Hope and Gratitude in an Uncertain Time
Preparing to leave amfAR after 30 years fills me with a mix of emotions. Pride—in all we have managed to accomplish over the past three decades. Hope—that we will have a broadly accessible cure for HIV and a preventive vaccine in the near future. Confidence—that amfAR remains in capable hands and that the board and staff will continue to advance our mission with dedication and determination. And, of course, gratitude—for your enduring belief in amfAR and your continued, generous support of our work.
For anyone concerned about the fight against AIDS today, the future looks uncertain, to say the least. Federal budget cuts threaten to derail progress in the U.S. and around the world, with the real possibility of a resurgence of HIV infection especially in low- and middle-income countries once reliant on PEPFAR. For hundreds of thousands of people, access to lifesaving antiretroviral drugs has been snatched away without warning. We will continue to urge the Administration as forcefully as we can to restore access to critical prevention, testing, and treatment programs at home and abroad.
On a positive note, this issue of Innovations is full of articles and interviews that attest to the strength, breadth, and efficacy of AIDS research today. We are deeply fortunate that outstanding researchers such as Drs. Melanie Ott, Marina Caskey, Brad Jones, Guinevere Lee, and our new Director of Research Dr. Andrea Gramatica, to name a few, continue to devote themselves so passionately to curing HIV and ending AIDS as a global health threat.
In my remaining months at amfAR, I will work with our leadership team to broaden the lens of our research to areas where we believe our expertise can make a difference. As a leader in HIV research for many years, our work has touched on related diseases and conditions including hepatitis, certain cancers, COVID-19, and mental health. We look forward to leveraging our knowledge and experience to address other global health challenges.
Our pursuit of a cure for HIV remains sacrosanct and we will not rest until we achieve it. With your continued support, the perseverance of our exceptional researchers, and the help of new and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, that victory will come, and you will have played a part in it.
With gratitude,
Kevin Robert Frost
Chief Executive Officer
Click Here to read more from the May 2025 issue of amfAR INNOVATIONS.
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