International AIDS Society Newsletter, no. 21

Maximising Ethical and Effective Research in ResourceLimited Settings Report back from the Inaugural
Meeting of the IAS-CTP Industry Liaison Forum

Mother-to-Child-Transmission
Collaboration IAS-CTP/Ghent Group
Collaboration with the IAS-Ghent
International Working Group on HIV in
Women and Children:
The Ghent Group is a network of experts in
the area of MTCT. It is chaired since its creation by Professors Frangois Dabis (France) and
Marie-Louise Newell (United Kingdom). In
the past year, a methodological study of MTCT
trials was done and the Ghent Group has formulated updated recommendations for
researchers. They are also, in partnership with
National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development (NICHD)/NIH, currently performing a meta-analysis of recent trials in
Africa to document the risk of postnatal transmission by breastfeeding. Working with
WHO, the Ghent Group will use the same
data set to study maternal mortality in relation
to breastfeeding.
Through their partnership IAS-CTP/
Ghent Group will provide continued support
and maintenance of a network and database of
MTCT research ongoing in developing countries, and will produce regular updates in the
area.
Following a discussion on planning and
priority setting, the meeting was concluded.
IAS-CTP will continue to identify mechanisms and resources, both needed and currently committed, with the objective of maximising the collective efforts of those working in
areas in need of support and to foster collaboration among investigators in the areas of basic
research and behavioural and prevention
research to explore opportunities for joint
activities.

The IAS-CTP Industry Liaison Forum (ILF)
was established to develop and support the role
and contribution of the pharmaceutical and
diagnostic companies in HIV clinical research
in the developing world.
The ILF was first conceived and developed
during the IAS-CTP meeting in Buenos Aires
at which industry representatives were present.
It was agreed at the meeting that a panel of
industry representatives be convened with the
following aims:
* to update on research initiatives focused on the
needs and context of developing nations
* promote opportunity for exchange of ideas from key
protagonists in the field
* provide efficient liaison between IAS-CTP and
industry-related issues
* identify priority areas for research, including ethical and practical challenges pertinent to resourcepoor environments
the inaugural meeting of the ILF took place
during the CROI meeting in Seattle on 26
February 2002. The meeting was attended by
over twenty professionals from industry representing the major pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies active in HIV and was cochaired by Professors Joep Lange, Scott
Hammer from Columbia University and
Michel Kazatchkine from ANRS.
The first meeting of the ILF considered the
rationale and benefits to undertaking clinical
research in the context of resource-poor
economies, including the urgent need for a
structured approach to conducting clinical trials and improving the number of functional
sites available for research. The critical investment and role of industry in securing advances
in drug development and discovery was also
acknowledged. Delegates from industry took
the opportunity to share their current level of
commitment by outlining initiatives underway in the developing world. "We now have a
significant and timely opportunity", confirmed Joep Lange, "to define and establish
clear priorities for the intellectual, infrastruc
tural, personnel and financial resources that
will improve the current public health circumstances of HIV in developing nations".
By way of defining the potential role of the
ILF, the discussion outlined some possible
activities of the forum including:
* promoting effective communication between industry, investigators and research networks
* exploring priorities for future research based on
emerging disease patterns
* making available an inventory of ongoing
clinical research activity
* promoting effective roll-over ofpatients from studies into future research cohorts by highlighting
ongoing and planned trials
* supporting the development of accredited sites
amenable to future research
* review of relevant ethical issues and implementation of consensus guidelines
* provision of independent education and training
support programs
Based on issues raised at the meeting and subsequent discussions with delegates, it was
agreed that the next meeting of the ILF scheduled to take place here in Barcelona to coincide
with IAS XIV International AIDS Conference,
would focus on identifying minimal standards
for effective research in resource-poor environments; in particular with the aim of improving
and expanding the number of existing accredited laboratory and research sites. Leading
researchers and investigators with experience
in the developing world will take part in the
next meeting of the ILF to share their experiences, concerns and recommendations.
The second IAS-CTP Industry Liason
Forum will take place during the XIV
International AIDS Conference in Barcelona,
on July 6th, 7-9 pm.
For further information on the IAS-CTP ILF initiative,
please contact Yasmin Halima: [email protected];
For information on the Clinical Trials Inventory, please
contact Virginia Differding: [email protected].
For general information: Jacqueline van Tongeren at IASCTP: [email protected]

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