Hassell: CAVD Alliance Management
OVERVIEW
As described on the Foundation’s website, the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD) is an international network of scientists and experts dedicated to designing a variety of novel HIV vaccine candidates and advancing the most promising candidates to clinical trials. The CAVD operates on the principle that accelerating progress toward an HIV/AIDS vaccine requires the creativity of individual investigators supported by a collaborative approach that emphasizes the sharing of scientific information and the standardization of laboratory techniques and data analysis. However, to be effective, this network requires ongoing maintenance and cultivation via various forms of communication. For example, developments concerning the CAVD research resources or special programs require managed communications to the entire membership. More targeted discussions are necessary for oversight of the stages in the sharing of results generated by the Vaccine Immune Monitoring Cores (VIMCs). Such functions have been conducted by the Alliance Manager since the inception of the CAVD, and this investment will provide continued support for this position, aiding in the success of the CAVD by this critical facilitating role.
The purpose of this award is to provide support to the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery in the following areas: Consortium Management, Scientific Coordination, and Communications. The Alliance Manager, with overall responsibility for these activities, will coordinate and communicate with the CAVD Principal Investigators (PIs), PI Council Co-Chairs, Program Managers (PMs), Central Service Facilities (CSFs), and Foundation staff (particularly the Senior Program Officer for this grant). The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has a strong partnership with the Foundation in supporting the CAVD through the Vaccine Product Development Center, a partnership consistent with IAVI’s mission to facilitate the field and drive forward interventions to prevent HIV. This grant extends this partnership by having IAVI furnish these Alliance Management services, with the intention to continue the great support provided to the CAVD previously. Other potential enhancements include sharing benchmarking data and further facilitating communication across the CSFs, particularly to intensify the VxPDC’s already significant integration in the development activities of the CAVD.
This grant is led by Thomas Hassell, Vice President of Vaccine Development at IAVI. The Alliance Manager is Rosalind Hauser, and the Senior Program Officer is Susan Barnett.