The third POZ 100 list celebrated people working to accelerate the end of AIDS. In 2012, the idea of a cure started to feel much more attainable. Building on the announcement of Timothy Ray Brown, the first person cured of HIV, additional cure news was discussed in Washington, DC, at the XIX International AIDS Conference, which was held in the United States for the first time since 1990.
At the time, it was believed that Brown might no longer have been the only person cured of the virus, as scientists hinted at two more possible cases. But today, there has only ever been one other person widely considered to have been cured of HIV.
At the conference, researchers also revealed data on 14 people living with HIV who had been treated with antiretroviral therapy early in their infection and had achieved “viral controller” status. In other words, they appeared able to control the virus without remaining on medication. Those cases gave researchers hope in finding a “functional” cure, meaning the virus still lives inside the body but does little or no harm. That compares with a “sterilizing” cure, when the virus is eradicated from the body.
To honor these scientific advances, the 2012 POZ 100 list recognized people who made a significant contribution to speeding up the end of AIDS. They included scientists making the groundbreaking discoveries inching us closer to a cure and researchers exploring ways to prevent others from getting HIV as well as advocates, politicians and celebrities fighting on the front lines to end AIDS.
Catching Up With...
Kali Lindsey
Kali LindseyMackenzie Stroh
What advice do you have for people doing HIV advocacy work today?
Try not to take anything personally, and give yourself as much grace as you can. We can become distracted by losses rather than celebrate our victories. Progress doesn’t come in an instant, and your only competition is in your mind. Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
Judy Auerbach
Judy AuerbachCourtesy of Judith Auerbach
How do you empower others?
Much of my HIV focus has been on women, who remain a neglected population in the HIV response in the United States. As a sociologist who operates in the biomedical science arena, I try to leverage my standing to lift up emerging scholars and community members—especially women of color—interested in HIV science. I try to step back and let these younger and early-career people take the floor and the podium and assume leadership positions.
Matt Sharp
Matt SharpCourtesy of Matt Sharp
Why do you advocate for people living with HIV?
I have always advocated for people living with HIV/AIDS from the moment I knew I could join the fight. Advocacy and activism are in my bones, and I can’t imagine not supporting others and fighting HIV for the rest of my life. It’s simply what I wake up to do every day.
2012 Medical Milestone
Istock
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first use of antiretrovirals as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Adults who do not have HIV but are at risk for infection can take PrEP to reduce their risk of contracting the virus through sex.
The 2012 POZ 100
The Seekers
Brigitte Autran
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi
Monsef Benkirane
Ben Berkhout
Scott Cairns
Nicolas Chomont
Tae-Wook Chun
Melissa Churchill
Steven Deeks
Michele Di Mascio
Christine Katlama
Alain Lafeuillade
Alan Landay
Michael Lederman
Sharon Lewin
Frank Maldarelli
David Margolis
Martin Markowitz
Javier Martinez-Picado
John Mellors
Santiago Moreno
James Mullins
Una O’Doherty
Sarah Palmer
Marie-Capucine Penicaud
Matija Peterlin
Guido Poli
Anna Laura Ross
Jean-Pierre Routy
Christine Rouzioux
Guido Silvestri
Mario Stevenson
Amalio Telenti
Carine Van Lint
Eric Verdin
Ann Woolfrey
John Zaia
The Hunters
Joseph Alvarnas
Richard Ambinder
David Baltimore
Paul Cameron
Paula Cannon
Daniel Douek
Julian Elliott
Koh Fujinaga
Hiroyu Hatano
Frederick Hecht
Timothy Henrich
Keith Jerome
Hans-Peter Kiem
Mathias Lichterfeld
Katherine Luzuriaga
Mike McCune
Robert Murphy
Douglas Nixon
Deborah Persaud
Lawrence Petz
Quentin Sattentau
Rafick-Pierre Sekaly
Robert Siliciano
John Tilton
Linos Vandekerckhove
Bruce Walker
John Young
The Defenders
Judy Auerbach
Jared Baeten
Deborah Birx
Susan Buchbinder
Dennis Burton
Connie Celum
Myron Cohen
Barton Haynes
Albert Liu
Margaret McGlynn
Nelly Mugo
Zeda Rosenberg
Mitchell Warren
The Soldiers
Bob Bowers
Timothy Ray Brown
Gus Cairns
David Evans
Anthony Fauci
David France
Thomas Frieden
Kevin Frost
Jim Himes
Richard Jefferys
Sir Elton John
Kate Krauss
Stephen LeBlanc
Representative Barbara Lee
Kali Lindsey
Greg Louganis
Jim Pickett
Jamar Rogers
Paul Semugoma
Matt Sharp
Jeff Sheehy
Sean Strub
Michael Tikili
Click below to read about each year’s list:
Introduction | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | On the Cover | HIV Advocates on HIV Advocacy
To read the 2019 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2018 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2017 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2016 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2015 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2014 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2013 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2012 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2011 POZ 100, click here.
To read the 2010 POZ 100, click here.
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