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A Big Disease With A Little Name

A Big Disease with a Little Name: The Doctor

Professor Jonathan Weber

The Doctor

A Big Disease with a Little Name

BBC Radio 4 - A Big Disease with a Little Name, The Doctor

The story of the UK's first research into AIDS, which began in 1982.

In 1982 Jonathan Weber pioneered AIDS research in the UK, when he led the treatment of 400 patients at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.

In 1979, as Jonathan Weber was finishing his studies in medicine, he was sure he was going to go into the infectious diseases field - a potentially bad career decision at the time, as it was thought the war was won on such diseases.  

But he learned about a new pattern of infections affecting gay men in America, and it was suggested that he start looking for cases in the UK too. 

In 1982, he began working with the first cohort of AIDS patients at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, where he led the treatment of some 400 patients. 

This pioneering work was the first research into AIDS in the UK - work Professor Weber describes as very much a partnership with the patients who gave their time and blood to better understand this emerging epidemic.

Narrator: Chris Pavlo
Producer: Richard Fenton-Smith

[Photo Credit: Jonathan Weber/Imperial College London]

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