The
Immunology and Retrovirology Research
Institute (IRI) was founded in late 1993
as a non-profit, community -based, scientific research
institute by scientists, physicians and
community leaders.
The long-term mission of IRI is to become a leader in the
scientific study of the interactions that occur in HIV
spectrum diseases, cancer and infective diseases.
There is a common immunological thread
between these three categories of human disease in
which recognition and understanding of the basic immunologic
response in these afflictions can lead to the
development of very specific and target immunologic
therapies for their control and hopefully, their eventual
cure.
Since its formation in 1993, IRI has focused on the development of a specific immunologic therapy for HIV disease and AIDS. This therapy is called autologous cellular immunotherapy (ACI). ACI is designed to restore or reconstitute the immune system in People With Aids (PWA), or those who are infected with HIV, allowing them to avoid life threatening opportunistic infections. It is a therapy that will have an immediate and direct clinical benefit and offers hope of turning a usually fatal disease into a chronic disease, allowing HIV-infected individuals to lead a normal and productive life. Autologous cellular immunological therapy will not replace standard antiretroviral therapy, now in common use, but will effectively complement it. The principles and concepts developed by IRI in using autologous cellular immunotherapy for HIV disease also apply directly to the immunologic treatment of cancer, and other infectious diseases.
Since its inception in 1993, IRI has accomplished the following goals and objectives:
- Developed a state-of-the-art research facility which includes immunology and virology laboratories
- Developed and validated methods of growing lymphocytes taken from HIV-infected individuals and effectively purge those cells of HIV.
- Received approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a Phase l/ll study of autologous cellular immunotherapy in HIV-positive and AIDS patients.