Chemist's Expertise Accelerated HIV/AIDS Drug Approval

Chemist Iris Long, a pivotal figure in the fight against AIDS, died on April 4 at age 92. After retiring from organic chemistry, Long dedicated her expertise to ACT UP, an organization known for its direct action to end the AIDS crisis. She significantly contributed to accelerating the approval of HIV and AIDS treatments by bridging the gap between scientific research and activist efforts.

Dr. Long educated ACT UP members on immunology, virology, and the Food and Drug Administration's approval processes. She helped establish ACT UP's treatment and data committee, authoring memos to drug companies and government agencies. Her guidance enabled activists to communicate with researchers and the FDA on a more equal footing, leading to the adoption of parallel drug trials and the creation of an AIDS Treatment Registry to locate ongoing drug trials.

Born in Manhattan in 1933, Long pursued chemistry after being inspired by a high school course. She earned multiple degrees in chemistry and worked at various medical centers before joining ACT UP. Despite not being initially politically active or knowing anyone with AIDS, she felt compelled to help due to the escalating epidemic. Her work also highlighted the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, a crucial issue as trials were the primary access to treatment.