François Barre-Sinoussi is a French virologist best known for her pivotal role in the discovery of the HIV virus, which causes AIDS. In 1983, she and her team at the Institut Pasteur identified the virus, significantly advancing the understanding of the disease and its transmission. For her groundbreaking work, Barre-Sinoussi received numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2008, which she shared with Luc Montagnier. Her research has had a lasting impact on the fields of virology and public health, contributing to the development of treatments and prevention strategies for HIV/AIDS.