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French scientists Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Antoine Montagne who discovered HIV in 1983, and won a Nobel Prize for their work

In 1984, Dr. Robert Gallo and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute discovered what causes AIDS.

 

Gallo found the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the virus responsible for HIV infections.

 

Gallo was awarded his second Lasker Award in 1986 for "determining that the retrovirus now known as HIV-1 is the cause of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)."

 

He is the only recipient of two Lasker Awards.

Interview with Dr.Koen Van Rompay, CNPRC, UCDavis

Dr.Rompay helped to develop and test the anti-viral drug Tenofovir, which is currently the most frequently used HIV drug in the world.

Dr. Van Rompay at the California National Primate Reseach Center, UCdavis was gracious enough to allow for a very short interview covering very general topics around the world of drug development and the process of FDA approval of a drug.

 

Dr. Van Rompay’s expertise is in nonhuman primate models of HIV infection. His research has a special focus on vaccines and antiviral drugs to treat or prevent HIV infection, and pediatric AIDS.

 

Dr. Van Rompay was on the forefront of developing HIV treatments at the CNPRC in the 1990s. He helped to develop and test the anti-viral drug tenofovir, which is currently the most frequently used HIV drug in the world. Tenofovir has saved the lives of many infants by preventing mother-to-child transmission, and is now the key ingredient in pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis regimens to prevent transmission of the virus.

Dr.Paul Luciw, Professor, Center for Comparative Medicine graciously allowed a short interview sharing his extensive experience in HIV research.

 

Dr.Luciw is a virologist who cloned the genome of HIV in 1982.  

 

For studies on simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a major aim of Dr. Luciw’s research is to identify viral determinants of pathogenesis in the non-human primate model (i.e., rhesus monkeys) for AIDS. This research aims to define functional domains on viral proteins and to analyze molecular mechanisms regulating viral transcription in latency and reactivation.

 

He is testing novel pharmacologic approaches targeted at inducing virus (SIV or HIV) from latent cell reservoirs. Coupled with highly active antiretroviral therapy, induction of latent virus by compounds that activate specific transcription factors and remodel chromatin, could lead to elimination of virus from an infected individual.

Interview with Dr.Paul Luciw, CCM, UCDavis

In 1982, HIV genome was cloned by Dr. Luciw.

Pharmaceutical Companies

In 1995, Saquinavir was developed by the pharmaceutical company Roche. Saquinavir was the first protease inhibitor (and sixth antiretroviral) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS

Gilead Sciences is an American biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes therapeutics.

Gilead's Viread® (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) and Truvada® (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) are recommended by the World Health Organization as components of antiretroviral therapy. Gilead drugs occupy the top two slots in a global ranking of HIV meds by sales.

 Merck Sharp & Dohme outside the United States and Canada, is an American pharmaceutical company and one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world.

 Bristol-Myers Squibb, often referred to as BMS, is an American pharmaceutical company, headquartered in New York City.Bristol-Myers Squibb has long been a leader in developing innovative HIV/AIDS medications and treatments

 Abbott Laboratories is an American worldwide health care company.There are  two important HIV drugs currently marketed by Abbott for the treatment of HIV.

 J&J is a three-sector health care company based out of New Jersey.

Public Organizations

NIH Office of AIDS Research coordinates the scientific, budgetary, legislative, and policy elements of the NIH AIDS research program. Through its annual comprehensive trans-NIH planning, budgeting, and portfolio assessment processes, OAR sets scientific priorities, enhances collaboration, and ensures that research dollars are invested in the highest priority areas of scientific opportunity that will lead to new tools in the global fight against AIDS.

 CNPRC develops monkey models to study HIV. SAIDS (Simian AIDS) is an immune deficiency disease that results from an SIV infection (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus), just as AIDS in humans results from HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). Macaque monkeys that have SIV / SAIDS are ideal models to study the prevention of HIV infection and pathology of AIDS in humans. Monkeys and humans have similar physiology, drug metabolism, placentation and fetal development.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

  The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a non-profit organization created in 2000 to help people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, the foundation focuses on improving health and ending hunger and extreme poverty

Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI)

 CHAVI, which was established by NIAID as part of the Global HIV/AIDS Vaccine Enterprise, is designed to answer basic science questions relevant to HIV vaccines and to conduct early phase HIV vaccine clinical trials at clinical sites around the world.

Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise (GHAVE)

 GHAVE is a consortium of organizations committed to the development of a preventive HIV vaccine by implementing shared scientific plans, mobilizing resources, and improving international collaborations.

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)

 IAVI was founded in 1996 to speed discovery of an HIV vaccine, partners with private companies, academic institutions, and government agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

United Nations Joint Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP)

World Health Organization (WHO)

 UNAIDS, orchestrates the efforts and resources of 10 United Nations system organizations to help prevent new HIV infections, care for people living with HIV, and mitigate the impact of the epidemic. As part of the United Nations, UNAIDS works with the World Health Organization to determine how results obtained from NIAID research studies should be applied around the world.

 USMHRP was established in 1985 to protect U.S. troops entering endemic HIV areas and is dedicated to HIV vaccine development, prevention, disease surveillance, and HIV care and treatment. NIAID plans and executes HIV/AIDS research projects with USMHRP through an interagency agreement.

WHO is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries, and monitoring and assessing health trends. Based on results from NIH studies, WHO and UNAIDS guide health ministries and aid organizations in determining how research findings should be applied to the provision of health services in different parts of the world.

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