A HARVINGTON man is calling on computer users to join the fight against cancer and HIV.

Keith Davies is spearheading a campaign for a network of computers for testing potentially life-saving molecules.

Specialist software designed by Mr Davies has already been used to find molecules exhibiting anti-cancer properties. Now the computer programmer and research chemist is focussing on HIV.

He said he soon hopes to have up to 20,000 home computers linked for the project. "The more people we have the less time it will take to look at more molecules.

"It is a good feeling to know that you are doing something very useful, which unlike putting money into a collection box does not cost anything."

Getting involved in the scheme is a simple matter of downloading Mr Davies' THINK software from the Internet.

"It uses the idle computer power so that when you are sitting and thinking what to type next the software is processing molecules. Then, when you start typing again, all the computer power comes back to whatever it is you are doing."

The scheme has received an enthusiastic response from the scientific community. Dr Ian Gilbert of the Welsh School of Pharmacy said: "I am excited by this approach to identify potential new drugs. The scale of this project might allow us to find a molecule which is effective against the human immunodeficiency virus which causes AIDS."

To get involved in the Find-a-Drug scheme, log on to www.find-a-drug.org and follow the simple instructions.