HIV DNA vaccine: volunteers sought for London study

This article is more than 21 years old.

Researchers at St Thomas’ Hospital are looking for HIV negative volunteers to take part in a clinical trial which aims to find a vaccine against HIV.

St Thomas’ and a hospital in the Kenyan capital Nairobi have been chosen for the study which is sponsored by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

The study is looking at an HIV DNA vaccine developed by Prof. Andrew McMichael and colleagues at Oxford University. Researchers at St Thomas’ need volunteers for the trial that will test an experimental HIV vaccine for safety.

Glossary

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The material in the nucleus of a cell where genetic information is stored.

clinical trial

A research study involving participants, usually to find out how well a new drug or treatment works in people and how safe it is.

intravenous

Injected into a vein.

Potential volunteers must be aged between 18 and 60, presumed HIV negative, have suffered no previous severe reaction to a vaccine and be at low risk of contracting HIV through sexual behaviour or intravenous drug use. Female volunteers must not be pregnant or intend to become pregnant during the study.

Consultant Dr Barry Peters is the study’s lead investigator and Senior Research Nurse Lucy Judges is co-ordinating the trial with Research Assistant Kimberly Gray co-ordinating volunteer recruitment.

If you are interested in volunteering to take part in this clinical trial, contact the Clinical Trials Unit, Genito-Urinary Medicine, St Thomas’ Hospital on 0800 358 1399.

Further information on this website

DNA vaccines - an overview of current research