|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 For almost two decades, HAI has been dedicated to promoting research, education and leadership to end the AIDS epidemic. As the number of AIDS cases continues to escalate disproportionately in Africa and other resource scarce settings, HAI has directed its research efforts toward developing prevention and treatment strategies to stem the epidemic in these regions.
HAI partners with organizations in Africa and other regions of the world to develop sustained education and training programs. The training of international scientists and health professionals helps to produce a cadre of experts able to facilitate and lead the development of health care strategies and interventions that will benefit individuals, families, and societies in resource-scarce areas.
HAI’s research and intervention programs include: AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN), Botswana-HAI Partnership for HIV Research and Education, The China Project, The Tanzania Program, The Senegal Program, The Thailand Program, Enhancing Care Initiative, Fogarty International Training Program in AIDS-related Epidemiology (AITRP), KITSO AIDS Training Program, and the Oak Foundation Program.
To further expand its multidisciplinary research agenda, HAI is committed to fostering innovative public and private collaborations with organizations who support efforts to stem the AIDS epidemic. Partnering with a wide range of private corporations, non-governmental agencies, government programs, advocacy organizations, research and medical centers, and nonprofit organizations, HAI continues to develop research and educational initiatives that advance the understanding and treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Major Discoveries and Scientific Achievements
HAI scientists have been responsible for many important discoveries in HIV vaccine development. Among these are:
- Identification of the HIV envelope proteins gp120 and gp160, which are essential components for both blood diagnostic tests and HIV vaccines.
- Discovery of the simian immunodeficiency virus, an AIDS-related virus in monkeys, and demonstration of the importance of this virus as a model for the development of vaccines in humans.
- First identification and mapping of various HIV-1 and HIV-2 gene products, including nef, vif, pol, vpx, vpu, and vpr.
- Discovery of HIV-2, the second human AIDS virus.
- First demonstration that HIV-2 causes AIDS and immunodeficiency markedly less often than HIV-1
- Demonstration that HIV-2 is transmitted much less efficiently that HIV-1.
- Demonstration that HIV-2 can partially protect against HIV-1 infection, showing for the first time in humans that vaccine protection against HIV-1 may be possible.
- First infectious molecular clone of HIV-1C from an African isolate.
- First Simian/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (SHIV) chimera based on HIV-1C of African origin.
- First comprehensive genetic and phylogenetic characterization of HIV-1C including generation of a consensus sequence.
- Identification of predominant epitopes of HIV-1C targeted by cytotoxic T lymphocytes in Botswana population, which facilitated a rational approach to vaccine design for southern Africa.
- Development of modified-anthrax toxin based system as a novel HIV vaccine delivery technology.
- Demonstration that some strains of HIV-1, such as those currently in Africa and Asia, are linked to heterosexual transmission, with recognition that new and different heterosexual epidemics are occurring.
- Demonstration that antiretroviral therapy can work well in some developing country settings.
- Development of various protocols for most effective use of antiretroviral drugs to block maternal transmission of HIV in developing countries.
- First HIV vaccine trial in southern Africa.
- First HIV vaccine trial linking Africa and U.S. to the same protocol for concurrent initiation.
- Identification of new recombinant HIV’s in Tanzania and new patterns of HIV-1 evolution and fitness.
- Development and maintenance of longest continuous cohort of HIV infected people in Africa.
- Discovery of HIV-1 subtype genomic differences that facilitate activation from latency.
|
|
|
