In remembrance

It was with deep sadness that we learnt of the deaths of our friends and colleagues Joep Lange and Jacqueline van Tongeren, together with Pim de Kuijer, Lucie Mens and Martine de Schutter, in the Malaysia Airlines accident in Ukraine.

Joep was one of the pioneers and key figures in research into AIDS, initially mainly in the Netherlands, and later increasingly internationally. He worked tirelessly with a progressive vision for people with HIV and to make adequate HIV treatment available globally. Joep made countless contributions to the field of HIV and AIDS. He was one of the founders of the ATHENA cohort and the subsequent HIV Monitoring Foundation, and was chairman of the scientific advisory board since the establishment of the foundation.

Jacqueline was also extremely dedicated to the fight against AIDS from the outset, initially as a nurse on the AIDS ward of the Slotervaart Hospital, later as a coordinating research nurse for the National AIDS Therapy Evaluation Centre at the AMC, and, during the latter years, as head of communications for the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development. Jacqueline also worked with unparalleled commitment and enthusiasm together with SHM to organise the annual conference NCHIV. 

We will never forget these people's achievements and will gravely miss them. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the children, families, friends and colleagues who have to bear this immense loss.