More In This Article In February, Nobel laureate David
Baltimore, president of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS), could scarcely have been more
depressing. “We have been trying to make an HIV vaccine since
the day HIV was discovered. In 1984 we were told that as the
virus had been found, a vaccine should be just around the
corner,” he reminded an audience at the annual AAAS meeting in
Boston. “Every year since then, we have been saying it is at
least 10 years away. I still think it is at least 10 years
away.” All attempts with vaccines to raise antibodies against
HIV had failed, he observed. Researchers would need to go back
to basics and pursue new approaches to fighting the virus. “Our
lack of success may be understandable,” Baltimore declared, “but
it is not acceptable.” It was (and remains) an admirable
sentiment, but of course determination is no substitute for
results for those in need. A grim report in August from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drove home ho