IAVI is a global not-for-profit organisation working to speed the search for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. Founded in 1996 and operational in 23 countries, IAVI and its network of partners research and develop vaccine candidates. IAVI also advocates for a vaccine to be a global priority and works to assure that a future vaccine will be accessible to all who need it.

IAVI's scientific programme researches and develops vaccine candidates by directing and financing partnerships with more than 30 private companies and academic and government agencies worldwide. IAVI manages a portfolio of R&D projects, prioritising vaccine concepts and candidates given the latest science.

IAVI partnerships have developed six vaccine candidates from the concept stage to human clinical trials and are now developing other candidates for trials. IAVI has partnerships in nine countries to conduct trials, and a core laboratory oversees the vaccine testing procedures at each site so that the results on different candidates can be compared.

IAVI is researching new concepts for the design of a vaccine. An IAVI consortium is working to design candidates that elicit broadly neutralising antibodies, which are believed to be a critical part of a highly effective vaccine and one of the field's most difficult challenges. In financial terms, IAVI operates the second largest AIDS vaccine research and development programme. To date, IAVI has invested more than US$100 million in vaccine R&D.

IAVI works with scientists in Africa and Asia to study how a vaccine can be effective in populations where most new HIV infections are occurring, and where different subtypes of the virus are circulating. IAVI is also studying how a vaccine can be designed so that it is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to administer.

In Africa and India, IAVI has helped establish capacity for small-scale vaccine trials by building clinics and laboratories and training staff. IAVI is beginning to prepare for possible large-scale trials in these regions. IAVI’s scientific partners agree that if an effective AIDS vaccine is developed with the organisation's support, it will be made affordable for developing countries.

IAVI’s advocacy programme promotes awareness among political and scientific leaders, community groups and others worldwide about the urgent need for a vaccine. In partnership with other organisations, IAVI advocates for public policies to help accelerate vaccine research and development, as well as to speed the approval, manufacture and use of a future vaccine.

In areas where vaccine trials are taking place, IAVI works to educate community members about the research process. It also facilitates the setting up of Community Advisory Boards that act as a liaison between the researchers and the community and monitor the conduct of IAVI-sponsored trials.

Two IAVI global publications are the IAVI Report and VAX. The IAVI Report newsletter tracks the latest news in the vaccine field, while VAX carries non-technical articles about HIV/AIDS and vaccines. IAVI's Scientific Blueprint series provides comprehensive updates on progress and challenges in the vaccine field. The organisation's website, www.iavi.org , includes a database of all AIDS vaccine trials and estimates of global expenditures on vaccine R&D.

IAVI's financial and in-kind supporters include the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The John D. Evans Foundation, The New York Community Trust, the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust, The Rockefeller Foundation, The Starr Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the Basque Autonomous Government as well as the European Union; multilateral organizations such as The World Bank; corporate donors including BD (Becton, Dickinson & Co.), Continental Airlines, Google Inc., Merck & Co., Inc. and Pfizer Inc; leading AIDS charities such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Until There's A Cure Foundation; other private donors such as The Haas Trusts; and many generous individuals from around the world. For further details visit: www.iavi.org

HIV/AIDS is one of the worst epidemics the world has ever seen.

An AIDS Vaccine, once developed, will have a major part in halting it

The AIDS Pandemic has devastated many countries, particularly in the developing world, where the resources to undertake prevention efforts and provide care to infected people are limited.

An estimated 95% of the people living with HIV/AIDS are in developing countries.