Vaccines and Microbicides
The inclusion of communities in vaccine and microbicides research and development can lead to better science - as it is likely to impact the enrolment, retention and trial practices. It can also play an important role in ensuring that successful research findings are rapidly translated into accepted and effective programmes within communities.
ICASO is supporting community sector organizations to play an active role in accelerating the development of these products and ensuring future access. This can be done by advocating for an increase in the funding for vaccine and microbicides product development; an increase in emphasis during product development on the particular needs of communities most in need; the ethical conduct of clinical trials; and funding commitments from donors to guarantee that once products are developed they are available and affordable to those who need them most.
For AIDS vaccines, ICASO has partnered with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) to produce a series of guidance publications and community research reports to build greater understanding within the community sector of vaccine research and advocacy. ICASO is currently developing a facilitation guide as a training tool that will help community organizations adopt and use the guidance and recommendations within these existing ICASO publications.
For microbicides, ICASO is currently undertaking a community-based research project to capture how communities have been involved in the planning and implementation of trials for microbicides.
