Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 19, 2009
Claire Keeton
Global AIDS leaders at the opening session of the conference in Paris tonight called urgently for a renewed commitment to fund basic science research and human clinical trials.
HIV vaccine funding dropped 10% globally last year from 2007.
Dr Alan Bernstein, the executive director of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, said the speed with which a successful HIV vaccine is developed would be influenced by the funding available.
"Today, more than ever, I am confident an HIV vaccine will be developed. How quickly depends on the money and ideas."
The Enterprise and the French Agency for Research on AIDS and Hepatitis (ANRS) are hosting the annual vaccine conference, which is bigger than ever before with more than 1100 delegates attending it.
ANRS director Jean-Francois Delfraissy reiterated the need for an increased budget for vaccine research, particularly in Europe.
Next year, 2010, is going to be the "major challenge" for HIV/AIDS funding another HIV chief, Professor Michael Kazatchkine declared.
"This will be the year ? in which donors pledge contributions to the Fund for the period 2011-2013," said Kazatchkine, the executive director of The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.
He also said the demand to the Fund in 2009 outstripped the resources it had available.
Peter Piot, former director of UNAIDS and director of the Institute for Global Health in London, said it was ironic that at a time of real achievements in the field of HIV/AIDS, funding was declining.
"We have four million people on (antiretroviral) treatment and achievements in prevention," he said. "Now is not the time to reduce funding. Either we pay now or we pay later."
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