ANRS

French AIDS Research Agency / GIP (public interest group – 1992) / Meeting at the Hôtel Marigny on the occasion of World AIDS Day (1 December 2009)

Directed by Professor Jean-François Delfraissy, the French AIDS Research Agency is a public interest group bringing together the French government and research agencies to manage, finance and coordinate research programs in France targeting AIDS and viral hepatitis B and C (fundamental biology, vaccines, clinical and epidemiological research, therapeutic trials, public health research and research in the human and social sciences). The agency is also active in developing countries, where it coordinates and supports research programs aimed at obtaining a closer understanding of the mechanisms of HIV infection and identifying new ways of combating it; evaluates new more effective, simpler and better tolerated treatment strategies; works to develop an effective preventive vaccine against infection; improves knowledge on the social, psychological and cultural dimensions of the epidemic and contributes to prevention strategies and treatment of infected people; facilitates access to treatment and improves knowledge of the epidemic in these countries. All these actions are conducted with the support of the Research, Health and Foreign Affairs Ministries, Inserm (French Health and Medical Research Institute), the CNRS (French Center for Scientific Research, the Institut Pasteur and the IRD (Development Research Institute)