AIDS Research at the NIH: A Critical Review

forming assays. DTB also sponsors contracts for drug synthesis (scaling up from lab quantities to
kilograms for animal testing), formulation, quality assurance methods development, small and large animal
toxicology, and pharmacology with radiolabelled drugs. In addition it sponsors industrial production of virus
stocks, antisera and recombinant HIV proteins for research use. Six contracts funded development of antiHIV drugs in animal models [one in MuLV mice, one in HIV-SCID-hu mice, one in FeLV/FIV cats, and three
in HIV-infected macaques.] Twelve contracts funded OI research, toxicology and pharmacology, including
4 PCP awards, 2 for candida and 2 for MAI. Six contracts funded development of immune-based therapies,
using MuLV mouse models and FeLV/FIV feline models. These BRM contracts are due to expire in August
1992. Will they be refunded?
Vaccine Research + Development Branch (VRDB) The VRDB oversees pre-clinical, animal model, and
early phase vaccine trials in both uninfected and infected primates (including macaques, chimpanzees and
humans). In FY 1991 the VRDB awarded $35.6M in grants and contracts. $27M was in solicited awards,
including the NCVDG and the AVEG (see below).
Correlates or Markers of Immunity in AIDS This series of six contracts underwrote vital studies of cellmediated and humoral immunity in people with HIV and uninfected but exposed cohorts. Investigators
included Janis Giorgi (UCLA), Susan Zolla-Pazner (NYU), Fred Valentine (NYU), George Bekesi (Mt. Sinai),
Bijan Safai (Sloan-Kettering) and Edgar Engleman (Stanford). Topics included discordant couples (one
positive, one negative), HIV-negative men with KS, and dendritic cells. This research is crucial to
determining the pathogenesis of HIV-induced immune suppression, yet the contracts were terminated in
June 1992 without renewal.
National Cooperative Vaccine Development Group (NCVDG) Thirteen industrialVacademic consortia
academia are working on pre-clinical AIDS vaccine development. This program cost $10.7M in FY 1991
and will be cut $1M to $9.8M in FY 1992. NCVDG-funded work demonstrated protection of rhesus
macaques against SIV challenges in three different systems. This work is vital not only for vaccine
development, but for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of AIDS.
SIV Vaccine Evaluation Units (SVEUs) VRDB spent $2M on primate studies in FY 1991 and is doubling
this figure to $4M in FY 1992. Because protective immunity has been demonstrated on cell-free and cellassociated intravenous (but not mucosal) challenge with homologous SIV isolates, the SIV/macaque model
continues to be vital for elucidating the mechanisms of protective immunity in primate immunodeficiency
virus syndromes. Therefore, the VRDB issued two contracts at the end of 1990 to conduct further studies
of SIV vaccines in the macaque model.
AIDS Cooperative Adjuvant Group (ACVG) Eight sites are participating in a search for better adjuvants
(immunogenic preparations which enhance the immune response to a given vaccine).
AIDS Vaccine Evaluation Units (AVEUs) NIAID set up the AVEU system in 1988. Five institutions have
studied five immunogens in HIV-negative populations. The AVEUs are not ideally situated for large-scale
vaccine efficacy trials. They will continue to be used for preliminary studies. Larger studies will be done
by the new VTEB in high-incidence areas. AVEU funding is $7.5M this year.
Planning International Vaccine Studies The VRDB is working with DMID, the NIH OAR, the Office of
International Health, the CDC, the Defense Department, WHO and others to plan the HIV vaccine field trials
in Africa, Asia and South America (as well as, possibly, the USA). US travel restrictions continue to impede
international vaccine collaboration.
Resources + Centers Branch (RCB) This hitherto obscure branch is mainly administrative in scope,
handling grant applications, providing technical assistance to nervous applicants, and negotiating the

17