Day 73: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative

Imagine a world without AIDS. That is the vision of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, with over 33 million people infected with HIV in the world, a vaccine is need now. The development and distribution of a safe vaccine is the goal of IAVI and I am showing them my support. 

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative’s core mission is to support in every way the development of preventive AIDS vaccines that are not only safe and effective, but also accessible to all people. To that end, IAVI invests the bulk of its resources in the research and clinical assessment of candidate vaccines against strains of HIV that are prevalent in the developing world, where some 95% of new HIV infections occur.

Their scientific team works with more than 40 academic, commercial and government institutions to develop and assess candidate HIV vaccines. Together, their partners and IAVI have so far evaluated six vaccines in early-stage clinical trials conducted in 11 countries across four continents. To do this critical work, IAVI, together with local research institutions, have developed a network of sophisticated laboratories in India and in southern and eastern Africa. IAVI’s Human Immunobiology Laboratory in London helps coordinate the work of these labs

In the arena of vaccine design, they have brought leading HIV researchers together into three scientific consortia –the Neutralizing Antibody Consortium (NAC), the HIV Live-Attenuated Consortium and the Vectors Consortium—to address key obstacles to the development of an effective AIDS vaccine and to generate novel candidates.

In developing countries, IAVI works closely with governmental, community and civic organizations to ensure the transparent and ethical conduct of clinical trials. To that end, they support the staffing and training of Community Advisory Boards, which represent the communities in which clinical trials are conducted and help design trial protocols. They help educate people about vaccine trials and the need for AIDS vaccines. And they help build both the clinical and scientific capacity required to run a long-term program of vaccine trials.

IAVI also analyze and develop policies to promote the involvement of the private sector in AIDS vaccine research and development. And they advocate for policies that will ensure that once an AIDS vaccine is developed, it will be swiftly produced, distributed and made affordable worldwide.

Amount Donated: $5

To support IAVI, please visit: http://www.iavi.org