21/09/2012

HIVACAT takes over from Boston the prestigious International AIDS Vaccine conference

More than one thousand HIV/AIDS vaccine researchers have met in Boston for the AIDS Vaccine Conference 2012, from September 8th to 12th.
Next year, the HIVACAT Programme for HIV Vaccine Development will be the host of this conference, the most important and prestigious congress worlwide on HIV vaccine research.
The appointment of HIVACAT as local host is an international recognition to the advances on HIV vaccine research achieved by the more of 100 researchers working in the programme.
The HIVACAT program is composed of Catalonia’s two longest established and leading AIDS research centres, the Institute for AIDS Research IrsiCaixa, and the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Service at Barcelona’s IDIBAPS/Hospital Clìnic, HIVACAT conducts research into the development of a new HIV vaccine, in conjunction with the organization ESTEVE, and with the support of the “la Caixa” Foundation, the Government of Catalonia Department of Health and Department of Economy and Knowledge plus the Clínic Foundation at Barcelona’s Hospital Clínic.

After the edition of the AIDS Vaccine Conference in Boston this year, the HIVACAT Catalan Programme for HIV Vaccine Development takes over the congress. The AIDS Vaccine 2013 will take place in Barcelona. The appointment of HIVACAT as local host of this congress, the most important and prestigious congress worlwide on HIV vaccine research, is an international recognition to the significant advances on HIV vaccine research achieved by programme.

From Boston, the HIVACAT scientific director, Christian Brander, states that “posting AIDS Vaccine 2013 will contribute to consolidate the prestige and the international relevante oh HIVACAT in the field of HIV research”.

The Harvard University Center for AIDS Research and the Ragon Institute have been the local hosts of the AIDS Vaccine Conference 2012, organised by the AIDS Vaccine Enterprise. More than 400 new studies on design and clinical trials on HIV vaccine, both therapeutic and preventive, have been presented during the conference. For four days, one thousand researchers have shared their latest results and opinions on the challenge of achieving a safe and effective HIV vaccine to prevente or cure HIV infection. During the closing ceremony (see picture), organisers presented the 2013 edition, that will take place in Barcelona from September 8th to 12th.

HIVACAT: a pionner model

The HIVACAT programme is composed of Catalonia’s two longest established and leading AIDS research centres, the Institute for AIDS Research IrsiCaixa, and the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Service at Barcelona’s IDIBAPS/Hospital ClÍnic, HIVACAT conducts research into the development of a new HIV vaccine, in conjunction with the organization ESTEVE, and with the support of the “la Caixa” Foundation, the autonomous Catalan government’s Department of Economy and Knowledge plus the Clínic Foundation at Barcelona’s Hospital Clínic. It is a unique model in Spain, placing the country in the first line of HIV research, the first significant experience of collaboration between public administration, researchers and the industry.

Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, a unique alliance

The AIDS Vaccine Conference is organised by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise, an international alliance formed by more than 30 independent organizations, including HIVACAT, that collaborate to accelerate the development of a safe and effective vaccine. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) or the World Health Organization (WHO) are members of the alliance, together with other research institutions, foundations and NGOs.

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