The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition is launching a new organization
to promote the development of a wide variety of HIV prevention
strategies, including microbicides and oral preventive drugs.

The launch of the new organization, called The HIV Prevention
Research Advocacy Network, was announced by AVAC Tuesdsy, Aug 21 in
Seattle at the AIDS Vaccine 2007 conference.

The initiative will be funded by five-year, US$14 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

According to the press release announcing the network’s launch, the organization will:

•Develop international advocacy partnerships that support both the
needs of communities involved in research and a global advocacy
movement for HIV prevention research.

• Translate complex scientific ideas to communities AND translate community needs and perceptions to the scientific community.

• Work to hold both research agencies and advocates accountable for accelerating ethical prevention research and development.

• Help ensure that communities, policymakers, and civil society have
realistic expectations about HIV prevention research and specific
clinical trials.

• Work closely with other groups conducting HIV prevention research advocacy, including microbicide advocacy groups.

AVAC also released it annual report, which provides an overview of
the state of HIV vaccine research today. Of particular interest is a
section that looks at the slow uptake of both male circumcision as an
HIV prevention strategy and the vaccine for human papilloma Virus
(HPV). These case studies, the report argues, holds lessons for those
seeking to implement other prevention strategies.

To visit AVAC site and download the new report go to: http://www.avac.org/

To visit the AIDS Vaccine 2007 conference website go to: www.hivvaccineenterprise.org/conference/index.html