Communications & Convening

The Alliance fills a critical need for communication among the organizations and individuals involved in microbicide research and development. To encourage open communication between all parties, the Alliance sponsors or coordinates a variety of meetings:

Quick Working Group and Microbicide Donors Committee

The Alliance has served as the Secretariat for the Microbicide Donors Committee and the Quick Working Group since the groups' inceptions in April and November 2004, respectively. Since that time, the Alliance has planned and facilitated several meetings of the MDC and seven meetings of the QWG.

Participation in Conferences

Alliance staff regularly make presentations at international conferences and meetings on topics ranging from the need for microbicides that prevent sexually transmitted infections to the challenges facing the current set of clinical trials.

Alliance Annual Meeting

Prior to the establishment of the Alliance, there had not been a systematic attempt to convene major constituencies in the microbicide field on a regular basis. Since its founding, the Alliance has convened 10 Annual Meetings, with the most recent on 20-21 March 2007. Each meeting has aimed to assemble broad representation from the microbicide community, exchange information, discuss critical issues, and encourage maximum interaction. Each meeting has had a somewhat different substantive emphasis, with invited guests providing relevant expertise. Please note that Alliance meetings are by invitation only.

• Meeting #10: 20-21 March 2007. Microbicide experts convened to report on current and planned activities in the microbicide field. In-depth panel discussions covered emerging clinical trials issues, including challenges faced by microbicide developers and small biotech firms, and providing treatment for HIV-seroconversions. Please refer to The Microbicide Quarterly Volume 5, Number 2 for a full report of the meeting.
• Meeting #9: 27-28 March 2006. Efforts launched to identify and prioritize actions for the microbicide field and to identify ongoing and planned activities according to these objectives. Information and ideas expressed during the meeting are reflected in the Microbicide Development Strategy and Mapping the Microbicide Effort.
• Meeting #8: 13-14 January 2005. Highlighted programmatic and scientific issues noted by key institutional players, a "Gap Analysis," and a behavioral science and microbicides "Mini-Summit." Please refer to The Microbicide Quarterly Volume 3, Number 1 and The Microbicide Quarterly Volume 3, Number 2 for a full report of the meeting.
• Meeting #7: 17-18 March 2003. Combination products (the scientific rationale, implications of combinations for product introduction, and combinations in the pipeline and clinical approaches), current challenges in clinical trials of microbicides. Please refer to The Microbicide Quarterly Volume 1, Number 2 for a full report of the meeting.
• Meeting #6: 8 January 2002. Product developers' business plans, introduction of new approaches and new science, role of NIAID in microbicide research, what is needed for clinical trials, assuring access to microbicides, and microbicide economics.
• Meeting #5: 30 January 2001. The new "Microbicide Initiative," status of clinical trials worldwide, and presentations from U.S. Federal and international microbicide research and development programs.
• Meeting #4: 15-16 May 2000. Preparation for public hearings on over-the-counter drug products, new clinical trial guidelines, and summaries of the "Microbicides 2000" Conference.
• Meeting #3: 10-11 May 1999. Tax credit legislation, interaction with the FDA Topical Microbicides Working Group, NIH peer review, and alternatives to tort reform as incentives for industry to develop public health technologies.
• Meeting #2: 6-8 June 1998. Advocacy and legislative strategy, product liability, and aspects of the microbicide market
• Meeting #1: 23-24 March 1998. Alliance formation, identification of priorities, and discussion of major hurdles to microbicide development.