HIV/AIDS was selected by the Immunity Project because over 35 million people are currently living with HIV. Over 30 million lives have been lost to HIV since 1983, with 4,000 people losing the battle each day. Developing an HIV vaccine is of the utmost urgency.
The crowdfunding campaign of Immunity Project has drawn criticism for it's lack of scientific research and peer-reviewed processes. Most vaccine ideas fail, for various reasons, and the HIV vaccine that Immunity Project is developing is a long way off from known success, approval, and being available.
Despite the criticisms against Immunity Project, it has increased awareness about the work being done on an HIV vaccine and they are using the funds raised to further their research on the current vaccine. Whether the vaccine works remains to be seen, but having a new view of the scientific process behind developing vaccines is interesting. Immunity Project has also increased awareness on the need for an HIV vaccine.
