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An Interview with Alan Bernstein – December 2008
The December 2008 issue of IAVI Report features an interview with Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Executive Director, Dr. Alan Bernstein.
IAVI Report Article
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Message from Alan Bernstein – December 1, 2008
Executive Director of the Enterprise, Dr. Alan Bernstein, provides a recap of the year’s achievements and milestones. Dr. Bernstein also addresses priorities for 2009.
Message from Alan Bernstein
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NIH Announces 2009 Director’s New Innovator Award Program – November 25, 2008
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is requesting applications for the 2009 NIH Director's New Innovator Award. The award supports creative new investigators who propose highly innovative projects that have the potential for unusually high impact on broad, important problems in biomedical and behavioral research. Pre-applications may be submitted to Grants.gov beginning December 15, 2008 and must be received no later than January 15, 2009. Please see the links below for more information.
2009 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Website
Pre-Application for the 2009 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program
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NIH Announces New Policy to Support Scientists Early in Their Careers – November 19, 2008
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, announced a new policy to encourage funding for scientists new to NIH and those who are at an early stage in their careers. The goal of this policy is to nurture a new cadre of promising scientists and foster the next generation of biomedical research. Please see the link below for the full NIH press release.
New NIH Policy to Support Scientists Early in Their Careers
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CHAVI and HVTN Issue Request for Applications for Early Career Investigator Scholar Award on Non-Human Primate Models – November 19, 2008
The Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI), in collaboration with the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), has issued a request for applications (RFA) for a new Early Career Investigator Scholar Award. The RFA invites early career investigators to submit proposals that strengthen bridges between non-human primate and human research as part of the effort to develop a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. Applications are due February 23, 2009. Please see the link below for the full RFA.
Early Career Investigator Scholar Award - Request for Applications
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Enterprise Statement on New U.K. Support for HIV Prevention Technologies – November 14, 2008
Last week the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) announced a £220 million fund to support research into new HIV prevention technologies including a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine. Please see the below link for a statement from Enterprise Executive Director Dr. Alan Bernstein commending the U.K. Government for its continued commitment to HIV prevention research.
Enterprise DFID Statement
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Summary Statement on AIDS Vaccine 2008 and Enterprise Press Coverage – November 13, 2008
The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the local hosts of AIDS Vaccine 2008 convened more than 900 of the world’s leading vaccine scientists, advocates, and policymakers in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 13-16, at the eighth annual AIDS Vaccine conference. Please see the below link for a statement on the conference from Enterprise Executive Director Dr. Alan Bernstein and Conference Chair Dr. Lynn Morris. In addition, please see the linked articles for conference press coverage.
Summary Statement Cape Times Article LA Times Article Mail & Guardian Article
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Save the Date! AIDS Vaccine 2009, October 19-22 in Paris, France - October 28, 2008
The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise and the French National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) are pleased to announce that the AIDS Vaccine 2009 conference will take place October 19-22 in Paris, France at the Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel and Conference Center. Please see the below link for a save the date flyer with more information and important dates.
Save the Date Flyer
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Enterprise Statement on the Opening of the AIDS Vaccine 2008 Conference – October 13, 2008
The AIDS Vaccine 2008 Conference opened today in Cape Town, South Africa. Please see the below link for the Enterprise Executive Director Alan Bernstein’s statement on the opening of the conference.
Statement on Opening Conference
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Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Congratulates Drs. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier on Receiving the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine – October 7, 2008
The Nobel Committee of the Karolinska Institute announced yesterday that Drs. Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier will share half of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions to the identification of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Please see the below link for a statement from Enterprise Executive Director Alan Bernstein congratulating them on this achievement.
Statement by Dr. Alan Bernstein
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Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Holds Inaugural Enterprise Council Meeting in New York City - September 23, 2008
The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise held its inaugural Enterprise Council meeting in New York City on September 23, 2008. The Council held wide ranging discussions about the current and future role of the Enterprise. Please see the link below for the official notes on the meeting.
Meeting Notes
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Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Names Rafi Ahmed as Chairman of the Enterprise Science Committee - September 10, 2008
The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise is pleased to announce the appointment of Rafi Ahmed, PhD, as Chairman of the Enterprise Science Committee. Please see the below announcement for more information.
Rafi Ahmed Announcement
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José Esparza, Chairman of Enterprise Interim Board of Directors, Announces the Members of the Inaugural Enterprise Council - September 10, 2008
The interim Board of Directors of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise is pleased to announce the appointment of the inaugural Enterprise Council. Please see below for the official announcement from the Chairman of the Enterprise interim Board of Directors, Dr. José Esparza.
