New institute to develop HIV vaccine

A new vaccine discovery institute has been formed in the US to monitor and develop new drugs to fight HIV.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has formed the new Vaccine Discovery Branch as part of its Vaccine Research Programme in the Division of Aids (DAIDS).

It aims to ensure that the branch tracks scientific developments in vaccine development, while also determining funding for research projects into new Aids drugs.

Carl Dieffenbach, the director of DAIDS, said: "Cross-fertilization of HIV/Aids research with the fields of genetics, structural biology, systems biology and others could open up new perspectives on how to overcome major obstacles to HIV vaccine design.

"The Vaccine Discovery Branch will be in an ideal position to spot these opportunities."

The International Aids Vaccine Initiative recently awarded innovation funds to biopharmaceutical companies Lipoxen and Strand Life Sciences.