The Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) officially re-launched the Mark Wainberg Fund today, a funding program today that honours the legacy of HIV research pioneer Dr. Mark Wainberg. Prizes awarded via the Mark Wainberg Fund assist Canadian basic science researchers – working in the realm of HIV virology – to present their work at accredited meetings in Canada and internationally. The prizes are made possible thanks to the generous support of ViiV Healthcare ULC.
“Dr. Wainberg was a pioneer in HIV research, and his passing leaves a great void in the world of Canadian HIV research” said Dr. Curtis Cooper, CAHR President and researcher at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. “This fund honours his life and work, and will continue to help Canadian researchers to follow in his footsteps”.
In April 2017, the HIV community mourned the passing of Dr. Mark Wainberg (1945-2017), a veteran leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and well-known for his involvement in the vastly important initial identification of lamivudine (3TC) as an antiviral drug in 1989. An internationally respected researcher and committed mentor, Dr. Wainberg was also one of the founding members and past President of the Canadian Association for HIV Research.
“ViiV Healthcare is proud to support HIV virologists in presenting their work at CAHR and other accredited conferences in Canada and internationally” said ViiV General Manager Sara Leclerc. “ViiV is proud to honour Dr. Wainberg’s legacy through fostering dialogue, knowledge sharing, and leadership in HIV research.”
Canadian HIV virology researchers that have their abstracts and presentations accepted for presentation at accredited conferences are eligible to apply for this prize. Over the last year, 12 individuals were funded via the new program to attend five distinct international conferences.
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About CAHR
The Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) is the professional organization for HIV/AIDS research in Canada and by Canadians. CAHR is composed of researchers in all disciplines of HIV/AIDS science, for the purpose of improving prevention and treatment with an ultimate goal of eradication and cure. www.cahr-acrv.ca
See further details for the Mark Wainberg Fund: https://www.cahr-acrv.ca/mark-wainberg-fund/
Contact: trainingandawards@cahr-acrv.ca