Coalition to Accelerate & Support Prevention Research (CASPR)

The Coalition to Accelerate and Support Prevention Research (CASPR) project was an Africa-centered network from 2016 – 2025 dedicated to accelerating biomedical HIV prevention research and development and to advancing equitable access to proven HIV prevention options.

Overview

People need access to an array of effective HIV prevention options that work for their life circumstances. Once products are shown to work, programs, policies and funding must meet the needs of affected communities and overcome barriers that have blocked or slowed access in the past. At the same time, it is essential that research and development (R&D) for next-generation products continue in order to fill the gaps in the prevention toolbox. CASPR was designed to take on these challenges.

About CASPR

The Coalition to Accelerate & Support Prevention Research (CASPR) was designed by AVAC and partners and supported by USAID from 2016 to 2025. CASPR was an Africa-led, multi-country coalition of 13 partners working together to change how HIV prevention is pursued and delivered. CASPR activities focused primarily on African countries with the highest burden of new HIV infections, and where biomedical HIV prevention research is ongoing or planned.

The Coalition:

• Supported advocacy networks to strengthen and expand a global cadre of informed, action-oriented advocates who advance an agenda for HIV prevention research.
• Translated research and shared accessible resources with advocates, policymakers, donors and other key stakeholders to ensure scientific advancements translate into policies and practices that uphold the needs and interests of all stakeholders, particularly trial participants and the communities research is intended to benefit.
• Conducted research preparedness to ensure that rights and interests of trial participants, eventual users and communities are represented and respected throughout the process, from research to rollout.
• Advocated for policies that support efficient and ethical development, introduction and use of new HIV prevention options.

Impact

CASPR created a platform to support, expand and advance African-centered leadership of the advocacy that’s crucial to ensure that a robust pipeline of prevention options are developed and reach the people who need them most – and that these people are active partners throughout the R&D and delivery process. Through deep investment in local organizations and a commitment to shared power, co-created strategy and elevating local leadership within a global network, the Coalition transformed HIV prevention research advocacy. 

Over eight years, CASPR:  

• Advanced ethical, community-centered research design in HIV vaccine and PrEP trials, ensuring that stakeholder perspectives are incorporated into every step of the process.
• Cultivated community trust in the research process, increasing access to accurate scientific information and expanding community engagement in HIV prevention research.
• Built broad consensus on community priorities for the HIV prevention R&D pipeline, resulting in critical buy-in and support from researchers, funders and decision-makers.
• Championed choice in HIV prevention R&D and rollout, with a strong focus on girls and women and key and vulnerable populations, successfully accelerating access to products that communities need.
• Secured critical commitments from product developers on access and price transparency to advance the introduction of new HIV prevention products.

Read CASPR’s Impact Report here.

Contact

For more information about CASPR, contact [email protected].