Atlanta VA Medical Center scientist pioneer in antiviral medications research

Photo By Eric Brown | Pictured is Raymond Schinazi, PhD, Senior VA Research Career Scientist at Atlanta VA Medical Center.  

ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES

03.24.2015

Courtesy Story

Atlanta VA Health Care System

From a young age Raymond Schinazi, PhD, remembers playing with needles and syringes and recalls that he loved injecting things. Through childhood experiences and family influence, he turned this interest into a passion for research, particularly for researching viruses and their molecular composition. In 1989, Dr. Schinazi discovered two molecular compounds at the Atlanta VA Medical Center (VAMC), FTC and 3CT, that changed the face of HIV/AIDS treatment first with Atlanta area Veterans and then around the world.

Much of the significant influences in Dr. Schinazi’s life and current passion stem from his family. As a young boy, he witnessed his mother nearly die from complications of a miscarriage because his native country of Egypt did not have the medication that she needed. It was thanks to a family member that flew the drug to her that she survived. That event remains close to Dr. Schinazi’s heart and showed him the impact that a drug can have. In addition, one of his uncles was a famous virologist, became his mentor and helped develop his fascination with viruses.

After completing his studies, Dr. Schinazi wanted to work on something dangerous, something life threatening. As a result, his first research focused on the herpes virus and studying compounds that could be used to treat and cure the various strains.

In the early 1980s, Dr. Schinazi applied for and received a VA merit award grant to study combination chemotherapy and antiviral agents. He was awarded the VA grant at the same time that the Atlanta VA Medical Center (VAMC) was strengthening and enhancing the research program.

“I chose the VA for various reasons, I was given space, freedom to do science without bureaucracy, there was a great animal lab and an affiliation with Emory,” Dr. Schinazi recalls. Shortly after joining the VA as a Researcher, in 1984 HIV was identified. In the years that followed, a molecular compound d4T was created and was one of the first drugs used to treat individuals with HIV and it was tested by Dr. Schinazi and his dedicated team at the Atlanta VAMC.

During this time, his lab was located next to the Infectious Disease Clinic. He describes a time in the late 1980s where this hallway would be lined with patients HIV/AIDS patients that were waiting for appointments. By the mid-1990s d4T was approved as a treatment for HIV and Veterans at the Atlanta VAMC began receiving the drug. Once this occurred, Dr. Schinazi remarks that slowly over time that “you could visibly see fewer patients waiting [for Infectious Disease Clinic appointments].”

However, d4T was not perfect and resulted in bone marrow toxicity. In 1989, Dr. Schinazi made one of his most important research discoveries at the Atlanta VAMC. He discovered two molecular compounds that when used together as a cocktail would suppress HIV. The FTC and 3CT compounds are key components in the current drug cocktail given to HIV patients and they demonstrate the efficacy of combination therapy. This was a huge scientific breakthrough, not only for Veterans at the Atlanta VAMC, but also individuals effected with HIV throughout the world. His research “developed two of the most common drugs used in the HIV cocktail – these drugs [FTC and 3CT] are the backbone of the [treatment] and are used all over the world.” Aside from helping treat Veterans, he estimates that these drugs are saving the lives of 6.5 – 7 million people worldwide.

Dr. Schinazi’s work is far from complete, “we’ve stopped the bleeding but haven’t cured [HIV]”, he remarks. He is currently working on a new VA merit review project focusing on the eradication of the Hepatitis B Virus, and has received funding for four years totaling more than $610,000. When asked why he continues to serve as a Senior Research Career Scientist at the Atlanta VAMC, Dr. Schinazi remarks that the environment is “friendly, we work as a team; we are on a ship together trying to help our Veterans.”

• Date Taken: 03.24.2015
• Date Posted: 03.24.2015 15:18
• Story ID: 157911
• Location: ATLANTA, GA, US