Structure - HIV Vaccine Trials Network

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The HIV Vaccine Trials Network is comprised of the HIV Vaccine Trials Units, Vaccine Leadership Group, Statistical and Data Center (SCHARP), and the Laboratory Program. We are sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

HVTUs

We are a global network of medical research institutions referred to as HIV Vaccine Trials Units, or HVTUs. These sites are where testing of experimental HIV vaccines takes place. Through cooperative agreements with institutions worldwide, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) provides resources to adequately test the safety and immunogenicity of promising vaccine candidates. The testing of candidate HIV/AIDS vaccines requires access to diverse populations for clinical trial participation and the availability of experienced staff, adequate space, and facilities.

View Map of HVTUs

Vaccine Leadership Group/Core

The Vaccine Leadership Group (VLG) Core Office coordinates all aspects of the HVTN and oversees the functions of the Laboratory Program and the Statistical and Data Management Center. Headquartered at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, the VLG Core Office is responsible for carrying out the HVTN's research agenda, including coordinating, administering and supporting the research activities of all US and international sites. The VLG Core Office also provides direct support to the Scientific Steering Committee, HVTN Science Committees, development teams and working groups, the Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and other functions as defined by the HVTN leadership.

SCHARP (Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention)

The Statistical and Data Management Center provides the following:

statistical leadership
protocol design and implementation expertise
regulatory guidance
management of data collection
monitoring and analysis for HVTN trials
support for HVTN's electronic communications.

Located in Seattle, Wash., SCHARP is part of the Public Health Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Laboratory Program

Our laboratories perform tests of the body's immune responses that are consistent across HVTN protocols. These tests include measuring whether the body produces antibodies in response to the candidate vaccine (humoral response) and whether the body produces infection-fighting T-cells (cellular response). HVTN laboratories are located at:

Duke University in Durham, North Carolina
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington
National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesberg, South Africa

Our laboratory tests are designed to define the best dose and timing of how an AIDS vaccine should be given to people. These tests are often the basis for the design of future trials of an experimental vaccine and may indicate the need for changes in the design of the vaccine product itself. The consistency of these laboratory tests across many trials allows scientists to immediately study the information learned about a vaccine, and to compare one experimental vaccine against another.

The U.S. HIV testing lab is located at the University of Washington Virology Specialty Laboratory.


Explore further:	HVTN Structure	« Click the colored triangles for more details. The HIV Vaccine Trials Network is comprised of the HIV Vaccine Trials Units, Vaccine Leadership Group, Statistical and Data Center (SCHARP), and the Laboratory Program. We are sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). HVTUs We are a global network of medical research institutions referred to as HIV Vaccine Trials Units, or HVTUs. These sites are where testing of experimental HIV vaccines takes place. Through cooperative agreements with institutions worldwide, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) provides resources to adequately test the safety and immunogenicity of promising vaccine candidates. The testing of candidate HIV/AIDS vaccines requires access to diverse populations for clinical trial participation and the availability of experienced staff, adequate space, and facilities. View Map of HVTUs Vaccine Leadership Group/Core The Vaccine Leadership Group (VLG) Core Office coordinates all aspects of the HVTN and oversees the functions of the Laboratory Program and the Statistical and Data Management Center. Headquartered at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, the VLG Core Office is responsible for carrying out the HVTN's research agenda, including coordinating, administering and supporting the research activities of all US and international sites. The VLG Core Office also provides direct support to the Scientific Steering Committee, HVTN Science Committees, development teams and working groups, the Community Advisory Boards (CABs) and other functions as defined by the HVTN leadership. SCHARP (Statistical Center for HIV/AIDS Research & Prevention) The Statistical and Data Management Center provides the following: statistical leadership protocol design and implementation expertise regulatory guidance management of data collection monitoring and analysis for HVTN trials support for HVTN's electronic communications. Located in Seattle, Wash., SCHARP is part of the Public Health Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Laboratory Program Our laboratories perform tests of the body's immune responses that are consistent across HVTN protocols. These tests include measuring whether the body produces antibodies in response to the candidate vaccine (humoral response) and whether the body produces infection-fighting T-cells (cellular response). HVTN laboratories are located at: Duke University in Durham, North Carolina Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in Johannesberg, South Africa Our laboratory tests are designed to define the best dose and timing of how an AIDS vaccine should be given to people. These tests are often the basis for the design of future trials of an experimental vaccine and may indicate the need for changes in the design of the vaccine product itself. The consistency of these laboratory tests across many trials allows scientists to immediately study the information learned about a vaccine, and to compare one experimental vaccine against another. The U.S. HIV testing lab is located at the University of Washington Virology Specialty Laboratory.

HVTN Structure