University of Alabama-Birmingham AIDS Study to Enhance Immune System

The University of Alabama-Birmingham has received a five-year, $5.8 million National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases grant to continue its HIV work. The research focuses on enhancing the patient's immune system's ability to fight, rather than eliminate, HIV. "Studies show that patients treated aggressively in the early stages of infection may suffer fewer immune system deficits than those treated after long-term infection," said Dr. Michael Kilby, medical director of UAB's 1917 Clinic. "Because we have been able to suppress the disease successfully and boost the immune system with antiviral therapies, attention is now being turned to strategies that will further improve the immune system and perhaps limit the lifelong dependence on antiviral therapies in this setting of improved outcomes," he said. Four other research sites -- University of California-San Francisco, University of California-San Diego, Harvard and New York-based Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center -- were chosen in addition to UAB.

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