A ground-breaking partnership
The global community now has the tools to meaningfully address new HIV infections; however, HIV is on the rise in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).
To address the challenges in EECA and leave no one behind in the global effort to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Gilead Sciences launched the ground-breaking RADIAN partnership in 2019.
RADIAN is a natural evolution of the existing collaboration between the Foundation and Gilead in the EECA Key Populations (EECAKP) fund, which gave the organisations a greater understanding of the urgent needs in EECA and the necessary experience to respond.
RADIAN aims to meaningfully address new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS-related illnesses in EECA through focused action, investment and resourcing to improve the quality of prevention and care for people living with or at risk of HIV in the region.
A MESSAGE FROM SIR ELTON JOHN & DAVID FURNISH
A MESSAGE FROM GILEAD SCIENCES
RADIAN
Radian Changemakers
The RADIAN Changemakers campaign shares the inspirational stories of RADIAN community partners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), one of the few regions in the world where the annual HIV infection rate continues to rise.1 These ordinary, yet remarkable, people are making significant contributions through their on-the-ground initiatives to end HIV/AIDS in the region.
THE RADIAN UNMET NEED FUND
The RADIAN ‘Unmet Need’ fund supports local initiatives across the EECA region. Initiatives included focus on prevention and care, education, community empowerment, and novel partnerships. The programme is implemented locally, working with key stakeholders and partners.
Best practices and learnings from the local implementation of RADIAN from 2020-2025, will be used as a blueprint towards creating change across the region.
Radian Model Cities
The RADIAN ‘Model Cities’ programme will provide significant funding from 2020-2025, to support interventions and drive measurable impact in key EECA cities.
The programme will support innovative approaches, including new models of care and expanded prevention and healthcare programmes, led by groups who are on-the-ground and part of the community.
THE RADIAN ‘MODEL CITIES’ PROGRAMME AIMS TO:
- Reduce the number of new HIV infections and to increase the proportion of people living with HIV who know their status, are in care and have an undetectable viral load
- Improve wellbeing and reduce stigma towards people living with and at risk of HIV
- Build on existing systems to provide HIV services more effectively for key populations
Almaty, Kazakhstan
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In Almaty city, Kazakhstan, there are currently approximately 5,200 people living with HIV2
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1 out of 6 people living with HIV in Kazakhstan live in Almaty city2
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The HIV prevalence rate in the city is nearly double the national rate3
Almaty, Awareness and Attitudes
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Nearly two-thirds (65%) of those living in Almaty indicated that if they were single, they would be uncomfortable dating someone living with HIV4
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36% of those living in Almaty were uncomfortable working with someone living with HIV4
Radian Stories and Events
See the latest RADIAN stories from our Changemakers, programme news and events

FIRST RADIAN recipients: IMPACT SO FAR
Support from RADIAN has helped local partners achieve some remarkable successes, including to date:
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50,000+
beneficiaries have been reached with direct services, increasing HIV service coverage for those who need it most
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4,000+
change agents have been trained to reduce stigma and improve quality and access of care for key populations
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10,000+
people living with HIV have been enrolled in care
Data provided by the Elton John AIDS Foundation – July 2022
Together we can create change in EECA
About RADIAN
RADIAN aims to meaningfully address new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS-related illnesses in EECA, where deaths have increased by around 32% in the last 10 years.1
The Elton John AIDS Foundation and Gilead have an established presence in EECA and extensive experience of working effectively with key local stakeholders for many years, most recently through the EECAKP fund. RADIAN is a natural evolution of this three-year commitment, which gave the organisations a greater understanding of the urgent needs in EECA and the necessary experience and strategy to respond.
Both organisations, as well as potential additional partners in the future, will work together to leave no one behind in the global effort to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
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The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organisations in the world. The Foundation’s mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. With the mobilisation of our network of generous supporters and partners, we fund local experts across four continents to challenge discrimination, prevent infections and provide treatment as well as influencing governments to end AIDS. www.eltonjohnaidsfoundation.org
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Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis and cancer. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California
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1.
UNAIDS. (2021) AIDSinfo - UNAIDS epidemiological estimates. Available at: https://www.aidsinfo.unaids.org [Accessed July 2022]
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2.
Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases – 2020 Report. Available at: http://www.kncdiz.kz/files/00007836.docx [Accessed July 2022]
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3.
Almaty City AIDS Centre. Available at: https://gcaids.kz/ru/ctatistika [Accessed July 2022]
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4.
Censuswide. RADIAN pulse survey (sample: 1,001). January 2020. Survey commissioned by Gilead Sciences and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.