We honour a pioneer whose work has directly saved millions of lives all over the world
Anthony Fauci is moving on from an incredibly rich history of service with the United States government to his next chapter of advancing public health by mentoring the next generation of scientific leaders. As he does so, we at IAS – the International AIDS Society – wholeheartedly thank him for the critical and lasting impact of his leadership on the HIV response and global health.
For five decades, his tireless commitment to following evidence-based science through politically fraught pandemics in the face of staunch resistance has helped save countless lives worldwide. We laud Anthony Fauci for his ability and commitment to speak truth to power.
The HIV field is a delicate marriage of science, policy and activism. Dr Fauci’s leadership in the past 50 years has given us a roadmap for how to achieve this: it starts with listening. His willingness to proactively seek out direct conversations with members of the HIV activism community changed the trajectory of the HIV response and has served as inspiration for countless HIV researchers ever since.
Some of the most vocal critics of the HIV response are among his friends, and his political service has spanned more conservative and more progressive administrations. This indicates not only the intellectual and political acumen that has been a hallmark of his leadership, but also the depth of his dedication to responding to the needs of people.
As a pioneer in the field of human immunoregulation, Dr Fauci’s contributions in the laboratory have changed the face of global health in multiple disease areas. Starting with HIV early in his career, his research helped us understand how HIV destroys the body’s natural defence system and progresses to AIDS. Dr Fauci’s pivotal advocacy for a parallel track approach to increase access to experimental drugs, alongside his stewardship of treatment for HIV, took the science directly into the political arena, changing US health policy, educating the public and reducing stigma.
Mainstreaming evidence-based science and advocating for access to treatment, his leadership quickly jumped the borders of the US. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Dr Fauci shaped health outcomes on a global scale. From conception, this forward-thinking programme increased equity in health; it also included the knowledge and experiences of those it was designed to reach decades before that was accepted as best practice. As the chief architect of this USD 7 billion programme, he has directly contributed to saving 21 million lives in more than 50 countries. Anthony Fauci is truly a leader who puts people first.
We are inspired by his impact on global health beyond PEPFAR and HIV. Under his leadership, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) invested significantly in HIV vaccine trials. He co-founded the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, which accounts for 80% of the world’s HIV vaccine research, and his support has accelerated progress on one of our most formidable scientific challenges. This foundational research was a principal driver in our success in developing a COVID-19 vaccine. We have much to thank Dr Fauci and the NIAID for, from the Moderna mRNA vaccine to therapeutic antibodies and more.
Dr Fauci’s experience with the uncertainty and fear that accompanied HIV in the ’80s and ’90s, alongside his courage, made him a lighthouse in the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the science with a people-centric approach, he led us through a daunting time, battling misinformation with evidence.
We are profoundly grateful for his dedication. Future achievements in the HIV response and other emerging infectious diseases will build on his cornerstone legacy, which like the IAS, unites science, policy and activism. This legacy will continue to grow through the many generations of clinicians and scientists he has directly supported and continue to inspire – both old and young.
Of course, we deeply appreciate the time and wisdom he has devoted to the IAS, attending every conference and giving the most widely attended keynote address or plenary talk, year after year.
The IAS pledges to continue carrying his work forward, keeping the beacon that he lit burning bright. We look forward to watching Anthony Fauci shape the next generation of scientific leaders with the same care and commitment with which he has changed the face of global health.