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		</div><p>A hospital patient from London who was the second person in the world to be cleared of HIV has revealed his identity.</p>
<p>Adam Castillejo, 40, achieved “sustained remission” from HIV after being treated at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust announced last year – over a decade after the first known case in Berlin in 2007.</p>
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<p>“By publicly revealing my identity and my story I hope to help improve people’s understanding of the science and HIV generally,” Mr Castillejo, who works in the hospitality industry, said in a statement.</p>
<p>“I want to thank all those who have supported me on this journey particularly my medical team at Hammersmith Hospital whom without I would not be here today.”</p>
<blockquote><p>I am now starting again, rebuilding my life as I steadily get stronger</p></blockquote>
<p>Mr Castillejo was diagnosed with HIV infection in 2003 and developed an Aids-defining cancer, advanced Hodgkin’s lymphoma, in 2012.</p>
<p>A hospital patient from London who was the second person in the world to be cleared of HIV has revealed his identity.</p>
<p>Adam Castillejo, 40, achieved “sustained remission” from HIV after being treated at Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust announced last year – over a decade after the first known case in Berlin in 2007.</p>
<p>In 2016, he received a transplant of haematopoietic stem cells from a donor carrying a genetic mutation in the HIV receptor CCR5, which hinders the HIV virus from entering human cells.</p>
<p>After antiretroviral drugs were discontinued, researchers said Mr Castillejo has been in remission for 30 months “with no viable virus in bloods, brain fluid, intestinal or lymph tissue”.</p>
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<p>Mr Castillejo, who revealed his identity in an interview with the New York Times, is of mixed Spanish-Dutch heritage and said he is “very proud” to consider himself a Londoner.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nytimes</a> and especially to <a href="https://twitter.com/apoorva_nyc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@apoorva_nyc</a> for allowing me to share my story. <a href="https://twitter.com/londonpatient?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@londonpatient</a> <a href="https://t.co/tvmEBSOgOq">https://t.co/tvmEBSOgOq</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Londonpatient_HOPE (@londonpatient) <a href="https://twitter.com/londonpatient/status/1237020236995592192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>He was head chef in a corporate dining room when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 while working a second job on weekends to save money for travel.</p>
<p>“After a couple of years the chemo became too intense and I could no longer continue to work,” his statement said.</p>
<p>“My life fell apart at that stage – I lost my job and I couldn’t afford my flat so lost that too.</p>
<p>“I am now starting again, rebuilding my life as I steadily get stronger. The journey has given me the chance to gain more knowledge and understanding about cancer research and the world beyond me.</p>
<p>“Now, I am looking forward to building a new path as an ‘Ambassador of Hope’ for millions of people around the world living with HIV.</p>
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<p>“Whilst my treatment is not possible for all, I hope it will offer scientists insights that can help us on the journey to better treatment and a cure.”</p>
<p>Mr Castillejo said he plans to share his experiences through a podcast and his Twitter and Instagram accounts, @londonpatient and LondonPatientofficial, and said he recently began to “rekindle his passion” for cooking as a trained chef.</p>
<p>On March 10, a follow-up report on Mr Castillejo’s case will be presented by Professor Ravindra Gupta at this year’s Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Boston, USA – where the Londoner will share his story.</p>
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