Institute of Human Virology Partners With Mexican University to Fight HIV in Latin America

The Maryland-based Institute of Human Virology, a center of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute affiliated with the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland-Baltimore, announced on Thursday that it is collaborating with the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, to fight HIV/AIDS in Latin America, the Washington Business Journal reports. Under the memorandum of understanding, IHV will help the university establish its own institute to conduct basic research, clinical research, training, care and education (Adler, Washington Business Journal, 10/19). In addition, IHV every year will train eight to 10 research fellows from the Mexican institute, which the Mexican government and private foundations will fund. According to IHV Director Robert Gallo, the institute has formed similar partnerships in China and Nigeria. Gallo -- a co-discoverer of HIV -- said he hopes to establish similar partnerships with about six centers around the world to research and develop tests, vaccines and treatments for different viruses (AP/China Post, 10/20). Latin America is home to more than 1.7 million HIV-positive people, according to the United Nations (IHV release, 10/20).

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