The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has infected over 78 million people since 1983, with about half of these sadly dying as a result of the infection. Fortunately nowadays there are a number of antiretroviral treatments on the market that can improve the quality of life, and life expectancy of people with HIV. Unfortunately it is not possible to remove the restvirus from the body with these treatments, meaning that patients are obliged to keep taking the treatment for their whole life if they want to ensure that the virus does not return. This is why the HIV Cure Research Center, under the direction of Professor Linos Vandekerckhove, continues to work very hard to find a complete cure for people living with HIV.

Want to make a donation to the Unraveling HIV Fund?

Your donation to the Unraveling HIV Fund will be used to gain better understanding of the rest of the HIV virus. On the basis of this work, new and innovative therapeutical scenarios will be developed, tested, and evaluated, with the ultimate goal of completely curing patients. 

With a donation of €100 we can determine the amount of virus that is present in white blood cells. A donation of €1000 will be used to determine where exactly the virus is hiding in the body.

I would like to donate online

We gratefully welcome donations to the Unraveling HIV Fund – you can also donate via bank transfer to account number: BE26 3900 9658 0329, including the message “HIV Fund”. Your gift is tax deductible starting from €40 per year.

"I believe it is very important to keep providing support and finance for research. HIV has become a chronic condition, and this is one reason why funding is declining. Donations to research ensure that doctors, scientists, and everyone who is involved in the research can keep looking for a cure to this epidemic.
_{- Jonathan Bossaert, HIV patient and founder of Positively Alive NPO that raises money for research into HIV."}

How your gift can make a difference:

• Watch a video to find out why HIV is so difficult to cure

More information about the fund?

Background information

The Unraveling HIV Fund was established at Ghent University in 2016 by Professor Linos Vandekerckhove as a way to encourage donations to support his research into HIV. For example, the fund organises a big charity event in Ghent every year, around World AIDS day, to raise funds for research into HIV.

Aim

The aim of the fund is to provide financial support for research into finding a cure for HIV. Topics of research on HIV can include, amongst others:

1. Research into new targets that reduce the HIV virus reservoirs;
2. Tracking HIV reservoirs in patients who are undergoing treatment;
3. Tracking HIV in patients who have recently become HIV-positive;
4. Evaluating potential new methods to reduce HIV reservoirs;
5. Evaluating immunotherapy and gene therapies to reduce HIV reservoirs;
6. Developing new methods for measuring and charting HIV reservoirs

Want to find out more about the research?

• Website of Unraveling HIV
• Prof. Linos Vandekerckhove
• Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
• Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

What else can I do?

• Support a fund through your legacy
• Organise a fundraiser or event to support the fund
• Want to set up your own fund?

Contact us

Do you have questions about this or any of the other Ghent University funds? Please get in touch and we will be happy to assist you.

University Fund of Ghent University
Wim Van der Planken

universiteitsfonds@ugent.be
+32 9 264 33 84