Summary Statement: ADARC Program Project on HIV/SIV Vaccine Development

1 P01 AI43042-01
Ho, David D.

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quickly as possible to human testing;
(3) although there is much emphasis on the fact that subtype C will be used,
there is little evidence presented to support that subtypes are relevant to
human immunity, and consequently, vaccine development - a fact, that the
applicants themselves had acknowledged in their background presentation (page
65). Hence, selecting subtype C by the applicants may not be entirely based
on current scientific knowledge;
some reviewers expressed the opinion that, as presented, this application is
not a Program Project but resembles more a Center grant application. It is
not clear which investigator is directing each project, who is performing the
experiments,Pnd how much of the budget goes to each project.

In the opinion of some reviewers e rincipal Inves Dr. D. Ho,
is a leader in AIDS -, he is not a vaccinologist and1has insuffici t
experience e development or testing of a human vaccine. Dr. H
clin' virologist. Furthermore, as the Director C, it seems
un ikely that he would be abl percent time commitment to this
program. n addition, his understanding and commitment to an AIDS vaccine
must be questioned since in the past he has been critical of proceeding with
U gpl2 vaccine.
1?/
In general, the other investigators are qualified, experienced and committed
AIDS researchers but with the exception of Dr. Marx, have until now
demonstrated little interest in vaccine development, an understanding of the
arbitrariness involved in vaccine research, or the rigors required in going
forward with human testing. Furthermore, it is interesting that in Project 2,
the investigators are attempting to modify env protein to make an improved
immunogen which is diametrically opposed to their previous stand (see e
reference about an article in Nature, 1994). Some reviewers voiced concerns
about the commitment of the lead investigators to the development of an HIV
vaccine. In addition, Dr. Zhang who appears to be doing a considerable
porFf o of the proposed work, including preparing the DNA vaccines, the in
situ hybridization experiments in Project 1, and helping Dr. Chen in the
genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the clade C viruses and wit e
molecular cons ot 50
perce ime effort. It is not entirely clear what is the expertise of Dr.
J',.who according to the Molecular Virology Core description, is supposed to
work on the SIV-ICP47 construction. Dr. Jin is not listed in the budget nor
is his biosketch available. Does Dr. Chen have enough molecular experie o
perform the experiments he is charged with, e.9., MVA, and
-. case this application is funded, some of the investigators
(Drs. Ho, Moore, Cheng-Mayer, Connor, and eventually Dr. Marx) will have to
reduce their effort from other projects, if necessary.
In summary, the majority members of the review panel perceived the
significance of the overall Program as somewhat limited because, in their
opinion, it is mostly based on variations on already well-studied hypotheses,
emphasizes the development of another SIV model, and it lacks a clear-cut
strategy to move forward to human testing in a timely manner. For example,

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