapping tool that visualises the impact of the HIV epidemic on communities across England, available on their website. National AIDS Trust will take the project forward in partnership with Watipa and Gilead Sciences.