HIV and cancer are currently the most widespread and deadly diseases that the world is facing today.  A table of HIV and AIDS cases can be found here HIV and Cancer Statisitics (listed by region).   There have been many medical break throughs to help allay the effects and causes of the diseases; however, the fact remains that there is no magic bullet to cure HIV and current treatments of cancer can only be preventive or post-detection. 

 

The Solution:

 

A direct increase in the funding of HIV and cancer research is the primary method of solving the diseases.  With the inceased funds, researchers can carry out more experiments and continue searching for a cure.  Furthermore, as prevention is the best possible solution at the moment, an increase in funding for programs aimed at educating the public on the nature of the diseases and the methods of prevention would also be critical to the solution.

 

I performed several experiments with a receptor, CXCR4.  This receptor is responsible for the binding of HIV and cancer and the subsequent assimilation into the host cell.  My goal was to perform random mutations on over 400 colonies of yeast with the receptor and hope to observe interatctions that would possibly deny HIV and cancer the ability to bind.