vaccines

Remembering IRP Scientists Who Gave Their Lives for Their Work

Dr. Thomas McClintic

Scientific research is not all writing grants, giving presentations, and publishing papers. There are real risks to probing the secrets of biology, and sometimes scientists lose their lives during the course of their work. In honor of Veterans Day, we woud like to commemorate NIH staff who made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of knowledge that can help us prevent and treat diseases that impact so many lives.

New in NIH History

We haven’t shared recent additions to the NIH Stetten Museum collection in a long time, so you’re in for a treat this month!

balance and Gene Hughes

Simplifying HIV Treatment: A Surprising New Lead

CD4 cells in colon, SIV

The surprising results of an animal study are raising hopes for a far simpler treatment regimen for people infected with the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Currently, HIV-infected individuals can live a near normal life span if, every day, they take a complex combination of drugs called antiretroviral therapy (ART). The bad news is if they stop ART, the small amounts of HIV that still lurk in their bodies can bounce back and infect key immune cells, called CD4 T cells, resulting in life-threatening suppression of their immune systems.