National HIV Prevention Conference Atlanta, Georgia, USA — July 27 - 30, 2003

Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 July 27-30:abstract no. M1-C0203
Wakefield SF
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:: Scientists recognize that development of preventive HIV vaccines requires the support and involvement of HIV-affected communities that we know have significant levels of misconceptions about and distrust in HIV vaccine research.

METHODS: Efforts have been launched by NIH's National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. Department of Defense, private industry and the HIV Vaccine Trials Network. These organizations are engaged in cooperative and separate efforts to ensure essential community support. This presentation will describe those efforts and note other partners who are engaged in community mobilization to support HIV vaccine research.

RESULTS: This year these efforts were impacted by results from the completion of the first phase III HIV vaccine trial. Reported results may have increased distrust as media and the scientific community responded to the results as reported. Are the current efforts able to break down stigmas and myths about vaccine research? Will HIV vaccine clinical trials fail to answer critical questions for America's most affected communities? What happens when clinical trial designs fail to ensure participation by sufficient numbers of persons from affected communities?

CONCLUSIONS: Community engagement is essential to successful, ethical clinical trials of AIDS vaccines. To be ready for Phase III vaccine trials, communities need education on HIV/AIDS and clinical research, and they need opportunities for involvement on several levels. It will be important set clear goals for community preparedness and to measure success at readying the public for clinical research. Participants will be challenged to look at emerging issues that may affect current prevention programs as persons participate in large HIV vaccine research trials.

030727
M1-C0203

Copyright notice: The National HIV Prevention Conference is collaborative effort by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a U.S. Government agency and other governmental and non-government organizations. All abstracts published in by the conference organizers are in the public domain and can be used without permission. Proper citation, however, is required.