The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) today announced that it is restructuring its HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks and soliciting investigators and institutions to lead the reorganized effort. This reorganization, designed in response to both the changing face of the AIDS epidemic and evolving scientific challenges, will enable NIAID and its many collaborators to effectively continue their research for safe, effective and affordable drugs, preventive strategies and HIV vaccines. The new network leadership that will be established through this process will direct, coordinate and conduct NIAID-funded HIV/AIDS clinical research both domestically and internationally. NIAID, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports the world's largest portfolio of clinical research in HIV prevention, vaccine and treatment.

"This clinical leadership solicitation reflects our vision to improve coordination, collaboration and flexibility in NIAID-supported HIV/AIDS prevention, vaccine and treatment research," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "The current NIAID AIDS research structure was critical to the discovery of antiretrovirals to treat HIV-1 in adults and children; the development of strategies to successfully prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission; and the significant progress in the global search for an AIDS vaccine. This newly designed clinical research structure will now provide us with the opportunity to build on those successes and address future global research challenges."

The leadership solicitation, known as a Request for Applications (RFA), is now available for review by interested parties on the NIAID Web site (see below for details). A second RFA, to be released in early 2005, will solicit applications for the Clinical Trial Units (CTUs) that will implement the research plans of the networks. Funding for the two RFAs is expected to total up to $300 million for the first year, and funding may conti
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Contact: NIAID Press Office
niaidnews@niaid.nih.gov
301-402-1663
NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
1-Dec-2004

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