Immune therapy:
Gene therapy for HIV

Using the body's immune cells and genes to treat HIV disease

January 2005     View PDF     En español

Manipulating the body’s cells and genes to treat disease holds great potential, but it is a field of research in its infancy. It will likely not yield results for years or perhaps decades as it takes baby steps towards progress. And although dramatic advances in treating HIV are not expected to come soon, its by-products—such as information about the immune system and HIV infection—may contribute to short-term advances. This publication provides an overview of the reasons for and challenges of gene therapy research.