Janet K. Yamamoto, PhD, a professor of pathobiology at the
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and member of
the board of directors of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has
discovered a link between the viruses that cause feline and human AIDS.

Yamamoto's groundbreaking research may predict that cats
with feline immunodeficiency virus, also known as FIV or feline AIDS,
could possibly be more effectively treated using some form of the
experimental human vaccine. Yamamoto theorizes that the apparent
relationships between the human and feline viruses can lead to a vaccine
for human AIDS.

From Nov. 29 to Dec. 6, 2005, the foundation will be bringing
to Gainesville the World AIDS Marathon, conference, Art for AIDS
exhibition, Noor H'mara: A Concert for AIDS, nightclub awareness nights,
and H'mara: A Night of Poetry, amongst many other events, in commemoration
of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

Yamamoto will be speaking at the conference. She will enlighten us all
with her expertise and inspire us to strive for a cure, which may be closer than
we think.

"As an AIDS researcher and professor at the University myself, I
know that the 2005 World AIDS Marathon is a great opportunity for the
University of Florida to further enhance its research efforts in the fight against
AIDS, and I strongly urge runners and non-runners to support this very worthy
event," Yamamoto said

Yamamoto, who received a doctorate in microbiology from the University
of Texas Medical Branch in 1981, developed a vaccine for feline immunodeficiency
virus (FIV). The vaccine, called Fel-O-Vax®, was approved by the USDA in March 2002.

In 1986, Yamamoto co-discovered the deadly FIV together with Niels
Pederson, D.V.M, of the University of California at Davis.

"Just because there are medications on the market to treat HIV/AIDS, does
not mean that there is a cure," Yamamoto said. "Awareness has dropped in
the United States and it's imperative that the public realizes that this is not a
foreign issue."