Research Collaboration — Overview
Aeras has a focused and comprehensive program in pre-clinical and clinical development of vaccines against tuberculosis and in development of field sites to test those vaccines. Where feasible, we invite qualified investigators and institutions to join us in collaborative efforts. We encourage individual and institutional collaborations with the Aeras Vaccine Discovery Laboratories, the Aeras Vaccine Assessment Laboratories, the Aeras Process Development and Manufacturing Group, the Aeras Regulatory Group, and the Aeras Epidemiology and Field Site Development Group.
Aeras-University of Cape Town TB Immunology Cell Bank
The Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation sponsored a randomized, controlled trial comparing percutaneous and intradermal BCG vaccination at birth, in a community about 120 kilometers north east of Cape Town, South Africa. Nearly 12,000 infants were enrolled in the trial, a key component of which was a program to obtain a blood sample from them at the age of 10-14 weeks; the PBMCs were then banked. Nearly 12,000 infants were enrolled in this trial. A key component of this trial was a program to obtain a blood sample and bank PBMC's from infants enrolled in this trial at 10-14 weeks of age. Since this bank is a unique collection of specimens, the investigators and sponsors feel that only a transparent and reviewed process can warrant the most reasonable use of this valuable resource in epidemiology research toward control of TB infection and disease. Aeras continues to collect samples from ongoing cohort studies in infants and adolescents at its partner field sites.
Aeras has established an application process that provides the scientific community with access to specimens in this cell bank through a competitive and merit-dependent process. For more information or for an application, contact Donata Sizemore, Senior Director for Vaccine Assessment or Scott Haddock, Project Manager.