International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group Immunology/Vaccine Research Agenda Committee Goals and Objectives

The Immunology/Vaccine RAC and Pediatric Immunology Core Laboratories have the following goals:

Goal 1: Define the quantity, quality, and durability of immune preservation/restoration in infants, children, and         adolescents following HAART and define normal values for immune measures (e.g., cell subpopulations by flow cytometry, lymphocyte function) and immune function in healthy infants, children, and adolescents.

Goal 2: Augment antiretroviral therapy with (1) immune-based therapy, including HIV-specific vaccines and immunomodulatory agents, or (2) structured treatment interruption, to enhance general and HIV-specific immune reconstitution in infants, children, and adolescents and possibly to attain greater control of viral replication than with HAART alone.

Goal 3: Develop an effective vaccine/passive immune-based therapy regimen with the potential to decrease perinatal transmission, as well as postpartum transmission via breastfeeding, in developing countries.

The Pediatric Immunology/Vaccine RAC comprises 11 immunologists who provide expertise in identifying and implementing innovative initiatives into PACTG protocols.  The RAC is charged with identifying and evaluating optimal vaccines for use in perinatal, adolescent and therapeutic settings.  The PICL Committee comprises 11 immunologists who represent six NIAID core laboratories and one NICHD laboratory.  The PICL Committee identifies, develops, and performs quality-control checks on assays that are essential for the conduct of the scientific agenda and supports the protocol immunologists.
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