Indian Origin Couple Wins Top US Award for Offering Fresh Hopes Against HIV-AIDS

A researcher couple of Indian origin has been felicitated by the United States with a prestigious award for their contribution towards prevention of HIV/AIDS. They are currently developing new ways of HIV prevention in women. They also discovered the Tenofovir Gel for prevention of Herpes.

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Professor Salim Abdool Karim and his wife Quarraisha Abdool Karim were felicitated by the Institute of Human Virology (IHV) in Baltimore in US at the institute’s 19th international meeting. They received the award from  the hands of Roberto Gallo, who discovered HIV as the cause of AIDS.

Gallo was quoted by the local media praising the Indian couple’s endeavors as some of the greatest contributions in the history of HIV/Aids in public health and epidemiology relevant to prevention and care of infected people.

"I don't know any person or persons who have done more to advance the proper care of people with HIV infection or the prevention of HIV infection among a population," Robert Gallo said.

The couple was the first to explain how Antiretrovirals could play a role in preventing the sexual transmission of HIV. The inference was made by them when they studied the results of their CAPRISA 004 Tenofovir Gel trial in 2010. This landmark study was then recognized and given a place in the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of the year.

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They went on to research and analyze genetic codes from study subjects in South Africa to try to pinpoint biological factors that may contribute, along with behavioral factors, to a large number of infections. With the striking findings were striking, they are now working towards charting a path to reduce the number of new infections in young women and girls—one of the greatest challenges for health officials combating HIV all over the world.

Dr. Salim Abdool Karim is the director of the Centre for the Aids Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA) and is under the Quarraisha Abdool Karim is the associate scientific director. They are both professors of epidemiology at the Columbia University, New York. Also, they are the honorary academics of University of KwaZulu- Natal in South Africa