Prominent HIV researcher Joep Lange was among the victims of flight MH17

Prominent HIV researcher Joep Lange was among the victims of flight MH17

Updated by Julia Belluz on July 17, 2014, 10:57 p.m. ET @juliaoftoronto http://www./2014/7/17/5914093/mailto:[e-mail]

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Joep Lange, a prominent HIV researcher and former president of the International AIDS Society, was one of the victims ofMalaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Lange was one of the key researchers behind several HIV treatment trials

A professor of medicine and head of the department of global health at the University of Amsterdam, Lange had been involved in HIV treatment and research since 1983, just as the virus was emerging as a global health threat.

He was one of the key researchers behind several pivotal antiretroviral therapy trials, including projects involving the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of the virus in both the developing and developed world, according to the Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development. He was also an early advocate of bringing HIV medications to the developing world.

Lange was on his way to AIDS 2014, a global conference that will take place in Melbourne, Australia from July 20 to 25, at the time of death.

He was traveling with his wife, who has also died in the crash.

"Joep was a visionary amongst HIV researchers," American HIV researcher Dr. Rick Elion told Vox. "He was acutely aware of the multiple dimensions of HIV spanning science to society and had a heart of gold. This is a huge loss for the field."

"Joep was absolutely committed to the development of affordable HIV treatments, particularly combination therapies, for use in resource-poor countries," David Cooper, a friend and fellow researcher told the Australian academic news website The Conversation.

"Another outstanding area of [Lange’s] contribution has been his pioneering role in exploring affordable and simple antiretroviral drug regimens for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in resource-poor settings," Cooper said.

Other researchers, professionals, and activists have died en route to the AIDS conference, though the death toll has not yet been confirmed. Australian newspapers are reporting that as many as 108 conference participants may have been on the plane, which would account for nearly a third of felled passengers.

British-born World Health Organization staffer Glenn Thomas was among the dead. He was a media relations specialist for the UN based in Geneva, and a former journalist.

Dr. Rachel Baggaley, of the HIV Department at the WHO, had just landed in Melbourne when she heard about the news. "I'm very shocked," she said. "I'm just devastated. He's a very close colleague whom I work with on a daily basis." She added: "He just had his birthday, he was going to plan all sorts of celebrations."

Several WHO staffers were on flights to the conference, but Thomas was the only one on the MH17. According to a WHO statement, "His twin sister says he died doing what he loved."

The International AIDS Society confirmed that the Melbourne conference will proceed as planned "in recognition of our colleagues' dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS."