The HIV/AIDS research axis of the Lady Davis Institute is a major component of the McGill University AIDS Centre, which is under the directorship of Dr. Mark Wainberg. HIV/AIDS research at the Jewish General Hospital cuts across numerous disciplines including molecular biology, understanding of host factors, innate immunity, epidemiology, drug development, and drug resistance. The program is cutting edge and stands out as an example of lab-bench to bedside efforts.
Much of the research focuses on interactions between cellular factors known to block viral replication. and virological factors that can antagonize the effects of such cellular proteins. This work involves the efforts of several laboratories working in collaboration to further the battle against HIV/AIDS, and include efforts led by Drs. Chen Liang, Lawrence Kleiman, Michael Laughrea and Mark Wainberg. The work of Drs. Anne Gatignol and Andrew Mouland also relate to this area and may lead to the identification of new drugs to combat HIV.
Efforts at the McGill AIDS Centre led by Dr. Bluma Brenner have also given rise to an important Montreal-based community project known as Projet SPOT. SPOT is focused on prevention of new HIV infections and is carried out in collaboration with scientists at several Montreal universities. Its aim is to identify and treat HIV-infected individuals as early as possible in the hope of greatly reducing HIV transmission rates.
The HIV/AIDS group publishes actively in the scientific literature. At least 20 publications per year have originated from the labs of the HIV/AIDS axis at the Lady Davis Institute over the past decade.