Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative

Program Areas

Canada is well positioned to contribute to global efforts to develop an HIV vaccine, due to our strong community-based organizations, robust research capacity in biomedical, clinical and social science. The CHVI will focus on key areas, which align with priorities set out in the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise’s Scientific Strategic Plan:

Discovery and Social Research
Through this component, support will be provided to HIV vaccine discovery and social research, while strengthening capacity and promoting greater involvement and collaboration amongst researchers in Canada and LMICs.

Clinical Trial Capacity Building and Networks
Support will be given to researchers and research institutions, particularly in LMICs, which will strengthen their capacity to conduct high-quality clinical trials of HIV vaccines and other related prevention technologies.

Policy and Regulatory Issues, Community and Social Dimensions
This program area will support the strengthening of vaccine policy approaches that promote global access to HIV vaccines; enhancement of the regulatory pathway and processes for HIV vaccines in LMICs; and collaboration with partners in Canada and in LMICs in advancing legal, ethical and human rights dimensions of HIV vaccines. This program area will also strengthen existing mechanisms to support community involvement in vaccine research and development, clinical trials and activities related to public awareness and education.

Planning, Coordination and Evaluation
The CHVI will plan, coordinate and evaluate its activities with Canadian and international HIV vaccine research and development partners to ensure the Canadian contribution to the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise is most effective.

Outcomes:

The expected outcomes of the CHVI are as follows:

• New knowledge and capacity created in the areas of discovery and social research in Canada and in LMICs; and new collaborations and increased integration with global HIV vaccine research efforts.
• Strengthened clinical trial capacity in Canada and LMICs; and new collaborations and increased involvement of researchers and institutions in integrated global HIV vaccine clinical trial efforts.
• Improved domestic and international policy development models, capacity and tools to address HIV vaccine-related issues; enhanced global access to evidence-based tools and knowledge regarding community and social dimensions of HIV vaccine research; improved regulatory capacity in LMICs, especially those where clinical trials are planned or ongoing; greater meaningful engagement of local communities in all aspects of the HIV vaccine continuum; and improved alignment with national and international legal, ethical and human rights dimensions of HIV vaccines.
• Integrated delivery of CHVI policies, programs and initiatives with domestic and international linkages.