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David Ho, born 1952
2017 Portrait of a Nation Prize Recipient
Born Taichung, Taiwan
David Ho, M.D., has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS research since the 1980s, shortly after the virus's discovery. He and his colleagues launched a clinical trial in 1995 that focused on HIV's so-called dormant phase, during which it would continue ravaging its victims without presenting them with any symptoms. The team developed antiretroviral treatments that can reduce HIV in the bloodstream, and because of their efforts, it is possible for carriers today are often able to live longer by better controlling the virus.
In Gregory Heisler's photograph of Ho, the doctor examines an enlarged image of an HIV-infected T-cell, where the red coloration indicates the presence of the virus. The portrait was used on the cover of Time in 1996, when Ho was deemed "Man of the Year" by the magazine. As the recipient of many honors already, including the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001, Ho continues his search for an HIV vaccine.
Gregory Heisler, 1996 |