The AIDS Epidemic: Progress in Research

"... USC welcomed the involvement of Dr. Wayne Greaves*, ... the Senior Director at Merck Research Laboratories, in our 2013 Charter Week celebrations. Every year since USC achieved University status, USC has hosted a week of celebratory events during the month of March.  One of the events is a day of scholarly presentations open to students, faculty, staff and community members.  Dr. Greaves presented on the topic: “The AIDS Epidemic: Progress in Research”**.  The presentation began with symptoms of the disease, complete with photos; he definitely had the crowd's attention. He spoke about initial research on the disease, theories of origin, effective drug therapies, and his work in the field.

AIDS treatments have been simplified, from patients taking a cocktail of pills, to one super-potent pill containing four types of medication. Prevention studies have resulted in a decrease in maternal to fetal transmission. Research has also shown merit in the ‘treatment as prevention’ hypothesis; controlling the epidemic with the use of antiretroviral drugs as a prevention tool. Studies have shown that a single pill containing two drugs, taken daily, can prevent an uninfected person from HIV transmission. Additionally, when infected people get on treatment early and stay on it, they are much less likely to infect another person during sex.
When discussing the modes of transmission of the disease, Dr, Greaves urged students to be careful in their amorous dealings. Although open-mouth or deep kissing is often not counted as a mode of transmission, there is still danger in this encounter as the disease may be transmitted through sores or cuts in the mouth of an infected person.

Recent developments in the field were also discussed. Earlier this month, news headlines told us of an infant who had been functionally cured of AIDS. As explained by Dr. Greaves, this did not mean that the disease was completely eradicated from the child’s system, but rather that the viral load present in the bloodstream was undetectable by traditional methods of testing. Currently, Dr. Greaves is working on an entry inhibitor drug that will prevent the virus from attaching to the cell.

Building on his earlier warning, Dr. Greaves also discussed methods of prevention, highlighting the ABC Method of HIV Prevention: Abstain from sex, Be faithful if you do not abstain, Use a Condom if you are not faithful.

A man knowledgeable about his field, Dr. Greaves’ style was easy to follow as he took us on this informative journey."

Rachel J. Sealy
Office of Advancement & Alumni Relations
Director for Alumni Relations
University of the Southern Caribbean

* Barbadian-born Dr. Wayne Greaves is a cousin of the late USC alumnus,  Dr. Timothy Greaves, who was recently posthumously honoured by his alma-mater, Loma Linda University .

** This lecture was delivered at the main campus of the University of the Southern Caribbean - Maracas Valley, Trinidad.