The FDA has approved the first phase of a new AIDS vaccine developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which aims to trigger immune responses to multiple HIV isolates using envelope proteins. The vaccine combines 23 different envelopes representing various HIV strains and is expected to last one to two years.
The World Wide Web Consortium has formed a new initiative to address web accessibility for people with disabilities. Judy Brewer, director of the International Program Office, will discuss the activities and impact of accessible design, as well as marketing benefits for non-disabled technology users.
The Society of Actuaries Foundation hosts a forum on math mentoring at the elementary school level, bringing together teachers, actuaries, and companies implementing a $120,000 two-year grant program. The session focuses on feedback from the first year and adjusting projects for the second year.
A US research team, led by Dr. Barton Kamen, has made significant progress in treating stubborn cancers with aminopterin, a drug that was previously shelved due to toxicity concerns. The FDA has granted $447,534 for further studies on the drug, which shows promise in treating patients with leukemia and other cancers.
A clinical trial found that synthetic and natural vitamin E are equally powerful antioxidants in preventing heart disease. The study, published in the American Heart Association Journal, used equivalent doses of both forms of vitamin E and found no significant difference in their effects on low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or LDL oxidation.
The Society of Actuaries' annual meeting will address pressing topics such as the old-age crisis, genetic testing, and technology's impact on healthcare. The event features a keynote speech by Robert B. Reich, who will discuss how societies can cope with globalization's widening split between the haves and have-nots.
The AAAS Annual Meeting will take place in Philadelphia from February 12-17, featuring over 900 speakers on topics such as pain management, climate change, and obesity. The meeting also includes a special seminar on the human genome project and presentations by top experts in their fields.