Man "cured" of AIDS: Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy R. Brown attends a press conference to announce the formation of the Timothy Ray Brown Foundation on July 24, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Brown, who was known as the "Berlin patient," says doctors have told him he's "cured of AIDS and will remain cured." His case is rare.

Brown had a blood stem cell transplant in 2007 to treat leukemia and his blood donor possessed a rare genetic mutation that provides natural resistance to HIV. Doctors declared him "cured" soon after. He spoke publicly about his experience for the first time in 2012.

Brown died of cancer in September 2020.

Meeting celebrities

Actress Sharon Stone greets Timothy Ray Brown, the first man to be cured of AIDS, at an event for the HIV/AIDS research foundation amfAR on July 20, 2012, in Washington, D.C. Researchers in California had recently found traces of HIV in Brown's tissues, but said remnants of the virus still in his body are dead and can't replicate.

Spotlight on HIV/AIDS research

Actress Sharon Stone (R) poses for a photo with Timothy Ray Brown at the amfAR event on July 20, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Rare case

Timothy Ray Brown attends "Together To End AIDS: An Evening To Benefit amfAR and GBCHealth" at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on July 21, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Brown told CBS News, "I quit taking my HIV medication on the day that I got the transplant and haven't had to take any since."

Announcing his foundation

Timothy R. Brown takes questions during a press conference to announce the formation of the Timothy Ray Brown Foundation on July 24, 2012, in Washington, D.C. About 1% of Caucasians are thought to have a genetic mutation that makes a person immune to HIV.

Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy R. Brown waits to speak at a press conference to announce the formation of a foundation in his name on July 24, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

At a medical conference

Timothy Ray Brown attends the International Symposium HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases conference on May 23, 2012, in Marseille, France.

Fundraising efforts

Timothy Ray Brown and Kenneth Cole attend "Together To End AIDS: An Evening To Benefit amfAR and GBCHealth" at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on July 21, 2012 in Washington, D.C.

Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy Ray Brown poses during the International Symposium HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases conference on May 23, 2012, in Marseille, France.

Contributing to research

Timothy Ray Brown at the International Symposium HIV & Emerging Infectious Diseases conference on May 23, 2012, in Marseille, France.

Fundraising to fight HIV/AIDS

David Purdy (left), co-founder of World AIDS Institute, Timothy R. Brown (center) and Chad Johnson, co-founder of the World AIDS Institute, are seen after a press conference to announce the formation of the Timothy Ray Brown Foundation on July 24, 2012 in Washington, D.C.