Aussie expert closer to HIV cure

Australian scientist Prof Alan Trounson is working on a cure for HIV using stem cells. Source: AP

A WORLD-renowned Australian stem cell expert working on a cure for HIV says their research is about to progress to human trials.

Professor Alan Trounson heads the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, which is advancing towards a cure for conditions including HIV and diabetes.

Prof Trounson, the former director of Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories in Melbourne, said the research institute's work towards a HIV cure was about to enter human trials.

He said if the trials were successful further research would be needed to modify the technology so it could be affordably used where it is needed most, in Africa.

"I want the HIV work to go globally because it shouldn't be restricted to patients in Western (countries)," Prof Trounson said.

"We're going to have to modify some of that further research to get it into a suitable treatment that we can use in Africa.

"I'm very hopeful that the industry will do that.

"We have to try and make these as available to people as possible."

Prof Trounson said the HIV research uses blood stem cells to mimic a gene mutation found in a small proportion of the population who are immune to the virus.

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Aussie expert closer to HIV cure