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Groundbreaking HIV Cure: UKE Researchers Awarded German University Medicine Prize

Milestone in HIV research. Research team, with participation from the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, heals ‘Düsseldorf patients’

02 January 2024

An international research team, including a working group from the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), has shown that Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is curable under certain circumstances and thus sets new standards in research. The Medical Faculty Day and the Association of University Hospitals in Germany awarded the German University Medicine Prize to the research consortium for curing a 53-year-old man. This is endowed with 25,000 euros.

UKE researchers involved in groundbreaking HIV cure

The cure of a patient is a milestone in HIV research and also represents the UKE’s great scientific expertise in this area”, states Prof. Dr. Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro, dean and board member of the UKE, said. The course of treatment was monitored by 18 institutions from six countries. After six years of HIV therapy and four more years without viral activity, the so-called ‘Düsseldorf patient’ is now considered cured. Prior to drug therapy, blood stem cells were transplanted into the man suffering from leukemia. At the same time they had one rare gene variant, which leads to resistance to most HIV viruses. The successful healing process should be followed up on and further therapy options should be developed that will benefit as many patients as possible, says Prof. Julian Schulze zur Wiesch, head of the Hamburg working group.

The German University Medicine Prize honors socially significant achievements

The German University Medicine Prize is awarded once a year and is intended to advance university medicine in Germany as a scientific location. In addition to team achievements, innovation and translation of research projects are also recognized. The social impact of medical achievements is important, which in the case of HIV research can be classified as large. Loud Declarations The Robert Koch Institute will have it nationwide in 2022 2,500 new HIV infections given, a slight increase compared to the previous year.
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2024-01-02 05:26:42
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