Luc Montagnier. Portrait of Luc Montagnier (born 1932), virologist and co-discoverer of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Montagnier is a professor at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France, and heads the AIDS-Retroviral and Viral Oncology Departments. In the 1960s, his work led to the discovery of retroviruses. In 1983 he isolated HIV, initially calling it LAV (lymphodenopathy- associated virus), but then renaming it HIV. He is now working on vaccines and antiviral therapies to treat HIV infection.