A new initiative to find an HIV vaccine has been announced at the South African Aids Conference in Durban.

This 10 year initiative builds on unexpected results from a study in Thailand which found some immune responses from the body to suppress the HI virus.

This new initiative is called ‘Uhambo’, meaning journey. University of the Witwatersrand Aids researcher Dr Glenda Gray says the first step will be to see if South African volunteers show the same response as those in Thailand.

After that, elements of subtype C of the HI virus that is most common in Southern Africa will be inserted in the vaccine and tested.

Various vaccines will be tested over the 10 year period. HIV Trials Network executive Director James Kublin says the first study has just begun and will last till the end of the year.
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