Inaugural Members of Enterprise Council Announcement
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NIH Announces New Program to Engage Young Researchers By Repaying Student Loan Debt – September 9, 2008
NIH has announced an exciting new program to attract and retain young health professionals by offering grants to repay their student loan debt. Please see the link below to view the full NIH announcement.
NIH Press Release
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Summary Statement on AIDS 2008 Conference and Enterprise Press Coverage - August 12, 2008
The XVII International AIDS Conference, August 3-8 in Mexico City, brought renewed focus to HIV prevention efforts. Please follow the link below for a statement from Enterprise Executive Director Alan Bernstein summarizing vaccine related activities at the conference and reiterating the need for a comprehensive prevention strategy that includes a safe and effective vaccine. Additionally, please see the linked press articles, which highlight the Enterprise’s views on the future of HIV vaccine research.
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Enterprise Satellite Session at AIDS 2008 Conference in Mexico City – August 3, 2008
On Sunday, August 3 at the AIDS 2008 Conference in Mexico City, the Enterprise hosted a roundtable discussion with leaders in HIV vaccine research to discuss an important issue facing the field: how to attract and retain the next generation of investigators. Please see the links below for the satellite flyer, a link to the video of the session hosted by the Kaiser Network, and a written transcript of the session. Please see the links below for the satellite flyer, a link to the video of the session hosted by the Kaiser Network, a written transcript of the session, and links to the slides that each panelist presented during the session.
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NIAID Announces that PAVE 100 Vaccine Trial Will Not Move Forward – July 17, 2008
On July 17, 2008, the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) announced that it will not move forward with the PAVE 100 HIV vaccine clinical trial as originally proposed. NIAID will instead consider a smaller, more focused trial with a smaller number of volunteers, and will restrict its analysis to the effect of the vaccine candidate on HIV viral load. Please see the below links for a statement from Enterprise Executive Director Alan Bernstein, the NIAID press release, and a New York Times story about the announcement quoting Dr. Antony Fauci of NIAID and Dr. Bernstein.
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Message from Alan Bernstein - May 1, 2008
As he concludes his first few months as Executive Director of the Enterprise, Dr. Bernstein would like to update everyone on Enterprise activities, reflect upon recent developments in the field, and identify some initial priorities for the organization over the coming year. Click the link below for his update.
Message from Alan Bernstein
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Enterprise Statement to Commemorate HIV Vaccine Awareness Day - May 18, 2008
May 18 marks HIV Vaccine Awareness Day – a day to recognize the need for a safe and effective HIV vaccine and to express gratitude to the thousands of volunteers, communities, and health professionals across the globe working to make this dream a reality. With dedication, renewed commitment and global collaboration, HIV/AIDS will be defeated. While no one can put a timeline on success, the world looks forward to a time when this day will commemorate the discovery of a successful HIV vaccine.
Click here to read full Enterprise statement
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Editorial by Dr. Bernstein featured in May 9, 2008 edition of Science
“Later this month, researchers will gather at the Institut Pasteur in Paris to mark the quarter century since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was discovered as the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since then, over 60 million people have been infected with the virus and over 25 million people have died. These numbers make the results of two "proof of concept" vaccine efficacy trials--the STEP and Phambili trials--extremely disappointing. Indeed, these results have raised questions about whether investments in HIV vaccine research are misplaced and whether a vaccine is even achievable. Those views are misguided. The failure of candidate vaccines or drugs is to be expected. More than ever, investigations in humans are essential to explore concepts, test hypotheses, and delineate the human immune response to HIV immunogens.”
Read full text of Dr Bernstein’s Science editorial here
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NIAID Seeks Research Ideas for Funding Initiatives in Vaccine Discovery and HIV Prevention by May 20, 2008:
“The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking broad input to spur new ideas and approaches in the areas of vaccine discovery research and HIV prevention research through two new "Requests for Information"--a comment-gathering tool used by NIH to create defined, funded initiatives in targeted areas of research. NIAID is accepting input on both RFIs until May 20, 2008.”
Read the full announcement from NIAID here
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Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative—Funding Opportunity
An "Invitation to Submit Applications" for a pilot scale HIV vaccine manufacturing facility in Canada for clinical trial lots is being released today. The Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) is a collaboration between the Government of Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with the overall goal to coordinate Canadian and international efforts to support the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.
Visit the CHVI website http://www.chvi-icvv.gc.ca/new-eng.html for guidelines and forms related to this funding opportunity.
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NIAID Bulletin
The US NIH’s NIAID releases an update concerning the HVTN 503/Phambili HIV vaccine study in South Africa. In October 2007, NIAID and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network stopped immunizations and enrollment in the HVTN 503 (“Phambili”) study. The following document provides information on the interim data concerning enrollment and the number of HIV infections in the Phambili study.
NIAID Bulletin