The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused by HIV-1 is the leading cause of death inAfrica and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. This IPCAVD is developing HIV/AIDS vaccines thatuse DNA for priming and MVA for boosting (DNA/MVA vaccine) as well as a simpler an ultimately easier todeploy form of these vaccines, the use of MVA for both priming and boosting (MVA/MVA vaccine). Both theDNA and MVA vaccines use single vectors to express virus like particles (VLP). This IPCAVD seeks to buildGM-CSF, an adjuvant, into these products for expression in cis. In preclinical studies, co-expression of GMCSFhas substantially enhanced protection. A central hypothesis for the IPCAVD is that GM-CSF improvesprotection by enhancing the mucosal presence of elicited T cell and Ab responses. Clade C HIV-1 which isendemic in southern Africa and parts of Asia accounts for about one half of the infections worldwide and>90% of the cases in India, a country with a rapidly spreading infection that has surpassed South Africa in itstotal number of cases. The vaccine development effort of this IPCAVD is focused on developing a clade Cvaccine for India.This administrative core has five specific aims: Provide overall co-ordination for the Program Provide data management and statistical support Provide logistical support for intellectual property filings and negotiations Assist with publications Maintain budgets and fiscal oversightDr. Harriet Robinson, the Program Director, will lead the Administrative core. She has demonstratedexperience in leading IPCAVD programs and moving concepts from the bench to early phase clinical trialsthrough the HVTN.
