HIV/AIDS

Topical Microbicides

Research Activities

The NIAID has supported topical microbicide development through a broad-based Topical Microbicide Program guided by the NIAID Topical Microbicide Strategic Plan. The program is implemented through NIAID’s Division of AIDS and the Division of Microbiology and Infection Diseases (DMID) Sexually Transmitted Infections Branch. NIAID has also co-sponsored several microbicide research and development programs with the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) and, more recently, with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

In addition, NIAID works with other governmental agencies and nongovernmental agencies (e.g., U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Contraceptive Research and Development (CONRAD)) to coordinate activities and exchange scientific and technical information. Similarly, NIAID recently began a formal partnership with the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) to increase sharing of information and expertise in an effort to develop topical microbicides. More information is available from the press release. Efforts to coordinate support for microbicide research and development among global funders is in the process of being formalized through a process initiated by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Alliance for Microbicide Development.

• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)
  Co-sponsored by NIAID, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the HPTN is a worldwide collaborative clinical trials network that develops and tests the safety and efficacy of primarily non-vaccine interventions designed to prevent the transmission of HIV.

  More information about topical microbicide research in the HPTN.

• CRISP database
  This online database can be used to search for ongoing research supported by NIAID and NIH. (Keywords: Microbicide, HIV, or search for a specific microbicide or strategy.)

• AIDSinfo
  This government Web site has information on HIV/AIDS-related health topics, treatment and prevention guidelines, information on drugs and vaccines, and a database of all federally funded HIV/AIDS clinical trials.

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