AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) is a community and consumer based organization, founded in December 1995 to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of vaccines against HIV/AIDS. AVAC provides independent analysis, policy advocacy, public education and mobilization to enhance AIDS vaccine research and development. AVAC will serve as the Secretariat of the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group for 2006 and 2007. For more information about AVAC, visit: http://www.avac.org/.
Alliance for Microbicide Development
The Alliance defines itself as a catalyst, communicator, convener, and problem-solver. It is a global coalition of representatives from biopharmaceutical companies, nonprofit research institutions, and health advocacy groups. It is the authoritative source of information on microbicide development, convener of dialogue on key policy issues, educator about the public health potential of microbicides, and advocate for the resources needed to develop them. For more information about the Alliance, visit sections What We Do and About Us of this website.
California Microbicides Initiative (CaMI)
The California Microbicides Initiative (CaMI) is a coalition of California health and educational organizations, biotech companies, policymakers and other women and men who are working to increase support for an effective microbicide. CaMI?s goal is to improve the reproductive health of women everywhere by ensuring microbicide development for HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and unintended pregnancy. For more information about CaMI, visit: http://www.cami-health.com/
CONRAD
In 2000, CONRAD established the Global Microbicide Project (GMP) to help develop new
microbicidal agents that specifically address the needs and perspectives of women. The main objective of this project is to develop vaginal methods that would protect women against STIs, including HIV/AIDS. The importance of this area of research for reproductive health was highlighted at the 1994 United Nations Conference on Population Development in Cairo. For more information about CONRAD, visit: http://www.conrad.org/. For more information about the GMP, visit: www.gmp.org.
Family Health International (FHI)
Formed in 1971, Family Health International is among the largest and most established nonprofit organizations active in international public health with a mission to improve lives worldwide through research, education, and services in family health. Working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States, FHI has been involved in the development, coordination, and implementation of numerous clinical research trials of microbicidal products to test their safety, acceptability, and efficacy in preventing HIV and other STIs. For more information about FHI, visit: http://fhi.org/en/index.htm.
Global Campaign for Microbicides
The Global Campaign for Microbicides is a broad-based, international effort to build support among policymakers, opinion leaders, and the general public for increased investment into microbicides and other user-controlled prevention methods. The Global Campaign is made up of over 250 endorsing organizations, provides a number of resources and advocacy materials available at their online Download Center, and publishes a monthly electronic newsletter, GC News. Through advocacy, policy analysis, and social science research, the Campaign works to accelerate product development, facilitate widespread access and use, and protect the needs and interests of users, especially women. The Campaign Secretariat is housed at PATH. For more information about the Global Campaign and to sign-up for GC News, visit: www.global-campaign.org/.
International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)
IAVI is a global not-for-profit organization working to speed the search for a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS. Founded in 1996 and operational in 23 countries, IAVI and its network of partners research and develop vaccine candidates. IAVI also advocates for a vaccine to be a global priority and works to assure that a future vaccine will be accessible to all who need it. For more information about IAVI, visit: http://www.iavi.org/.
International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM)
The International Partnership for Microbicides was established in 2002 to accelerate the discovery, development, and accessibility of microbicides to prevent transmission of HIV. The organization's goal is to deliver a safe and effective microbicide for women in developing countries as soon as possible. IPM is focused on overcoming the four major challenges that stand in the way of microbicide development and distribution. IPM is working to: (1) accelerate product development by building production and formulation expertise; (2) build clinical trial capacity in developing countries; (3) establish appropriate regulatory pathways for microbicide products; and (4) plan for widespread and affordable distribution of these products. For more information about IPM, visit: www.ipm-microbicides.org/.
Population Council
Population Council was one of the first organizations to begin a major effort to develop vaginal microbicides to protect women from contracting STIs, particularly HIV. The Council's microbicides program draws on the wide range of expertise among its biomedical, public health, and social science researchers in Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. The organization is among the first to conduct large-scale clinical trials to test the efficacy of its lead candidate microbicide in preventing HIV infection. Since the late 1980s, Population Council researchers have been collaborating to develop microbicidal products that would be widely accessible, stable in tropical climates, affordable, and available with and without contraceptive properties. In addition to conducting microbicide clinical trials for their product, Carraguard®, Council staff members are also continuing to work on basic research on HIV transmission and on developing new potential microbicides. The Population Council also conducts social science and behavioral research, as well as policy and public education work. For more information about Population Council, visit: www.popcouncil.org/.
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
The Program for Appropriate Technology in Health is an international, nonprofit organization that creates sustainable, culturally relevant solutions, enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. By collaborating with diverse public- and private-sector partners, PATH helps provide appropriate health technologies and vital strategies that change the way people think and act. PATH houses the Secretariat for the Global Campaign for Microbicides. For more information about PATH, visit: http://www.path.org/index.php.
