1.   HIV Test – French and American researchers developed an antibody test for HIV in the mid 80’s.  This test is now used to test individuals for HIV and to ensure that blood banks are free from the virus.

2.   Condoms – A study conducted in 1987 concluded that latex condoms are a highly effective means of preventing HIV transmission during sexual intercourse.  This knowledge became the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS education and prevention policy.

3.   3TC / AZT – Accelerated research initiatives led to the development and 1987 approval of AZT, the first drug designed to combat AIDS.  Prior to this drug discovery, AIDS patients died soon after exhibiting their first symptoms.  Other new drugs including 3TC became available in subsequent years.

4.   Triple Cocktail - In the mid 90s, the discovery of a new class of drugs known as protease inhibitors revolutionized the treatment of HIV patients.  This led to the introduction of a new more effective drug regimen commonly known as triple cocktail therapy which reduced the viral load in the bloodstream to almost undetectable levels.

5.   Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission – Research efforts have identified a combination of interventions to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child.  These interventions, when employed properly, can reduce the risk of mother to child transmission from 50% to less than 1%.

6.   RT-PCR – Reverse Transcriptase PCR is a molecular biology technique that can be used to quantify the viral load in people infected with HIV.  Understanding and tracking a patient’s viral load is critical in selecting the best course of treatment.

7.   Invisible Condom - The “Invisible Condom” is one of many microbicides under development.  Microbicide is the general term used for a range of products such as gel, cream, film or suppository that can prevent the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections when applied topically to the vagina before intercourse.  As an alternative to the condom, a successful microbicide may empower women to protect themselves and their partners in situations where condom use is not possible.

8.   Unexpected Breakthroughs– In addition to the remarkable discoveries in the field of HIV/AIDS, AIDS research has led to numerous significant advances in other aspects of medicine.  3TC, a drug developed to treat AIDS is commonly used to treat chronic Hepatitis B infection.  AIDS-related research laid the foundation for the development of a cervical cancer vaccine.  Drugs developed to fight opportunistic infections in AIDS patients are being used to treat patients suffering from other forms of immune suppression.

9.   Vaccines – In the past 20 years, over 30 candidate HIV vaccines have been tested in over 80 Phase I/II clinical trials and three have advanced to Phase III trials (Phase III is the final stage of human testing).  Despite numerous significant discoveries in disease management, a preventative vaccine remains the best hope for successfully ending the AIDS epidemic.

10. The Ripple Effect – The contribution of AIDS research to other fields of medicine will only multiply as more resources are invested into AIDS research.  Drugs developed to treat dementia in AIDS patients may be useful in treating Alzheimer’s disease.  Drugs used to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma in AIDS patients are now being tested in breast and bladder cancer.

11. Understanding Diversity – Psychosocial AIDS research coupled with the mobilization of community groups have greatly increased our awareness of sexual diversity and the necessity to adapt programs, such as sexual health education, to meet the specific needs of different groups.

12. Social Determinants of Health – In identifying the risk factors for HIV/AIDS, public health professionals have developed a much greater appreciation of how poverty, socioeconomic status and marginalization are intimately intertwined with health and disease.  Understanding the AIDS epidemic has increased the emphasis on addressing underlying vulnerability to illness and this knowledge is applicable to many different diseases.

References

1. Neurath, A.R., Strick, N., Sproul, P., Baker, L., Rubinstein, P., Stevens, C.E., Taylor, P., Gallo, R.C., Gold, J.W., Lee, Y.S., et al. 1985. Radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay of antibodies to the core protein (P24) of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV III). J Virol Methods. 1:75-86.

2. Van de Perre, P., Jacobs, D., Sprecher-Goldberger S. 1987. The latex condom, an efficient barrier against sexual transmission of AIDS-related viruses. AIDS. 1:49-52.

3. Ezzel, C. 1987. AZT given the green light for clinical treatment of AIDS. Nature. 326:436.

4. Bonfanti, P., Capetti, A., Rizzardini, G. 1999. HIV disease treatment in the era of HAART.53:93-105. Biomed and Pharmacother.

5. Thorne C., Newell. M,L. 2003. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection and its prevention. Curr HIV Res. 4:447-62.

6. Peter, J.B., Sevall, J.S. 2004. Molecular-based methods for quantifying HIV viral load. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2:75-9.

7. BBC. 2000. ‘Invisible condoms’ go on trial. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/793699.stm .

8. The Foundation for AIDS Research. The Benefits of AIDS Research: Better Health For All.

9. WHO. 2006. HIV/AIDS. WHO Initiative for Vaccine Research. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/soa_std/en/index4.html#vaccine .

10. The Foundation for AIDS Research. The Benefits of AIDS Research: Better Health For All.

CANFAR: Ending AIDS through research. 

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