HIV clinical trials: Ugandans are not used as guinea pigs
Makerere University Walter Reed Project
MUWRP COLLABORATORS
Makerere University (MUK) founded in 1922, is Uganda's premier higher education institute. MUK has conducted HIV infection related research in collaboration with a variety of North American institutions including; Case Western Reserve University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California in San Francisco, Columbia University and the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey among others. Among the HIV infection related research conducted is The Preparation of AIDS Vaccine Evaluation (PAVE), the HIVNET program to the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and the successful completion of Africa's first prevention vaccine trial ALVAC vCP205 (HIVNET007). In addition, Makerere University has been actively participating in initiatives directed at the clinical epidemiology, diagnosis, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS since its identification in East Africa in early 1984.
The US Military HIV Research Program:
The US Military HIV Research program (USMHRP) was initiated in 1985 at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) as a result of a military directive to develop effective preventive measures against HIV to include; education, vaccine development implementation of novel anti-viral therapies and clinical management tools. The highest priority of the program has been HIV vaccine development. Clinical vaccine research capability has been developed in the US, Thailand, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroon and Nigeria for this purpose. Multiple phase I & II vaccine trials have been conducted so far with a phase III trial on-going in Thailand in collaboration with the Thai Ministry of Health and the United States National Institutes of Health (US NIH).
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation:
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc of USA is a private not for profit organization dedicated to improving military medicine and public health. The Mission of HJF is to advance medical research and education in the military medical community by providing scientific and management services to improve health worldwide. HJF was chartered in 1983 by the US congress to support military medical research and education in honor of Henry Scoop Jackson, the late senator from Washington State and embodies his long standing dedication to military medicine and public health. The Foundation supports a wide range of programs ranging from small bench top programs to complex multi-site programs.
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research:
The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) conducts research on a range of military relevant issues including; naturally occurring infectious diseases, casualty care, operational health hazards and medical defense against biological and chemical weapons. WRAIR's mission is to conduct biomedical research that is responsive to the Department of Defense (DoD) and US Army requirements and deliver life saving products including knowledge, technology and medical material that sustain the combat effectiveness of the war fighter. Despite a focus on soldier related research, non military medical problems around the world have been solved and life saving discoveries made through WRAIR's efforts.
Department of Defense- Global Emerging Infectious Surveillance and Respose System (DoD-GEIS)
MUWRP joined with GEIS in 2007 to support AIPI surveillance activities in Uganda. GEIS is Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System Sponsored by Department of Defense.
The DoD-GEIS was designed and established in 1996 as a result of a presidential directive to strengthen the prevention of, surveillance of and response to emerging infectious diseases. MUWRP AIPI program collaborates with Makerere University Veterinary Medicine, Ministry of Health (MoH), Nature Uganda, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), USAID and the Makerere University School of Public Health.
