State and Community Support Brings HEIDI Closer to an HIV/AIDS Cure
The HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute marked 10 years of research progress and outlined future steps toward an HIV/AIDS cure.
On September 26, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases Institute (HEIDI) gathered friends and supporters to celebrate a decade of discovery and outline the next steps toward a cure for HIV/AIDS. Founded in 2015, HEIDI accelerates innovative research and cross-disciplinary collaboration to drive prevention, treatment and a zero-transmission future of the virus, with vital backing from the state of Florida and philanthropic partners.
Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, set the tone with opening remarks that underscored the importance of HEIDI’s work.
“This is a pivotal moment to invest in discovery,” said Dean Ford. “Your support ensures lifesaving research continues, progress toward a cure accelerates and no community is left behind.”
South Florida’s Geographic Imperative
His call particularly resonates in Miami-Dade County which continues to shoulder a disproportionate share of Florida’s HIV burden and ranks among the nation’s highest for new diagnoses.
The program recognized public leaders Miami-Dade Commissioner and former State Senator Réne Garcia and State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, whose support has secured $11 million in funding from the state of Florida.
“The dedication of investigators at HEIDI and their progress in the search for a cure is inspiring,” said Senator Rodriguez. “We’re funding solutions that can move from promising ideas to real-world impact for the people of Florida.”
“HIV is a master of concealment,” said Mario Stevenson, Ph.D., HEIDI director and professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Miller School. “Our aim isn’t just to suppress it, but to flush it from the reservoirs where it hides and neutralize it for good. We’re turning the vision of life without lifelong medication into a concrete clinical path.”
Dr. Stevenson, also the site director of the Global Virus Network Center of Excellence and co-director of the Miami Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) at the Miller School, participated in the panel, “The Scientists Driving a Cure: A Conversation on HIV Breakthroughs, Gene Therapy and the Path to a Cure,” with Ronald Desrosiers, Ph.D., professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and vice chair of basic research at the Miller School, and Robert Gallo, M.D., director and co-founder of the Institute of Translational Virology and Innovation at the University of South Florida. The contributions of these leaders span from identifying HIV’s role in AIDS to pioneering translational research that guides vaccines and therapies.
Significant Advances in HIV/AIDS Research
Research showcased at the event underscored how close the field may be to one-and-done treatments. HEIDI-funded investigators led by Dr. Desrosiers are pioneering a groundbreaking approach to curing HIV/AIDS with just a single injection. Their strategy uses a gene therapy vector to deliver an agent that turns muscle cells into factories for producing powerful, HIV-fighting antibodies. Instead of ongoing treatments, one shot could provide lifelong protection or even a cure. The team has also discovered a way to prevent the body from rejecting these special antibodies, making the treatment more effective.
Thanks to generous support from the state of Florida and philanthropic donors, HEIDI is moving forward with plans for clinical trials and hopes to make treatment options accessible to people everywhere, especially those in resource-limited communities.
“HEIDI represents Florida at its best, where world-class science is rooted in service to our communities,” said Commissioner Garcia. “Our continued partnership accelerates discovery from the bench to the bedside, preventing new infections, improving care and building a credible path toward a cure.”
HEIDI continues to convert bold ideas into funded studies with promising implications for clinical advances.
“Miami is an epicenter of HIV and of innovation,” said Dr. Stevenson. “Together, we can make the impossible possible and create a world free of HIV/AIDS.”
Get Involved: Support HEIDI
For more information on supporting HEIDI, email Narina Janian or call (305) 302-8755.
Tags: AIDS, CFAR, Division of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Mario Stevenson, Dr. Ronald Desrosiers, HEIDI, HIV, HIV/AIDS, Infectious diseases, Miami Center for AIDS Research