HIV Vaccines
Historically, vaccines have been our best weapon against the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, including smallpox, polio, measles, and yellow fever. Unfortunately, we do not have a vaccine for HIV. HIV has unique ways of evading the immune system and the human body seems incapable of mounting an effective immune response against virus. As a result, scientists do not have a clear picture of what is needed to provide protection against the virus.
Finding a safe, effective and durable HIV vaccine remains a top priority for NIAID. Through the Vaccine Research Center and the Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, NIAID conducts and supports biomedical research that leads to increased knowledge about how HIV interacts with the human immune system and evaluation of the most promising vaccine candidates. Although a vaccine to prevent HIV infection remains the ultimate goal, NIAID is also examining vaccines that could significantly alter the course of disease and infectiousness of people infected with HIV, which could provide positive health benefits both for infected individuals and the larger community.
Highlights & Announcements
Media Availability: NIH Scientists Create New Tool for Identifying Powerful HIV Antibodies—May 9, 2013
"Recent Advances in Humanized Mice: Accelerating the Development of an HIV Vaccine" (PDF)—Nov. 5, 2012, Boston, Massachusetts
Jordan Report, Accelerated Development of Vaccines 2012
Possible Clues Found to Why HIV Vaccine Showed Modest Protection—April 4, 2012
Functional Glycomics and HIV Vaccine Design (PDF)—April 30–May 1, 2012.
Summary available at Functional Glycomics in HIV Vaccine Design Workshop
Pre-clinical Research
Clinical Research
External Input
For Researchers