FIAVI Announces Funding for Taiwan HIV/AIDS Research

The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative has awarded a $612,923, three-year grant to an HIV/AIDS research team in Taiwan, the Central News Agency reports. The research team is led by Academia Sinica President Chi-Huey Wong and was awarded the grant for its work to develop a defense against HIV/AIDS, according to the Central News Agency. Wong and colleagues developed a new compound, called glycodendron, that has proven effective at stopping HIV from infecting rodents by preventing the virus from attaching to dendritic cells and prompting the immune system to produce antibodies to attack HIV. According to the Central News Agency, the researchers hope the compound can be used in new HIV/AIDS treatments and to develop a safe and effective vaccine. Wong said that the IAVI grant will help foster increased attention to and engagement in the development of an HIV/AIDS vaccine (Wu, Central News Agency, 10/20).

Source: http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=55130