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IAVI: International AIDS Vaccine Initiative
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.
Research and development
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.
Partnering with developing countries
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.
Advocacy and Education
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.
IAVI Global 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 donors IAVI's financial and in-kind supporters include the Bill & Melinda Gates, Rockefeller, Alfred P. Sloan and Starr foundations; the governments of Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States; multilateral organisations such as the World Bank; corporate donors including Becton, Dickinson & Co., Continental Airlines and DHL; leading AIDS charities such as Crusaid, the Phoebe W. Haas Charitable Trust B. and other generous corporate and individual donors around the world.
For further details visit: www.iavi.org
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