International Aids Vaccine Initiative Inc

Programs: Research and development: with a focused research and development agenda, iavi catalyzes stakeholders around the world to propel the search for an hiv vaccine. Iavi designs and develops vaccine candidates and conducts trials and related epidemiological research in partnership with more than 50 academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and governmental institutions. With pioneering research, iavi prioritizes two scientific approaches: engaging the immune system to block infection, and training it to recognize and destroy cells already infected by hiv. As the field has evolved, iavi is prepared to contribute to prevention research for other infectious diseases, and to incorporate knowledge from that work into its core scientific mission. Hiv vaccine candidates are put through a rigorous process of clinical evaluation among key populations to establish their safety and efficacy, an effort that enables iavi to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure and scientific capacity of countries where our clinical partners operate. To date, iavi and its partners have developed 32 hiv vaccine and prevention candidates, advancing 26 into early-stage clinical trials including the first hiv vaccine trials in sub-saharan nations that shoulder the greatest hiv burden. Iavi has conducted 30 epidemiological studies and provided voluntary testing and counseling to more than 680,000 individuals in africa. Iavi subscribes to the highest scientific and ethical standards for conducting trials, one that protects the rights, well-being, and dignity of trial volunteers. Iavi has also launched research consortia to boost the number and quality of novel vaccine candidates evaluated in clinical trials and to address major scientific problems of vaccine development. A significant portion of the vaccine research iavi supports is conducted in developing countries where 95% of all new hiv infections occur.

vaccine advocacy, public affairs and policy: iavi believes that supportive national, regional, and global political, economic, and societal environments are critical to the fastest possible development, approval, and dissemination of an aids vaccine. As a member of coalitions and on its own, iavi convenes advocates, policymakers, activists, and representatives of the communities hardest hit by hvi/aids to raise awareness and strengthen advocacy capacity around the world.