Gene therapy treatment for HIV?

If this does work it'll be years away before it passes all the trials necessary for humans to take it. Um, I'm loath to get hopes up over so called new treatments that haven't been proven yet, but this does sound rather promising. 

There's been a lot of talk in recent times regarding the mapping of the human genome and what that might mean for HIV treatment. This one developed from up in Queensland uses gene therapy:

Queensland Institute of Medical Research associate professor David Harrich modified a protein found in HIV that stopped the virus replicating in laboratory tests.

Professor Harrich said the approach, published in the journal Human Gene Therapy, was not a cure for HIV but would ensure the virus remained dormant.

"It would keep the virus in check," he told AAP. "The virus might infect a cell but it wouldn't spread.

"With a treatment like this, you would maintain a healthy immune system." 

Prof Harrich said the modified protein stopped HIV replicating in three different ways. 

Unlike existing antiretroviral drugs, the approach used gene therapy. 

Pre-clinical tests showed the technique was not toxic to human cells and offered protection from HIV spreading with a single treatment, he said. 

However, any treatment using this method would be years away. more

Like it says it'll be years away yet, but perhaps there will come a day when I don't have to take HIV drugs for the rest of my life.

Edit:

Can't find it on YouTube, but the ABC here has a very interesting interview with associate professor David Harrich at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research. Link is here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-16/scientists-hail-protential-cure-for-aids/4467384