By Sean Henahan, Access Excellence

VANCOUVER (July 8,'96) For one reason or another, many basic scientists appear to be staying away from the XIth International AIDS Conference, a situation that benefits no one, according to noted AIDS researcher Mark A. Wainberg, Ph.D.

The number of abstracts submitted by Track A (i.e. basic) scientists to the International Conference on AIDS has fallen to about half the numbers received by other tracks (clinical, epidemiology, sociology), Wainberg says.

"Basic scientists commonly explain this gap by stating that the quality and quantity of excellent scientific presentations is below what is commonly found at more specialized conferences, that there are too many other meetings to attend, or that they are tired of conferences that are influenced by activists and other special interests seeking to gain media attention through public demonstrations. The conclusion to this line of reasoning is that the International AIDS Conference is a waste of money, and that researchers' time is better spent in the lab," he noted.

Organizers of the International Conferences on AIDS have already responded to these concerns by holding the meetings every two years, instead of annually. However, it is clear that efforts must be made to encourage scientists of all types to take part in this major conference, he said.

"The International Conference on AIDS is the only major meeting in our field that brings together scientists working in the many disparate areas of HIV/AIDS. The intense media coverage generated by the Conference ensures that the world is informed of research breakthroughs, as well as the need to redouble HIV prevention efforts. Governments and taxpayers want to hear that money invested in research has paid dividends. The media accomplish this far more efficiently than we could ever do on our own, and never more effectively than during the International Conference. The fact is that all scientists working in HIV/AIDS benefit from the media coverage devoted to the pandemic, and from lobbying by activists and other interested parties," he noted in an editorial.

Basic scientists should not justify their esearch based on the catastrophic international dimensions of the pandemic, and then dismiss the International Conference as an irrelevant venue for scientific exchange. Basic and molecular scientists must recognize that their obligations in relation to international dimensions of HIV/AIDS are no less compelling than those that motivate their colleagues in other areas of study. Indeed, multi-disciplinary initiatives can further vaccine research and prevention efforts, he emphasized.

"Certain scientists, who should know better, have tried to portray the International Conference as an inappropriate venue for presentation of first-class results. We will all be losers if this attitude gains further credence. Rather, Track A scientists who have never been to an International Conference must be encouraged to attend the next one. We needn't insist that all scientists in HIV/AIDS attend every meeting in the series, but it is reasonable to expect senior investigators, in particular, to recognize their obligations to the International Conference," Wainberg said.

Dr. Wainberg is a co-coordinator of Track A at the XI International Conference on AIDS and Director of the McGill University AIDS Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Related information on the Internet

XIth International AIDS Conference

JAMA HIV Info.

HIV Replication Primer

HIV Pathogenesis

YAHOO AIDS DIRECTORY