| Testing
the vaccines
 HIV
Vaccine Research Unit,
Medical Research Council,
Durban
Contact:
Dr Andrew Robinson
Tel: +27 31 203 4700
E-mail: HivVaccine.491@mrc.ac.za
The
MRC site in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal is a SAAVI
clinical trial site for the testing of promising,
locally appropriate candidate vaccines for
human clinical trials. The site is fully prepared
for and recognised as an established phase
I/II clinical trial unit. It has the necessary
equipment, facilities, Community Advisory Board
(CAB), community linkages and trained research
team. The first two phase I trials commenced
at the site in November 2003.
The
unit is currently expanding its capacity to
perform phase III efficacy work. This
is being done with the Africa Centre in the uMkhanyakude
Health District. The unit has embarked on
phase III HIV vaccine efficacy preparatory work
in the uMkhanyakude Health District by its involvement
in the SAAVI incidence study and with site expansion
meetings with international HIV vaccine research
networks. Similar phase III capacity could be
developed within the Durban metropolitan area
if the need arises.
An
approved HIV vaccine screening study is steadily
enrolling participants into an HIV vaccine
research-ready cohort.
The KwaZulu-Natal AIDS Forum continues to reach
each district through regular forums and newsletters.
The KZN AIDS Forum has expanded to Pietermaritzburg
and Mtunzini, and now has membership in each
health district in the province. Relationships
are maintained and developed with key role players
and institutions at local, regional, national
and international levels.
View
a list of publications
and conference papers for
2004 for the Durban trial unit's HIV/AIDS
vaccine-related work.
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Partners
Making the vaccines
 The University of Cape Town (UCT)
Testing the vaccines
HIV Vaccine Research Unit, MRC, Durban
HIV Vaccine Division of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU)
Aurum Health
Cape Town Clinical Trials Consortium
Immunology assessment
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)
Ethical issues
HIV/AIDS Vaccine Ethics Group (HAVEG), University of KwaZulu-Natal
Community involvement
Masikhulisane SAAVI Community Involvement Group
Behavioural science
Socio-behavioural research group
Actuarial assessments
Actuarial Group
Data and bioinformatics
Data Management (MRC) |
