|
|
Dr. Gary Nabel
Dr. Nabel spoke about the Center’s administration, progress with vaccine trials, primarily HIV, and biodefense efforts. The Center has approximately 160 employees and expects continued growth as its pilot program is staffed. Budget allocation also continues to grow. Almost three-quarters of the budget is devoted to AIDS vaccine. Arrangements for the pilot plant, in Frederick, have been secured. It’s slated for completion in November of next year and could be functional the same month.
While most of the Center’s efforts are centered towards HIV vaccine development, it’s likely that it will start to manufacture ebola vaccine prototypes. A number of additional programs were launched this year, including the improvement of a new tenure track in investigative and biodefense research on viral hemorrhagic fevers. Dr. Nabel reported that John McNeil, from Walter Reed’s program, was recruited to help the Center’s team move forward with AIDS vaccine trials domestically and in the developing world. Dr. Nabel provided an update about a clinical DNA vaccine study, summarized other clinical trials, and expounded on Dr. Fauci’s comments about the SARS vaccine.
|