Accomplishments of NCI Scientists
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Research by Drs. Douglas Lowy and John Schiller led to the development of a vaccine against human papillomavirus, which promises to protect millions of women against cervical cancer. |
From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, NCI scientists have played a major role in HIV/AIDS and AIDS malignancy research. Scientists within the NCI and supported by the NCI have made a number of key discoveries, including:
- Co-discovering HIV and proving that this virus was the cause of AIDS
- Establishing large scale culture methods for HIV and developing the first blood test
- Identifying anti-HIV activity and conducting the first clinical trials of the first AIDS drugs—zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), and zalcitabine (ddC)
- Discovering Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also called human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)—the cause of Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Developing the first vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), which can protect against cervical cancer (an AIDS-defining cancer) and other cancers
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While he was at the NCI, Dr. Robert C. Gallo co-discovered HIV, showed that it was the cause of AIDS, and developed the first blood test. |
For more information on the HIV/AIDS research accomplishments of scientists working within the NCI and the activities of the Center of Excellence in HIV/AIDS and Cancer Virology, please download the pamphlet: "HIV/AIDS Research at the NCI: A Record of Sustained Excellence".
