Praphan Phanuphak, an outspoken AIDS clinician in Bangkok, co-directs the HIV Australia Thailand Research Collaboration (HIV-NAT), which makes its headquarters in an old water tower. Since 1996, HIV-NAT has become involved with cutting-edge treatment studies that, for Asia, are as unusual as its headquarters building. In collaboration with international research teams, HIV-NAT has studied the chemical messenger interleukin-2, protease inhibitors in patients who have liver problems, "structured treatment interruptions" that allow patients to stop and start their drugs, and even the ultra-expensive anti-HIV drug T-20. HIV-NAT, says Praphan, wants to gather information not just for Thailand, but for the scientific world at large. "That's the real objective of HIV-NAT," says Praphan. |
