We've heard about 'expendable' populations before, but last time they meant gay people. 32 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses since the 1980s and in 2018, 770,000 people died worldwide because of the virus. The London Patient: A Cure For HIV? is the first episode in a brand new two-part series - funded by the Wellcome Trust and the British Podcast Awards Fund. Both episodes were recorded in accordance with government social distancing measures. This week, we look at the start of the epidemic, chat to AIDS activist Sir Nick Partridge OBE and head to Oxford to meet Professor John Frater who explains the science behind HIV. Trigger warning: Contains upsetting audio. Incredible advances in medicine now mean that if you are HIV+ and on effective treatment, you can’t pass it on. Undetectable = Untransmittable. And in March 2019, it was revealed that a second person had been cured of HIV - The London Patient. What does the London Patient’s story tell us about a cure for HIV? Plus in the age of Covid19, can the story of HIV and AIDS offer the world any hope? This episode is bought to you with thanks to the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, the Terrence Higgins Trust and the National AIDS Trust. Visit our website for more information on some of the amazing charities currently supporting HIV+ people worldwide. Get tested for HIV now, stop the spread. In the U.K. visit https://www.testnowstophiv.com/.. for a free test at home kit. . Get bonus content on Patreon, with our super exclusive fan feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices