Thailand

Thailand

Site Established: 1991

Founded more than 35 years ago, the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), in Bangkok, Thailand, is a joint U.S.-Royal Thai Army Command that conducts a wide ranging research program in tropical infectious disease. The largest of the Army's overseas research laboratories, AFRIMS plays a vital role in the study of medical threats facing U.S. forces around the world.

AFRIMS has established a scientific base and infrastructure to successfully evaluate the safety/immunogenicity (Phase I/II) and efficacy (Phase III) of candidate vaccines for the prevention of HIV-1 infection, disease and transmission in military populations.

Staff continue to conduct extensive HIV surveillance and have developed multiple field sites for efficacy testing, created a phase I/II AIDS vaccine evaluation network, and developed extensive in-country laboratory capabilities for vaccine evaluation.

The Program's success in Thailand is due to effective partnering and team building, which has led to a long-term commitment to sustain capabilities.

Background:

Preparation for large-scale testing of candidate vaccines began in Thailand in 1991 through an alliance with U.S. government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, and UNAIDS. We have developed a strong partnership with the Royal Thai Government.

The Program has successfully planned, implemented, and completed several large multi-center human trials in Thailand in preparation for the Phase III trial.

Staff continue to receive training on Good Laboratory Practices, Good Clinical Practices, Quality Assurance, Quality Assurance/Quality Control, immunology, data management, epidemiology and statistics.

Research Efforts:

Phase III HIV Vaccine Trial

The Royal Thai Government, in collaboration with the USMHRP and DAIDS, began the community based Phase III efficacy trial in September 2003 using a complex vaccine candidate, inducing both humoral and cellular immunity (both T cell help and T cell cytoxicity). The trial, which includes 50 health centers and hospitals in eight districts in the provinces of Rayong and Chon Buri, will aim to reduce infection by at least 50% among vaccine recipients.

Prevention, Care and Treatment:

The Department of Retrovirology at AFRIMS is engaged in President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Vietnam. This effort is led by the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMHA). AFRIMS’ mission is to provide technical expertise in HIV diagnostics and laboratory development to enhance the capacity for HIV diagnosis and monitoring in Vietnam.

Immune and Molecular Sub-studies in Thailand

Vaccine Cohort Exploration and Development

Facilities:

AFRIMS provides space and facilities support to the Foundation within its complex in Bangkok. This includes administrative, clinical and laboratory space. Laboratory space includes an operational Biosafety Level 2 laboratory. Foundation, AFRIMS-USAMC and AFRIMS-RTA are provided space within AFRIMS to support HIV programmatic efforts.

The in-country laboratory system is extensive and includes diagnostic and immunology services, providing capabilities for vaccine evaluation. A new retrovirology laboratory opened November 2006. Capabilities include HIV isolation, culture, serology, drug resistance genotyping, lymphocyte immunophenotyping, HIV viral load assays, and cellular and humoral immunogenicity assays in support of HIV vaccine trials. The Department of Retrovirology Laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), registered with the NIH AIDS Research and Reference Reagent Program, and is registered by the Division of AIDS, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Staff: 125

Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre Collaboration

USMHRP International Network:
Nigeria | Kenya | Tanzania | Uganda | Thailand