FED: Lack of ideas main barrier to HIV vaccine: virologist

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-1999
FED: Lack of ideas main barrier to HIV vaccine: virologist

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - A lack of innovative ideas rather than funding was the greatest barrier
to developing a vaccine against HIV, a leading US virologist said today.

Researcher David Baltimore said in the United States there had been a massive injection of
funds to fight the virus.

Dr Baltimore said Microsoft founder Bill Gates had made a long-term commitment of more than
$US200 million for vaccine research, focusing on HIV but also including other diseases such as
malaria.

But he said the key to stopping HIV infection in humans remained elusive to scientists.

"At the research level we have exciting things happening but at the practical level we
don't have a lot to offer," he told a media conference after addressing the 11th International
Congress of Virology here.

"The greatest road block is new ideas. Over the next period of time we will see more
interesting and successful vaccines come along (but) we have a long way to go."

He said it was important researchers world wide were supported.

"We are dealing with the most important public health issue in the world," he said.

"Although we have put in massive amounts of money in the US, the right idea might come from
somebody who's working off in left field, in Tasmania, wherever."

AAP ls/bd/tsm/kr

KEYWORD: VIROLOGY HIV

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