Microbicide Branch at NIH

Microbicide Branch at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

In addition to providing increased funding in this area of science, National Institute of Health's Office of AIDS Research (OAR) will use its authorities to improve NIH management and support for microbicide research. A separate division of OAR has been dedicated to microbicide research and other issues relevant to women. OAR is convening a newly constituted NIH Microbicide Research Coordinating Committee with members from the institutes and Centers (ICs) with significant microbicide portfolios, as well as CDC and USAID. The Committee will assist in the development of the microbicides component of the Plan, foster information-sharing and trans-NIH coordination, and help identify scientific opportunities and gaps for increased attention.

A Microbicide Research Working Group (MRWG) of non-government experts has been established to advise the OAR, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the NIH, and other government and non-government entities in this priority area. The Alliance for Microbicide Development's Director, Polly Harrison, PhD, is an advisor to the MRWG. In addition, the NIAID Division of AIDS (DAIDS) is developing a new Prevention Sciences Program, which will include a Microbicide Research Branch. NIH plans to increase collaborations with academia, industry, and foundations to identify and explore new and existing compounds as potential topical microbicidal agents.

NIAID's topical microbicide research is outlined in the NIAID Topical Microbicide Strategic Plan (PDF) and includes basic research through preclinical development and clinical trials. To learn more, click here.