Disease Research (NAPSA)—In 2004, U.S. Army Col. Jerome Kim, an infectious successful, it could be the first EV vaccine to show even moderate protection against HIV infection— a critical milestone in the fight against HIV. Sponsored by the U.S. Army in partnership with the government of Thailand, the Phase III clinical trial known as RV144 followed 16,000 Thai volunteers. The results announced in 2009 “showed aneffi- cacy rate of 31.2 percent in vaccine recipients,” said Dr. Kim, now the if- r: disease physician, flew to Bangkok to oversee a massive HIV vaccine study. It was the opportunity ofa lifetime—andthestakes were high. If 4 oto cre. Icoer rrolan MIHRP U.S. Army Col. Jerome Kim, Deputy Director, U.S. Military HIV Research Program dengue, influenza, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Armyresearch is presented at major international meetings and appears in top medical and scientific journals. Army researchers have conducted two Ebola vaccine studies in Uganda care for any troops who receive a positive diagnosis. While America’s defense needs drive the Army’s efforts, people around the world and at homealso benefit. Based in Maryland, MHRPis a network of military research labs and facilities in Thailand, Kenya and other African nations that welcomethe clinical infrastructure, jobs and training opportunities the labs offer their scientists. “When the president of Tanzania came to Washington, he asked to visit WRAIR because of the work we’re doing in his country,” recalled Kim. “It was a reminder that our work has a global impact and is really a form of medical diplomacy.” A Career Like No Other In the years since RV144, Kim hasled efforts to understand how the vaccine worksagainst HIV. In addition, MHRPis leading efforts to search for a cure for HIV, working with volunteers from Thailand treated in the first days after infection. “This work,” says Col. Nelson Michael, MHRP another one in Nigeria this year. Force protection is the primary reason for the Army’s investment in infectious disease research. For continue to be an important force in the fight against HIV.” Kim will retire from the Army later this year to head the Inter- cal areas are vulnerable to ma- organization committed to providing affordable vaccines in developing countries. “I would encourage anyone interested in thefield of infectious disease to consider the Army,” he said. “We are looking for medical professionals who want experience in global health to work in our labs and field programs in Africa and Asia. Army medicine allows people to gain professional experience and training they won’t get anywhereelse. “The Armyoffers infectious disease specialists the chanceto participate in all aspects of research and prevention,” he added. “In my Deputy Director of the U.S. Mili- tary HIV Research Program (MHRP) at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR). “This achievement paved the way for us to learn more about the HIV virus, refine the vaccine and boost the immuneresponse so the next generation of the vaccines will be more effective,” he said. Protecting Our Troops... And The World The Army has been a global leader in infectious disease research since Maj. Walter Reed confirmed yellow fever is transmitted by mosquitoes in 1901. The Army partners with foreign governments and militaries, businesses, universities and NGOs to develop vaccines and treatments for diseases such as malaria, and the U.S., and are set to start instance, troops stationed in tropi- laria. In the case of HIV, forcewidescreening since 1986 ensures that the Army’s blood supply is infection-free and enables earlier director, “ensures that MHRP will national Vaccine Institute, an time at MHRP, I’ve been able to Photo credit: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS) A scientist in the U.S. Army research laboratory in Thailand lead research efforts in virus and human genome sequencing, teach, and do clinical work—often at the same time. It’s really the best of all worlds.”
