Improving Ethics in HIV Prevention Trials, Lessons from Thailand

Published June 20 in PLOS ONE, “Improving Ethical and Participatory Practice for Marginalized Populations in Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials: Lessons from Thailand” includes findings from a qualitative study on the conduct of HIV prevention research and the involvement of marginalized populations in Thailand. The Good Participatory Practice (GPP) Guidelines for Biomedical HIV Prevention Trials—which provide trial funders, sponsors and implementers with guidance on how to engage with all stakeholders in the design and conduct of biomedical HIV prevention trials—guided the research.

In the early 2000s, the well-documented stoppage of PrEP research in Cameroon and Cambodia helped catalyze action around documenting best practices for stakeholder engagement. And in 2007, the first draft of the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines for biomedical HIV prevention trials were published. In 2011 a revised edition, informed by community consultation and use, was released.

The research reported in PLOS ONE was undertaken to help inform how to prevent similar trial closures in the future. The article, authored by Dan Allman, Melissa Hope Ditmore and Karyn Kaplan—partners in AVAC’s GPP Initiative—focused on a few specific areas: standards of HIV prevention, informed consent and communication. And while the focus of the research was on the experience in Thailand, the results can inform practice in other areas of the world where research is planned or ongoing in marginalized populations.

Read more on the study and its results here.

For more on the guidelines and AVAC’s GPP Initiative click here.

From the Booty’s Point of View: Using perceptibility data to inform rectal microbicide development

Rectal microbicide development has made strides in recent years, but, as with vaginal microbicides, adherence remains a concern for product developers.

There are two “P” words we have always loved – pleasure and prevention.

Perceptibility is a new strategy for evaluating what products feel like and how they “behave” in the body (in the booty as well!), during insertion, everyday activities, and, of course, during sex. The hope is that, by understanding how product characteristics impact how they are felt and understood by potential users, we can better design products for pleasure and prevention.

Join IRMA, AVAC, and our expert presenter, the wonderful Kate Morrow, who will explain the third ‘P” word, perceptibility. Kate will tell us why it is so crucial to both pleasure and HIV prevention, how the perceptibility process works, and how it will help create rectal microbicide products that people actually want to put in their booties, products that will inspire people to wait in line to get them…

July 17, 10am ET
Register here.

Click here to determine the time in your location and you will be able to download Kate’s slides in advance of the webinar by visiting IRMA’s website.

The webinar will be recorded, and an audio and flash version will be made available to everyone after the webinar. Many thanks to AVAC for helping IRMA host this call.

amfAR announces $3 Million for implementation science research: Request for proposals

Goal: To support implementation science research projects evaluating innovative service delivery models and community partnerships focused on the HIV treatment cascade for gay men, other men who have sex with men, and transgender individuals in low- and middle-income countries. E-mail questions about the RFP to gmt.awards@amfar.org. Application Deadline: 9 July 2014 http: Click here to learn more: www.amfar.org/Implementation-Science-Research-RFP/

Funding opportunity: Integrated preclinical/clinical program for HIV topical microbicides and biomedical prevention (RFA-AI-14-025)

Goal: An integrated, iterative multidisciplinary application for developing a microbicide, PreExposure Prophylaxis/PrEP), or Multipurpose Prevention Technology/MPT non-vaccine biomedical prevention (nBP) product or strategy, for use in the male and/or female genital and gastrointestinal tracts to prevent HIV acquisition/transmission. Products/strategies may be delivered by various drug delivery systems, including gels, films, quick dissolving tablets, intravaginal rings, implants, oral, and/or injection.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement is to solicit applications from single institutions and consortia of institutions to participate in the Integrated Preclinical Clinical Program for HIV Topical Microbicides and Biomedical Prevention (IPCP-MBP).  The objective of each IPCP-MBP application is to create an integrated and iterative multi-disciplinary application with the goal of developing a microbicide, PreExposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), or Multipurpose Prevention Technology (MPT) non-vaccine biomedical prevention (nBP) product or strategy, for use in the male and/or female genital and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts to prevent HIV acquisition/transmission. Products and strategies may be delivered by a variety of drug delivery systems (DDS), including gels, films, quick dissolving tablets, intravaginal rings (IVR), implants, oral, and/or injection. This FOA contains significant modifications to previous iterations of the Integrated Preclinical Clinical Program FOA. – See more at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-14-025.html#sthash.6hsz7O1E.dpuf

USAID funding opportunity: Annual program statement (APS) for microbicide research, development, and introduction, round 3

This APS will supports the creative research and other innovative activities now essential to advance potential microbicides toward regulatory approval and then successfully introduce them into delivery programs. Additional detail and information on application submission can be found at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html and searching for Funding Opportunity Number APS-OAA-14-000076. Questions can be sent to Petrina Williams, Agreement Specialist, at pwilliams@usaid.gov and Sallie MacElrath, Agreement Officer, at smcelrath@usaid.gov by COB June 19, 2014.