First and foremost, I would like to thank Timothy Ray Brown and Christian Hahn. Both men have given themselves to science and medicine in ways that most of us cannot contemplate. They have been generous with their stories, sharing details and experiences that are not easy to relive. Likewise, the friends, family, and partners of both Berlin patients have been incredibly generous in sharing their experiences and giving me a glimpse of what life is like when you share it with someone cured of HIV. Timothy’s foundation can be found at worldaidsinstitute.org.
Similarly, this book would not exist without Heiko Jessen and Gero Hütter. Both of these men have influenced the lives of millions. I feel privileged to tell their personal stories and the science they’ve brought to the world. Their colleagues in Berlin, both at the Jessen clinic and at Charité hospital, have been incredibly kind and helpful.
This would never have become a book without my agent Laurie Abkemeier. Every step of the way she’s been there, from fighting through the first murky drafts, to panicked e-mails from Berlin, to finding just the right publisher.
I’m forever indebted to my editor, Stephen Morrow. From our first conversation, Stephen has made this book better. He’s taken dense immunology text and turned it into clear science prose. There isn’t a page he hasn’t improved. Stephanie Hitchcock, assistant editor, has brought much to the book through her thoughtful revisions and questions. Her passion for books shines through her edits and I feel fortunate to have her as a reader. The entire Dutton team has brought incomparable expertise to the project and I am very lucky to work with them.
I’ve been fortunate to receive tremendous help in the research of this book. I would be lost without Paula Cannon who has given so much of herself both professionally and personally. My education in humanized mice came from Victor Garcia and Paul Denton. I thank Gay Crooks, Don Kohn, and the members of their respective laboratories for sharing their expertise in stem cells and gene therapy.
Bruce Walker has provided a supportive laboratory environment. He is an incredibly kind and patient man. I can’t thank him and everyone at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard University enough for their help and support in what has been a challenging endeavor. I especially need to thank Doug Kwon, Alicja Piechocka-Trocha, Zaza Ndhlovu, Hendrik Streeck, and Elizabeth Byrne for their assistance, patience, and conversation, many parts of which inspired pieces of this book.
Many researchers helped me with this book—more than I can possibly name here. Their generosity in sharing their personal stories and research, as well as reading and reviewing the manu- script, has been touching. I’d like to particularly thank David Ho, David Baltimore, Anthony Fauci, Carl June, Bruce Levine, John Zaia, Robert Gallo, Steve Deeks, Steve Yukl, Tim Henrich, Dan Kuritzkes, Michael Holmes, and Dave Margolis for taking time out of their busy schedules.
I’ve been fortunate to have extraordinary teachers in my life. A special thanks goes to Robert Garry, who gave me a foundation in virology and held my hand along the bumpy path to a PhD. I first discovered the joy of DNA replication thanks to my seventh-grade science teacher, David Randall, who sparked my lifelong pursuit of biology. Thanks also go to Michael O’Brien, a teacher who fueled my love of literature.
I wouldn’t have been able to write this book without my wonderful family and friends who have given me so much: my parents, Marco Katz and Betsy Boone; my mom, Eva Grundgeiger, and my mother-in-law, Ruby Holt, both of whom I miss dearly, John and Joyce Boone; Ken Holt; Shea Holt; Claire and Jerry McCleery; Sheldon Katz; Rose Grundgeiger; Rachael and Gerry Coakley; Elizabeth Keane; and Sean Cashman. A special thanks to my brother-in-law, Scott Holt, who put his life on hold for weeks at a time to help take care of his niece and without whom this book could not have been written.
The two most important people in my life: my husband, Larkin Holt, who has given me unconditional love, support, and patience when I needed him most, and our daughter, Eleanor Frances Holt, who inspires me to be a better person.