http://www.abc.net.au/nsw/news/200306/s871774.htm

Australian doctors trial HIV vaccine

Wednesday, 4 June 2003

A medical consortium hoping to develop a vaccine against HIV has begun recruiting volunteers for a trial.

The trial, to take place at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, aims to establish the safety of a new lead vaccine.

It is being conducted by the University of New South Wales.

Other Australian universities, the CSIRO, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations and the Thai Red Cross Society are also involved.

The trial involves a DNA vaccine designed to prime the immune system to recognise components of HIV.

This is followed by a fowl pox virus vaccine to boost immune cells and fight off HIV.

It is is the first trial to involve human volunteers and will begin once 24 HIV-negative candidates have been enrolled.

Results are expected to be available towards the end of the year.