New directions in HIV prevention

04 November 2005

UNSW's National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR) has jointly hosted an international symposium on the role of microbicides in HIV prevention.

Microbicides are pharmaceutical products used prior to intercourse to block HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. A product of this kind, if proven to be safe and effective, would allow women to protect themselves against infection without relying on the cooperation of male partners for condom use or other measures.

The speakers included Australian Nobel prize-winning scientist Peter Doherty, who spoke on the global issues surrounding HIV prevention.

South African Gita Ramjee spoke about the large-scale human trials of a microbicide currently underway in that country, to determine the efficacy of the product. Similar trials are also underway in other African countries and India. Research is also being conducted on how acceptable these products are to women and their sexual partners.

UNSW's NCHECR is part of a consortium that has been awarded A$26.4 million dollars (US$20.3 million) to accelerate the development of a vaginal microbicide which will be trialled in Thailand and Australia.

The symposium was supported by the prestigious United States National Institutes of Health, in collaboration with the NCHECR, the Burnet Institute, Westmead Millenium Institute and other partners.