Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative

Funding Opportunity Announcement

Discovery and Social Research Operating Grants

On February 10-12, 2008, Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative (CHVI) participating departments and agencies (Canadian International Development Agency, Public Health Agency of Canada, Industry Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Health Canada), hosted a consultation on funding programs in Ottawa.

The objective of the Consultation was primarily to seek input on three new CHVI funding programs focusing on discovery and social research; clinical trials capacity building and networks; and policy development and community engagement. As well, the consultation provided opportunities for cross-sectoral networking and information-sharing on the CHVI.

A broad spectrum of domestic and international stakeholders attended the meeting, including representatives from Canadian and international research institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, provincial and territorial governments, participating departments/agencies and other federal departments.  This was followed by intensive discussions where participants contributed expert advice on priorities and areas of focus.

The common ground that was reached at the end of the consultations serves as the basis for the development of Request for Applications (RFAs) and relevant eligible research areas to be funded through the discovery and social research stream of CHVI.  The first of these RFAs is open to biomedical and social research that is required for the discovery and development of HIV vaccines. 

The CHVI invites applications from individual researchers and groups of researchers interested in contributing toward the development of an HIV Vaccine. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance research on the prevention of HIV and to build future Canadian research capacity in this area. It is expected this program will enable Canadian basic and social science researchers to explore unique ideas, contribute to international efforts in vaccine development and contribute toward a better understanding of the social dimensions of vaccine related research.  Examples of eligible research topics include:

Social

• Development and evaluation of targeted communication strategies to ensure the participation of at risk groups in the design and implementation of vaccine trials;
• Monitoring the attitudes and behaviour of trial participants to assess the impact of trials on risk behaviour in communities affected by HIV;
• Investigation of social issues surrounding HIV vaccines including knowledge, acceptability and access; Ethical issues related to studying vulnerable populations; e.g. adolescents, injection drug users, sex workers;
• Patent law and intellectual property issues related to HIV vaccines and related research; and
• Knowledge translation and risk communication relating to HIV Vaccine research.

Discovery

• Novel approaches to induction and long-term maintenance of mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses;
• Novel approaches to developing prophylactic vaccines aimed at induction of broadly neutralizing antibodies and B cell responses to HIV;
• Development and testing of therapeutic HIV vaccines;
• Studies aimed at better understanding the correlates of immune protection relating to HIV; and
• Development and testing of novel vaccine adjuvants.

More information on the CHVI research priorities can be found at the following Web site http://www.chvi-icvv.gc.ca/index-eng.html

Information on applying to this funding opportunity, can be found on the CIHR website.