AEGiS-14IAC: The treatment action group basic science report: Analyzing the current status of basic science &AIDS pathogenesis research.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

The treatment action group basic science report: Analyzing the current status of basic science &AIDS pathogenesis research.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12526)

Jefferys R, Harrington M
Treatment Action Group, New York, United States

ISSUES: The advent of improved treatments for HIV/AIDS has opened up new opportunities for investigating and understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. Advances in this field of basic science research can inform efforts to rationalize the use of existing treatments and design novel antiretroviral and immune-based therapies. No detailed, critical reviews of basic science research are currently available.

DESCRIPTION: We prepared a report assessing the current status of the field, emphasizing advances that have occurred since the 1996 International AIDS Conference. The report reviews relevant scientific literature, interviews >30 researchers and critically analyzes the status of US govt.-funded basic science research. The report highlights new findings that have not been well-publicized, draws attention to outstanding scientific questions and possible impediments to their resolution, and makes recommendations for expediting progress.

ISSUES: Despite substantial advances critical structural and scientific hurdles remain, including: the need to better understand primate and human immunology and virus/host interactions, a lack of collaboration between the scientific disciplines of virology and immunology, poor coordination and standardization of animal research especially in the SIV/macaque model, inadequate incentives for developing antiretroviral compounds directed at currently untargeted viral or host proteins and a dearth of information regarding genetic and environmental influences on susceptibility to HIV infection and the pathogenesis of the disease in the global setting.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The policy recommendations in the report call for: fostering increased collaboration between virologists and immunologists, targeting resources to address areas of persistent controversy, ensuring adequate oversight and coordination of animal model research, and integrating basic science and pathogenesis studies into the international research agenda.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Research, HIV, Anti-HIV Agents, Health Planning Guidelines, Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active, HIV Protease Inhibitors, Research Support, Drug Therapy, Combination, Human, therapy, economics, organization & administration, drug therapy

020707
G12526