Dear Advocates,
On May 18, HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), HIV prevention advocates around the globe will raise their voices about the urgent need to continue the search for a powerful HIV prevention tool: an effective vaccine. This update contains links to several exciting new resources that we developed to help advocates add depth and detail to these much-needed conversations, including a new series - AIDS Vaccines for Busy Advocates <http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJWBh4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - that provides one-page summaries on three key issues; a training exercise<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJWCR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> based on this new series; and the most recent data on AIDS vaccine investment<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJWCB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> from the HIV Vaccines & Microbicides Resource Tracking Group<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>\.
These materials-all available at www.avac.org/vaccines<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>\-provide an excellent basis for AVAC's HVAD webinar, Priorities for AIDS Vaccine Science and Advocacy in 2012 and Beyond, taking place on Friday, May 18 at 10am Eastern (visit www.timeanddate.com<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAx4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> for the time in your area). Register here.<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAh4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>
Going forward, we have identified three priorities that strike us as critical and that will guide our work in 2012-and beyond:
* Continue and broaden AIDS vaccine advocacy. Everyone who is an HIV prevention advocate can, and should, be a vaccine advocate. But this means honest discussions about how AIDS vaccines fit into combination prevention; the necessity for future trials, including large-scale efficacy trials; and the way that these trials will integrate new prevention options into the design and standard of prevention.
* Sustained funding for the science. In 2011, funding for basic science was significantly lower than the recent peak in 2008. Yet the field of neutralizing antibody research has steadily offered up key breakthroughs, and there is every reason to think this will continue into the future. The funding has to remain steady to keep the science on track and to build on these recent discoveries.
* Set and communicate milestones for measuring progress-and adjust accordingly. There are time frames for progress in RV144 follow-on trials, completion of the ongoing HVTN 505 efficacy trial, antibody research and development of other novel candidates. (Click here<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> for our AIDS Vaccines for Busy Advocates series.) We must monitor these milestones, add new ones, maintain a robust pipeline and demonstrate nimble course correction. Progress to-date has depended on field-wide collaboration facilitated by inter-institution data sharing of data and materials. It's critical to attend to these enabling factors at every stage.
See below for a list of and links to the new graphics and resources on the field and tools for explaining the state of the AIDS vaccine field in simple language.
Advocacy Resources: Turning complex science into clear messages
* "AIDS Vaccine Science for Busy Advocates" - One-page reviews of highlights, next steps and key terms for three pivotal topics:
1. HVTN 505 - the ongoing efficacy trial in the United States<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXBR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>
2. RV144 - the first AIDS vaccine clinical trial to show evidence of protection<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXBB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>
3. Antibodies - gaining ground on a critical immune response<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXBx4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>
* AIDS Vaccine Talking Points<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXBh4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - A one-page guide to pressing advocacy issues
* AIDS Vaccine Buzz Groups<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJWCR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - A participatory training exercise using the "AIDS Vaccines for Busy Advocates" fact sheets to bring the content to life
* AIDS Vaccines: The basics<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXCR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - An introductory PowerPoint slide set that gives an overview of the search for an AIDS vaccine and recent developments
Graphics and New Data: Tracking trials, products and money
* AIDS Vaccines Then and Now<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXCB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - Graphical comparisons of numbers of AIDS vaccine trial sites, participants and investment over the years
* Table of ongoing and planned AIDS vaccine trials<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJUAR4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>
* AIDS Vaccine Research Timeline <http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJUAB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - Graphic of current trials grouped by vaccine concept, with timing of results
* AIDS Vaccine Research Funding<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJWCB4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D> - Key data on AIDS vaccine funding trends by source, area of research and other metrics
As always, your feedback is most welcome, and we look forward to speaking with many of you on Friday's webinar<http://mlist.orchidsuites.net/lists/lt.php?id=KkoCCgdaXAJXAh4FC1NWAkoGAVRWClM%3D>\!
Best,
AVAC
Advocacy to accelerate ethical research and global delivery of AIDS vaccines and other HIV prevention options
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