Big Science-and You

Welcome to the second issue of HIV Plus. Since our debut in September, we've been flooded with dozens of weekly responses from readers all over the States and-via the Internet-the world. Your letters tell us you're hungry for the latest scientific information about HIV therapies, with an emphasis on practical strategies to help you manage this complicated disease. That's our goal, and we appreciate your response (including those that point out little typos and subject matter you want us to cover). Consider this magazine a forum that's designed to help you battle HIV-whether you're newly diagnosed, a care provider, or a cutting-edge physician.

In this issue, we've spotlighted several of the most pressing issues in HIV research and assigned leading AIDS community watchdogs to give us the lay of the land. Topping the list is the billion-dollar question: Can we stop HIV? Or more to the point, have we? Looking ahead, is lifelong remission really the new goal? Or should we still dream of a cure? As long-time activist Mark Harrington reports, the first test cases of remission are walking around today-healthy. And one person recently tested the embattled theory of HIV eradication by going off his potent drug regimen. More are ready to follow.

But we still need much more information about the immune system and whether we can truly harness its power to control the virus. That goal is the subject of several related stories in this issue, including overviews of immune-based therapies and HIV-related cancer. As Michael Marco warns us, even those on potent HIV combination therapy remain vulnerable to cancers like lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and, in women, cervical cancer. Why? Interestingly, some of these cancers are linked to viruses that, like HIV, may be sexually transmitted.

The link between HIV and STDs also underscores the need to develop an effective vaginal microbicide and perhaps an anal one as well. These are products designed to block sexual transmission of HIV and possibly induce a protective genital immune response to sexually transmitted organisms. Microbicide research has always been a poor stepchild of AIDS research, despite the huge global impact it stands to make on the course of this epidemic. With 32 million people living with HIV in the world now and so many more at risk, why is there such a gap in research? As Anna Forbes reports, the science is there; what's missing is funding and political muscle-meaning advocacy. In our pages, she profiles the work of advocate Sharon Hillier, an innovative pioneer in microbicide research.

So if you're looking to get more involved in HIV, consider working on some of these issues. And don't forget the new (but old) pricing war over HIV drugs-another hot-button fight. We need many voices to fight this complex epidemic. Start today. Tell us what's at the top of your wish list. We promise to spread the word.

ANNE-CHRISTINE D'ADESKY
EDITOR IN CHIEF