HIV is
a disease that caught the world off guard and took many lives, leaving
scientists in shock, trying to find a cure. With HIV
persistence being such a major challenge that must be overcome, today's
scientists are still burning to find a cure. Every 2 years, scientists from
around the world gather together in Saint Martin, West Indies to research a
cure, just as they have done since 2003 when the workshop began. In between,
they meet online to discuss their findings from research and to bring together
their minds to tackle this global epidemic.
The bi-annual meeting,
known as ‘HIV Persistence, Reservoirs and Eradication Workshop' has been a
force for change that combines the intellectual capital of scientists from
fields such as molecular biology, virology and immunology. With 200 of the
world's top researchers in attendance, HIV topics are discussed and invaluable
networking is done so that these world class academics have a chance to bring
the full force of their combined prowess to bear on a disease that still eludes
medical science today. This is something special because it has been organized
by those who have made truly significant advances in HIV research over the past
decade and they make no compromises on putting together the most effective
event possible.
By working in this fashion to eliminate the HIV virus from Earth, these
dedicated scientists and clinical researchers are pushing for a cure in a way
few others do. They know that HIV reservoirs are continuing to
survive even despite the most advanced treatments aimed at suppressing HIV's
effects. By pushing to explore research outside of what has already been done,
these individuals are accelerating the quest for the cure and doing so without
political aims or to generate income for themselves in the process. They are
passionate about finding a way to break down HIV persistence, dedicating their
time and energies to dodging the pitfalls of bureaucracy and social club time
wasting that affects many other organizations today. At the workshop and in the
periods in between, they work to keep a tight focus on the core goals that they
have set for themselves and their work, eschewing the distractions that would
only end up slowing down the achieving of the goal.
Thanks to these incredible men and women, research in HIV remains focused and
highly effective. In a world where true HIV eradication would definitely be a
dream come true, these are the people who labor behind the scenes to create a
change that benefits everyone on the planet. It is highly likely that members
of this group will be the ones to discover the strategy that ends HIV once and
for all.
Contact:
Alain Lafeuillade
General Hospital,
Toulon, France.
Tel: +33-4-94616340
