Background

Hundreds of researchers around the world work everyday to find and develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine, but their work cannot move forward without the help of thousands of extraordinary men and women who volunteer for clinical trials. AIDS is a global crisis. Every day 15,000 men, women and children are getting newly infected with HIV. One way to help end the epidemic is to volunteer for an AIDS vaccine trial.

The UVRI/IAVI HIV Vaccine program in Entebbe is one of the many sites in the development of an HIV Vaccine where volunteers can participate in a trial. This research is sponsored by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), working as partners with the Government of the Republic of Uganda since August 2001 to accelerate the development and testing of vaccines to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Mission statement

The main focus of this collaboration is to develop a preventive vaccine for use in Uganda and elsewhere in Africa that is safe, effective and accessible to those who most need it.

Current projects and future plans

The UVRI/IAVI HIV Vaccine Program is currently conducting a DNA/MVA Phase I vaccine trial. All the 50 volunteers have been enrolled are being followed up. Plans are underway to begin enrolling volunteers for other similar vaccine trials. These trials are conducted according to protocols approved by the UVRI's science and ethics committee and the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology.

To ensure protection of volunteers, and high ethical standards, These trials are monitored by different independent bodies that is - a Trial Steering Committee (TSC), a Data Monitoring and Ethics Committee (DMEC) and a Clinical Research Organization (CRO).

Where to find us click here to view map

The UVRI/IAVI HIV Vaccine Program is based at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), approximately 1.5 kilometers from Entebbe town, on Nakiwogo Road, Entebbe.