Role of physician-scientists in the control of human immunodeficiency virus

Abstract

Physician-scientists played many important roles in controlling human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV). They worked in academia, government, and industry, and their research was critical in the following areas: Discovering the first active drugs; identifying the virologic, immunologic, and clinical perimeters of efficacy; and conceiving of and executing the subsequent clinical trials that led to the multiple drug regimens that we now have to treat the infection and its complications in all the populations now involved. It is now true that over half of the infected people in the world are under treatment. Because the overall number of physician-scientists is decreasing, we must consider the possibility that our ability to deal with future challenges to human health issues such as HIV may be compromised.