The Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) calls for perseverance in the research, development and testing of future vaccine candidates in response to last week's decision to stop the testing of a candidate HIV vaccine combination (study HVTN 505).  Check out their post, http://www.smartglobalhealth.org/blog/entry/another-candidate-hiv-vaccine-fails-we-must-keep-trying/. 

Please join us on Thursday, 2 May at 11:00 a.m. EDT for a web briefing on the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise’s latest Timely Topics in HIV Vaccines consultation on Vaccine Induced Sero-Positivity/Reactivity (VISP/R). The Enterprise, IAVI and NIAID will present highlights from the recent consultation, including preliminary recommendations to develop a coordinated field-wide approach to VISP/R. 

The Enterprise, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, IMPAACT Network and the Vaccine Research Center convened a consultation in Entebbe, Uganda in January 2013 to help develop recommendations for the design and conduct of current and future HIV prevention trials in infants born to HIV-positive mothers.  The report from the meeting is now available.  Click here to view the report.

The Boston Globe today featured the Ragon Institute’s new lab space and highlights the potential impact of cuts in federal funding on HIV research.  Click here to read the full article.

We are now accepting pre-registrations, scholarship applications and abstract submissions for AIDS Vaccine 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.  The conference, hosted by the Catalan Program for HIV Vaccine Research (HIVACAT) and the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise will accept abstracts and scholarship applications until  28 April.  Latebreak abstract submissions open 14 June.

Register by 21 June and receive the early rate of $475.

In it's World AIDS Day announcement, the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) Research and Development Alliance Coordinating Office highlighted Canada's important role in advancing collaborations to succeed in HIV vaccine development. Read the statement here,   http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1081247/canada-s-role-in-advancing-hiv-vaccines-hinges-on-international-collaborations

AVAC issued its annual report, Let's Step Up the Pace, which recomments five essential actions in 2013:

• End confusion about “combination prevention”.
• Narrow the gaps in the treatment cascade.
• Plan for the impact of new non-surgical male circumcision devices.
• Define and launch the “core package” of PrEP demonstration projects.
• Safeguard HIV prevention research funding.

Read the full report on AVAC's web site.

The U.S. Military HIV Research Program released its first newsletter, which provides updates on the latest in HIV prevention research.  Sign up to receive the newsletter or download  it from the MHRP's web site.

The Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise will convene partners from around the world to address two priority issues in HIV vaccine research and development: HIV prevention trials in infants, and vaccine-induced sero-positivity.  Click here to read the full announcement. 

Scientists from around the world will gather in Boston at AIDS Vaccine 2012 to present more than 400 new research studies updating global progress in the search for a safe and effective HIV vaccine.  The conference, hosted by the Global HI Vaccine Enterprise, Harvard Center for AIDS Research and the Ragon Institute, runs 09 - 12 September.  Read More.