Because hope is a treasure, countless people felt robbed by the recent surprising announcement that an experimental AIDS vaccine had failed. Many had hoped it would be the first to prove at least partly effective. That it didn't was disappointing. What would be worse is if we allow this news to slow progress toward developing a vaccine, which remains our best hope of reversing the epidemic. Now is precisely the time to do more.

The arithmetic hasn't changed. Despite the good news released by UNAIDS earlier this month that there are fewer people living with AIDS and fewer infections than previously estimated, there are still 33 million HIV-infected people on the planet and 7,000 new infections daily. AIDS is the fourth leading cause of death globally. Life-prolonging treatments for AIDS have improved and have become more available and affordable even in poorer countries. These drugs are not cures, nor are they, because of resistance and toxicity problems, a long-term solution for sufferers. The best hope for ending the epidemic is a preventive vaccine.

Securing funding for this vital but long-term work is a challenge, and Yahoo! is once again bringing its resources to bear. In 2001, Yahoo! became International AIDS Vaccine Initiative's (IAVI) first major corporate supporter, providing free advertising to raise awareness around AIDS vaccines. On the occasion of World AIDS Day 2007, Yahoo! will bring hope to the field by featuring IAVI’s “Make AIDS History – $100K Campaign” on its World AIDS Day microsite. The money raised will support IAVI’s Innovation Fund , our newest scientific initiative designed to bring fresh, bold approaches to AIDS vaccine research.

We hope that you will visit the IAVI-Yahoo! microsite and consider making a donation. Securing financial support is key to our mission, as is spreading the word about the need for an AIDS vaccine. Vaccines for other diseases have altered the course of human history. They have eradicated smallpox from the world and polio from most western countries. More than two dozen fatal diseases can now be prevented by vaccines. We must add AIDS to this list. We hope you can do your part today.

Seth Berkley
President & CEO
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative