{"id":3669134,"date":"2025-07-01T12:21:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T16:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/?post_type=story&p=3669134"},"modified":"2025-07-01T12:21:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T16:21:44","slug":"meet-two-scientists-at-the-forefront-of-our-hiv-research","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/vip2-msd.com\/merckcom-migrated\/stories\/meet-two-scientists-at-the-forefront-of-our-hiv-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet two scientists at the forefront of our HIV research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n \n \n Our people<\/small>\n <\/a>\n \n \n

\n Meet two scientists at the forefront of our HIV research\n <\/h1>\n

Two esteemed scientists share their motivations and hopes for the future of HIV research<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

\n

July 1, 2025<\/p>\n

\n

Share this article<\/p>\n

\n \nFacebook icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\t.st0{fill:#00857C;}\n\n\nX icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \nLinkedin icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \nEmail icon<\/title><\/svg>\n<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n \"Merck\n <\/picture>\n\n <\/figure>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The field of HIV research has changed drastically in the past 40 years. In that time, we\u2019ve evolved from helping people with HIV struggle to survive to seeing them fully thrive. Now we\u2019re chasing a cure for HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke with two of our own researchers who are leading the charge, Bonnie Howell, Ph.D., and Rebeca Plank, M.D., about what drives them, what\u2019s changed and what\u2019s next in the HIV research landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What drew you to HIV research?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plank:<\/strong> I think my interest was first sparked at home by my parents, who actually met doing public health work in Chile. But it\u2019s funny, despite that background, I wasn\u2019t pre-med in college. I was an anthropology major. But during my senior thesis, I worked on a project around HIV prevention messaging. That stuck with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n \n \n\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n <\/picture>\n <\/span>\n