The New York Times - February 12, 1984
Ronald Sullivan

The 20 grants account for nearly $4 million in state research funds, with one of the largest grants, $256,250, awarded to researchers at the New York Blood Center to develop a screening test for donors in an effort to further protect the region's blood supply against the deadly disorder, acquired immune defeciency syndrome.

'A Better Understanding'

"We look to these projects for a better understanding of the complex syndome that attacks the immune system of so many young New Yorkers," Mr. Cuomo said in a statement. "We also look foward to a better understanding of the immune system itself, which may unlock some of the mysteries of cancer, blood disorders and other diseases."

However, State Senator Roy M. Goodman, a Manhattan Republican and the Senate sponsor of a bill that appropriated $5.25 million last year to fight AIDS, criticized the Governor for not appropriating more money for research for the next fiscal year. Senator Goodman and Bishop Paul Moore Jr. of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the chairman of the Governor's AIDS Advisory Council, called on the Governor last Wednesday to grant $4 million in additional state funds in the new budget for the fight against AIDS.

Additional Funds Denied

Dr. David Axelrod, the State Health Commissioner, had requested an additional $5.2 million in AIDS funds for the fiscal year that begins in April. But the request was denied by the Governor on the advice of his budget advisers.

According to state health officials, the new funds were denied because the new grants are for two years and the state wants to review progress of the research before granting more money.

The Federal Health and Human Services Department has described AIDS as the nation's "No. 1 health priority." It is spending $14 million on AIDS research this year.

Since a large share of the Federal research is being conducted in hospitals and research centers in New York City, state officials said they wanted to make sure that they did not lose any Federal funds.

Panel Evaluated Proposals

All told, 122 proposals were evaluated by a scientific research panel headed by Dr. Richard A. Rifkind, the chairman of the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Twenty were selected, including four from researchers at the New York University Medical Center and five from scientists at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

The grants, which range from $84,300 to $269,234, will seek to develop more sophisticated diagnostic and screening tests for AIDS and investigate possible causes and cures of the disorder. Many experts strongly suspect that AIDS is caused by a virus, while others have suggested that it is caused by sustained assaults on the body's immune system.

AIDS was discovered three years ago. More than 3,000 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, with nearly half the cases in New York City. The majority of the victims have been homosexuals or those who take drugs intravenously. The disorder is described as ultimately fatal for most victims, and thus far, nearly half the victims have died.

These are the individuals who received AIDS grants and their research projects: Carlos Lopez, Sloan-Kettering, $143,756, role of interferon. William Hardy, Sloan-Kettering, $198,535, virus-induced feline AIDS. Richard Price, Sloan-Kettering, $185,773, central nervous system complications. Karolynn Siegel, Sloan-Kettering, $121,746, preventive sexual measures among risk groups. Michael Hoffman, Sloan-Kettering, $217,966, B-cell response in AIDS patients. James Bussel, Cornell University, $81,692, role of blood-clotting factor and immune deficiency in hemophilia. Gregory Siskind, Cornell, $256,217, role of B-cell activation in animal immunodeficiency. Marcus Horwitz, the Rockefeller University, $98,339, interaction of pneumocystis carinii and human phagocytes. Dwight Janerich, State Department of Health, $269,234, epidemiological studies among prison inmates. Joyce Wallace, AIDS Medical Foundation, $220,313, study of female prostitutes and drug addicts. Robert Naurath, New York Blood Center, $256,250, diagnostic tests for viruses. Steven Witkin, Cornell, $157,779, sperm-induced immune system changes. Neil Blumberg, University of Rochester, $84,300, antibody to peripheral blood cells. Claudio Basilico, New York University, $282,168, molecular biology of tumors. Susan Zolla-Pazner, New York University, $178,478, role of hyperactive B cells. Daniel Knowles, New York University, $238,916, dendritic cell populations. Simon Karpatkin, New York University, $89,258, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Hienz Kohler, Roswell Park, Buffalo, $219,435, animal models. Frank Collins, Trudeau Institute, Saranac Lake, $165,744, microbacterial infections. Donald Kotler, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, $354,062, intestinal disease.

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