EXHIBIT 99.1

[AETHLON LOGO]


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                           Contact:

                                                 Jeff Richardson
                                                 Senior Director, Communications
                                                 858.459.7800 x302
                                                 jrichardson@aethlonmedical.com


                                                 James A. Joyce
                                                 Chairman, CEO
                                                 858.459.7800 x301
                                                 jj@aethlonmedical.com


         DR. HAROLD HANDLEY APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.


San Diego, CA, July 18, 2006 -Aethlon Medical, Inc., (OTCBB:AEMD) a pioneer in
developing therapeutic devices for infectious disease, announced today that
Harold ("Hal") H. Handley, Jr. Ph.D. has been appointed President of the
organization. Dr. Handley has over 20 years of management and research
experience and was a co-founder of Idec Limited Partners, Inc., today known as
Biogen Idec, Inc., operating with a market value exceeding $14 billion. Dr
Handley has authored numerous scientific publications and is the primary
inventor of more than twelve issued patents. Most recently, Dr. Handley was
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Transvivo, Inc., a
developer of biofiltration and catheter devices, where he oversaw all
regulatory, clinical, patent, and research efforts.

"I believe Aethlon has established a scientific vision that could provide
medical benefit to large numbers of civilian and military personnel," stated Dr.
Handley. "I'm excited to participate in the effort to commercialize the
HemopurifierTM, and look forward to developing other potentially valuable
therapeutics," concluded Handley.

As President, Dr. Handley will be responsible for the management of regulatory
initiatives, new product development, coordination of grant proposals and
science publications, and related communications to the medical community.

 "Hal is a tremendous addition to our team," stated Aethlon Chairman and CEO,
James A. Joyce. "Especially when considering our near-term plans to file
regulatory submissions with the FDA, and the continued testing of the
Hemopurifier that is expected abroad." "Over the last year, we have assembled a
team that is capable of executing our current scientific initiatives and
beyond," concluded Joyce, who previously held the position of President in
addition to his role as Chairman and CEO.

ABOUT AETHLON MEDICAL
- ---------------------

Aethlon Medical is developing the first medical device to treat infectious
disease. The device, known as the Hemopurifier(TM), is a broad-spectrum
treatment countermeasure against drug and vaccine resistant bioweapons,
naturally evolving pandemic threats such as H5N1 Avian Flu, and chronic
infectious disease targets including Hepatitis-C (HCV) and the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Global researcher, Frost & Sullivan, recently
awarded the HemopurifierTM the 2006 TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AWARD for its advances
in the field of biodefense. Aethlon has also initiated research on a second
generation HemopurifierTM that targets the capture of growth factors inherent in
the spread of Cancer. More information on Aethlon Medical and the HemopurifierTM
technology can be found at www.aethlonmedical.com.




CERTAIN OF THE STATEMENTS HEREIN MAY BE FORWARD-LOOKING AND INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS INVOLVE ASSUMPTIONS, KNOWN AND
UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ACTUAL
RESULTS, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS OF AETHLON MEDICAL, INC TO BE MATERIALLY
DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, PERFORMANCE, OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED BY THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH POTENTIAL RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO RAISE
CAPITAL WHEN NEEDED, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS
PLANNED PRODUCTS, THE ABILITY OF THE COMPANY TO OBTAIN FDA AND OTHER REGULATORY
APPROVALS PERMITTING THE SALE OF ITS PRODUCTS, THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO
MANUFACTURE ITS PRODUCTS AND PROVIDE ITS SERVICES, THE IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS, PATENT PROTECTION ON THE COMPANY'S PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY, PRODUCT
LIABILITY EXPOSURE, UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE, COMPETITION, TECHNOLOGICAL
CHANGE, AND OTHER RISK FACTORS. IN SUCH INSTANCES, ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER
MATERIALLY AS A RESULT OF A VARIETY OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EFFECT OF CHANGING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND OTHER RISK FACTORS DETAILED
IN THE COMPANY'S SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FILINGS.