Newswise — It appears likely that actor Charlie Sheen is going to announce in an interview Tuesday on the Today Show that he is infected with HIV. The announcement will bring significant attention to the issues surrounding HIV infection, inspire discussion surrounding cures (and if they currently exist), as well as the promise of groundbreaking treatment to stem the spread of HIV and, someday, eliminate it outright. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has the largest team of infectious disease researchers of any cancer center in the U.S. and is the headquarters for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the world’s largest group working to develop an HIV vaccine. The network conducts studies in more than 30 sites on five continents. In light of the announcement and the attention we expect it to attract, we’ve asked some of the world’s leading HIV researchers, right here at Fred Hutch in Seattle, to provide expert opinion if you have any questions on HIV in the U.S. or worldwide: Dr. Larry Corey: Corey has led some of the most significant advances in medicine in the last 30 years, including the development of safe and effective antivirals for herpes viruses, HIV and hepatitis infections. As president emeritus of Fred Hutch, he helped drive lifesaving discoveries across an even broader spectrum of diseases. He is currently the principal investigator of the Fred Hutch-based HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the world’s largest HIV vaccine trial.

“This epidemic has not gone away. It’s sort of the silent epidemic,” Corey said. “Worldwide, there are 2 million cases every year. Unfortunately, the disease is alive and well and thriving.”

“There’s a misconception that [if you get HIV], you did something wrong,” Corey said. “But all infections are created by some contact with another person.” Dr. James Kublin: Kublin is the executive director of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network based at Fred Hutch. He has conducted extensive research on HIV and malaria in South America, SE Asia and Africa, including clinical trials of novel therapies and vaccines.

“A lot of the myths that are still out there are the ones that were there in the 1980s,” Kublin said. Please contact either Rhonda Curry or Mike Lewis if you have questions or would like to arrange an interview.

Rhonda CurryDirectorCommunications & Government RelationsO 206.667.1455M 206.240.6011[email protected]

Mike LewisMedia Relations and CommunicationsO 206.667.6651M 206.931.9883[email protected]

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