Dr. Robert C. Gallo

Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Losing his 6-year-old sister to leukemia at the age of 12 made Dr. Robert C. Gallo discover his life’s purpose early – using scientific research to make discoveries and work to end deadly diseases.

Renowned throughout the world for co-discovering the human immunodeficiency virus HIV as the cause for AIDS, Gallo and his research team have made many discoveries that benefit patients and the medical community, including developing the HIV blood test and therapies used to help prolong the lives of those infected.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Gallo co-founding the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The institute combines research, patient care and prevention programs geared toward discovering medical breakthroughs. More than a million HIV-positive individuals have been treated at the institute since it opened its doors.

In October, the institute announced its first phase of clinical trials for an HIV vaccine candidate. Gallo leads the research team, which is following the candidate poised to produce protective antibody responses across the HIV-1 strains.
“Our HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate is designed to bind to the virus at the moment of infection, when many of the different strains of HIV found around the world can be neutralized,” Gallo said. “We believe this mechanism is a major prerequisite for an effective HIV preventive vaccine.”