French scientists Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier were awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering HIV in 1983, CNN.com reports.

Notably absent was American AIDS researcher Robert Gallo, MD, who in the 1980s bitterly fought with his colleague Montagnier over their relative role in discovering the virus. Gallo told The Associated Press that he was disappointed at not being included, and Montagnier said that Gallo also deserved the honor.

Barre-Sinoussi and Montagnier shared their award with German scientist Harald zur Hausen, who was honored for finding the humanpapilloma virus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer. The three will receive a monetary gift and a seat at the Dec. 10 ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo.