HIV Research Matters for America

NIH-funded HIV research over the past 40 years has contributed to or directly led to nearly all of the major milestones in understanding HIV. HIV research also has led to breakthrough advances in numerous other diseases. For example, HIV research was critical to the development of PD-1 inhibitors, a key new approach to cancer treatment that enables immune cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells.

Since the beginning of this Trump administration, the assertion of new priorities and efforts to reduce federal spending have produced chaos at the NIH. The administration’s changes have been abrupt, arbitrary, and remain unpredictable. With NIH Director Bhattacharya now confirmed by the U.S. Senate, it is hoped that he can reassert NIH standards of evidence-based analysis and scientific leadership for setting research priorities and funding critical studies.

HIV research supported by the NIH extends hope, improves lives, and helps the nation to avert unnecessary health spending. It is vital to our national interest to not unravel or undermine the successful HIV research system we have built and to continue making critical investments now and into the future.

Read the Quick Take.