'In no other field are the opportunities to translate evidence into action so great as they currently are in HIV/AIDS. Not only can researchers have direct impact on policy and practice, they can reduce inequities by helping to make scientific advances available more quickly to the millions of people who need treatment.'

There needs to be more emphasis on learning by doing -- applying results of scientific studies to AIDS programs as they are being implemented -- stressed Dr. Charlie Gilks, head of treatment, prevention and scale-up in WHO's HIV/AIDS Department. speaking at the 3rd International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Universal Access by 2010

World leaders recently endorsed the goal of getting as close as possible to universal access to HIV treatment by 2010 at their annual G8 meeting held in Gleneagles, Scotland. This effort will require a significant new investment of resources and stepped-up research, said Dr. Gilks, who cited new formulations of HIV drugs for children and simpler tests to diagnose and monitor patients as major priorities for scaling up treatment in resource-limited settings.

"The list of research questions is long," he acknowledged. "But if we are going to achieve universal access, we will need to invest in applied research and move new products and approaches quickly into the field."

The scientific community can meet this challenge, Dr. Gilks maintained, noting that prospects for rewarding scientific work in the field of HIV/AIDS never have been better.

"We have the knowledge to answer many of these questions," he said. "In fact, I would argue that in no other field are the opportunities to translate evidence into action so great as they currently are in HIV/AIDS. Not only can researchers have direct impact on policy and practice, they can reduce inequities by helping to make scientific advances available more quickly to the millions of people who need treatment."

Momentum Building

The Rio conference brings together leading AIDS scientists, activists and policy makers to discuss recent advances in HIV/AIDS research and ways of translating new findings into practice.

The WHO and UNAIDS strategy to ensure treatment for three million people living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries by the end of 2005 -- the "3 by 5" goal -- has been a major catalyst for mobilizing support and action, and was an important first step toward the goal of universal access, notes WHO.

Availability of antiretroviral treatment in developing countries has improved significantly. Since the initiative started in 2003, the number of countries establishing national treatment targets has risen from four to 40, and the number of countries that have developed national plans to scale up antiretroviral treatment now numbers 34, up from only three.

In the last 12 months, more than 50 countries have doubled the number of people who are on treatment, according to WHO. The recent G8 endorsement of achieving as close as possible to universal access to treatment by 2010 is seen as a major boost to continuing this effort.

Dr. Gilks emphasized the importance of research on HIV prevention in addition to more effective ways to deliver treatment.

"While we work to keep people alive and healthy with the tools we have now, we also need to ensure that future generations will have access to better prevention technologies," he said, referring to the importance of vaccine and microbicide research.