Some AIDS Researchers Shifting Focus To Fight SARS Epidemic

Dr. David Ho, director and CEO of the New York City-based Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, plans to turn his attention to fighting severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, the Wall Street Journal reports. Ho, who was instrumental in developing the combination drug therapy now employed to treat people with HIV/AIDS, said he has agreed to conduct work on potential treatments and vaccines for the SARS virus in his state-of-the-art laboratory, set up for work on a potential HIV vaccine, in Hong Kong "at least for the short term." Ho said, "Given all the lessons we've learned from HIV, this one looks easier." Ho said that the primary mission of ADARC will not change, adding, "But when asked to help with a crisis situation, if you can, you do." In addition, Dr. Gary Nabel, director of the NIH Vaccine Research Center, said that he is shifting 30 employees from work on HIV and Ebola vaccines to begin research on a SARS vaccine (Regalado/Schoofs, Wall Street Journal, 4/24).