Thanks to decades of research, HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence, and people with the virus are living longer. But that increased longevity presents its own challenges, as people with HIV experience more health complications. Brooks Mitchell, a scientist at the University of Hawaii, has been studying those complications in hope of improving quality of life for those with the virus. In May, his work was recognized by ARCS Honolulu, which honored Mitchell with the 2018 Koenig Foundation Award in Medicine.
“It’s been around for decades. But there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Mitchell of HIV, in an interview with the school’s newsletter.
Originally from the “Big Island” of Hawaii, Mitchell’s award includes a $5,000 prize. He is a PhD candidate at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine where he is part of a team examining why those with HIV suffer earlier from diseases related to aging than those who are not infected with HIV.
“This recognition of the work that our group is doing at the Hawaii Center for AIDS is an honor,” he said, adding with a laugh: “It definitely gets me through those late nights in the lab.”
