Globally renowned HIV researcher Opendra Bill Narayan, of the University of Kansas Medical Center, died unexpectedly of heart attack recently at the age of 71. Narayan was the head of a team at K.U. Medical Center that was working to end the AIDS virus.

Dr. Narayan, a veterinarian and virologist, obtained fame over a decade ago after creating a type of HIV that resulted in a disease in monkeys that resembled AIDS in humans. He utilized his latest animal model to check vaccines, and got almost $50 million in grants - with over $16 million from the National Institutes of Health - for doing research at the medical center.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway lauded Narayan's work and capability as a researcher and professor in a statement, while offering his condolences to Narayan's family, friends and colleagues."

While the vaccines were not meant to stop people from being infected, Narayan proved successfully that vaccinated monkeys did not fall ill after being infected with the simian version of HIV. According to Narayan, an easy-to-administer vaccine would turn out to be a boon to people in under-developed nations who can't afford expensive anti-viral drugs.