A gene researcher’s breakthrough could lead to a one-time HIV/AIDS vaccine

Like many PhD students, Alessio Nahmad endured a string of research failures.

“Biology is not for the faint of heart,” he says. Now, at just 31 years old, Nahmad, the co-founder of Tabby Therapeutics and a member of the Rotary Club of Pninat Raanana, Israel, is achieving success — lots of it. He helped lead a team at Tel Aviv University whose research holds promise for a one-time vaccine for people with HIV/AIDS. Here, in his own words, is his story.

I wanted to study neurobiology because I liked psychology but wanted to know more about the science behind it. So I began a bachelor's degree in biology. Then I was in a genetics class, and I fell in love. I learned about new technologies to modify cells. I learned about stem cell therapy and gene modification techniques.

HIV is the king of mutations. It's a virus that mutates to escape the immune response. If we compare it to influenza, the diversity of influenza strains in the whole world is roughly comparable to the diversity of HIV strains you will find in a single patient infected with HIV. Type B white blood cells are the main players in neutralizing viral infections. So, in my work, we used the CRISPR gene-editing technique to engineer B cells that activate the immune system to produce antibodies that neutralize HIV. We were able to directly modify the cells in mice through a single injection.

To develop a cure for HIV, we need more than the grant funding from universities. Financing this is huge. We are very close to curing HIV. But we need that last push. There is no reason why 40 million people are living with HIV infection right now in the world. Governments should enhance funding for research by offering academia and industry competitive grants to tackle emerging or common diseases.

We think this technology will also work well against cancer. At Tabby Therapeutics, we are going to try to use it to treat tumors. HIV is a single virus. Cancer is a world of diseases, so a lot of people need treatments and solutions for cancer.

People need to know that science is fun. We need to encourage the next generation of scientists. The world needs bright minds to resolve the issues we are and will be facing. — As told to Orly Halpern