PATF / Allies timeline
1981
June 5, 1981 - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, describing cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, in five young, previously healthy, gay men in Los Angeles. This edition of the MMWR marks the first official reporting of what will become known as the AIDS epidemic. Within a week, the CDC received numerous reports of similar cases of PCP and other opportunistic infections among gay men, including clusters of Kaposi’s Sarcoma.
September 21, 1981 - The nation’s first Kaposi’s Sarcoma clinic opens at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
By year’s end, there is a cumulative total of 270 reported cases of severe immune deficiency among gay men, and 121 of those individuals have died.
Dr. Charles Rinaldo of the University of Pittsburgh encountered a patient with pneumocystis pneumonia and CMV in Oakland in 1981. This patient would later be listed as one of the first AIDS cases reported to the CDC.
Dr. Charles Rinaldo and medical student David Lyter began recruiting men for a pilot study on AIDS. Seventy-five men enrolled in the study. Rinaldo and Lyter collected blood and semen samples from the men.
1982
September 24, 1982 - CDC uses the term “AIDS” (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) for the first time, and releases the first case definition of AIDS: “a disease at least moderately predictive of a defect in cell-mediated immunity, occurring in a person with no known case for diminished resistance to that disease.”
1983
May 20, 1983 - Dr. Françoise Barré-Sinoussi and her colleagues at the Pasteur Institute in France report the discovery of a retrovirus they call Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus (LAV) that could be the cause of AIDS.
In the September 9 MMWR, CDC identifies all major routes of HIV transmission—and rules out transmission by casual contact, food, water, air, or environmental surfaces.
The National Institutes of Health puts out a request for research proposals into AIDS. Dr. Charles Rinaldo and David Lyter, along with Dr. Monto Ho, developed the application that led to the eventual funding of the Pitt Men’s Study. With support from gay leaders in Pittsburgh, combined with their prior pilot study experience, Rinaldo’s proposal beat out researchers across the country and the Pitt Men’s Study was funded in the summer of 1983.
1984
Beginning April 1, recruitment began for the federally-funded Pitt Men’s Study.
1985
Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force is formed as an offshoot of the Pitt Men’s Study’s Community Advisory Board. The early work of PATF included finding medical professionals who would work with people with HIV or AIDS as well as lawyers and state officials to handle issues involving Social Security and Medicare.
March 2, 1985 - FDA licenses the first commercial blood test, ELISA, to detect HIV.
Blood banks begin screening the U.S. blood supply.
1986
In May, the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses declares that the virus that causes AIDS will officially be known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
PATF is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and hired Kerry Stoner as its first Executive Director and employee.
1987
March 19, 1987 - FDA approves the first antiretroviral drug, zidovudine (AZT). The U.S. Congress approves $30 million in emergency funding to states for AZT—laying the groundwork for what will be the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), authorized by the Ryan White CARE Act in 1990.
PATF begins testing and counseling.
1988
December 1, 1988 - World AIDS Day is observed for the first time. The date is designated by WHO and supported by the UN.
1990
July 26, 1990 - The U.S. Congress enacts the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including people living with HIV/AIDS.
August 18, 1990 - The U.S. Congress enacts the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act of 1990, which provides $220.5 million in federal funds for HIV community-based care and treatment services in its first year.
1992
In 1992, AIDS becomes the number one cause of death for U.S. men ages 25 to 44.
May 27, 1992 - FDA licenses a rapid HIV diagnostic test kit which gives results from a blood test in 10 minutes.
PATF food pantry opens.
1993
Kerry Stoner dies of AIDS.
1995
In June 1995, FDA approves the first protease inhibitor. This ushers in a new era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
1996
The number of new AIDS cases diagnosed in the U.S. declines for the first time since the beginning of the epidemic.
1997
In 1997, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) becomes the new standard of HIV care.
CDC reports the first substantial decline in AIDS deaths in the United States.
PATF begins offering oral HIV tests in the community.
2001
PATF begins providing housing for people living with HIV/AIDS.
2008
PATF begins using rapid tests, which offer results in 20 minutes.
PATF launches 340(B) pharmacy program.
2010
PATF marks its 25th anniversary.
March 23, 2010 - President Barack Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which expands access to care and prevention for all Americans—but offers special protections for those living with chronic illnesses, like HIV, that make it difficult for them to access or afford healthcare.
2012
July 16, 2012 - The FDA approves the use of Truvada for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Adults who do not have HIV, but who are at risk for infection, can now take this medication to reduce their risk of getting the virus through sexual activity.
PATF launches the Lost to Care program.
2014
PATF begins testing for hepatitis C, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia.
2015
PATF launches its expansion plan to add a medical clinic and additional services.
2016
PATF medical clinic opens.
PATF begins offering PrEP.
2017
PATF changes its name to Allies for Health + Wellbeing to acknowledge its expanded mission and services.
2018
Allies adds mental health and behavioral health services.
2019
Allies acquires a van for mobile testing and outreach.
2020
Allies crosses the threshold of more than 50 employees.
As an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, Allies adapts to provide critical services while protecting patients, clients and staff.
2021
40th anniversary of the start of the AIDS epidemic.
2022
Allies hosts mpox vaccination clinics, with 520 patients receiving 864 doses of mpox vaccine.
2023
Allies acquires Project Silk, an HIV outreach program geared toward young people of color.
2024
Allies Pharmacy opens, offering onsite prescription services for Allies patients.
2025
Allies for Health + Wellbeing marks 40th anniversary.