Welcome
Remarks - Francoise Barre-Sinoussi
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome,
commonly known as AIDS, is a disease of the human immune system
caused by the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). AIDS is now the pandemic
in about a century. It has killed more than 25 million people since its
discovery in 1981 to 2006. In 2007, it was estimated that 33 million people
lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS killed an estimated
2.1 million people, including 330,000 children. AIDS was first recognized
by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention in 1981. After learning the medical reports of this new
disease, Professor Barre-Sinoussi and Dr. Montagnier were the first, as early
as 1983, to identify the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to be the culprit
that leads to AIDS.
According to the Nobel Assembly:
“Never before have science and
medicine been so quick to discover, identify the origin and provide treatment for
a new disease entity.”
Because of their groundbreaking work
in uncovering the virus responsible for AIDS, Prof. Barre-Sinoussi and Dr.
Montagnier, together with Dr. Zur Hausen for his work on (Human
Papillomavirus) HPV, won the Nobel prize for medicine in
2008.
Prof. Barre-Sinoussi is not only an
eminent scientist but also a great humanist. Throughout the years, she has been
extensively involved in AIDS control programs worldwide, especially in the
emerging nations, saving countless lives of women and children. She has promoted
a combined approach of lab-based research and locally based education and
treatment centers for the control of the disease.
With her brilliant insights on
HIV/AIDS and compassion for humanity, Prof. Barre-Sinoussi’ lecture at our
university today will certainly inspire the young students and faculty members
alike to challenge important biomedical problems. With the university’s
commitment to promote innovative biomedical research, I hope we could someday
produce a Nobel laureate of our own, that could follow the footsteps of Prof.
Barre-Sinoussi for a better understanding and treatment of critical human
diseases, and to provide hope for welfare of all human beings.
On behalf of National Tsing Hua
University, I welcome our guest of honor and maestro speaker of today, Prof.
Francoise Barre-Sinoussi.
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