Recent news
November 2011
GHTC member writes about need for research to reach an AIDS-free generation
November 17, 2011 -- Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC and founding member of GHTC, recently wrote an op-ed for The Hill’s “Congress Blog” in reaction to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), during which she announced that the United States will prioritize achieving an AIDS-free generation.
In the op-ed, he stresses the need to support research if the goal of ending the pandemic is to become a reality. “The commitment to both research and implementation must be unwavering,” he writes.
Warren highlights three research priorities that are critical to reach the finish line in the fight against AIDS. First, “real-world research” about HIV prevention tools that have been found effective in clinical trials, including microbicides and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Second, a commitment to finding a vaccine to prevent HIV. And third, research into the possibility of finding a functional cure for HIV infection.
While Warren acknowledges the importance of Secretary Clinton’s announcement of an additional $60 million for HIV/AIDS programming in Africa, he urges the Obama administration to realize that a greater investment and a long-term commitment is needed in order to see this through the end.
“Now is the best possible moment to invest in research, when the possibilities for long-term success are greater than ever before. This is when we should double down on some of the amazing successes we’ve seen in the past few years. As Secretary Clinton said in her speech, it is possible to create an AIDS-free generation. Research has made this goal possible, and we must stay focused on the future.”
