MHRP

International Network

  • Maryland
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Rockville, Maryland

  • Nigeria
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Nigeria

  • Kenya
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Kenya

  • Tanzania
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Tanzania

  • Uganda
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Uganda

  • Thailand
    MHRP U.S. Laboratories

    Thailand

Rockville Vaccine Assessment Clinic

Become a Volunteer

The MHRP Rockville Vaccine Assessment Clinic (RVAC), located adjacent to our research laboratories in Rockville, Md., is currently conducting Phase I clinical trials on candidate HIV vaccines and blood collection protocols for laboratory investigations.

Volunteers are the most important members of the research team because without them, medical research would come to a standstill, and cures and treatments for diseases would not be possible.

There is no cure for HIV infection. One of the goals for controlling the pandemic is through the development of an HIV vaccine to prevent new infections.

Study eligibility criteria include:

  • Healthy men and healthy, non-pregnant women
  • Legal U.S. residents
  • 18 to 49 years of age for HIV vaccine studies
  • 18 to 60 years of age for blood donation studies
  • HIV negative for vaccine studies (can be positive for some blood collection studies)
  • Not a member of the U.S. military (for vaccine studies only)
  • Available for 12 months

Screening Process

Should you wish to participate, you will be asked to come to the clinic for a screening. The initial screening process includes:

  • Comprehensive briefing on the study
  • Detailed informed consent process
  • Full medical history and physical exam by a physician
  • HIV and other STI counseling
  • Blood draw and urine collection for safety monitoring
  • HIV testing
  • Pregnancy testing for women

Enrollment

If you are eligible and enroll you will:

Vaccine Study Blood Collection Protocol
  • Receive a vaccination or a series of vaccinations (depending on the study conducted)
  • Be asked to complete a symptoms diary card and monitor your temperature daily after vaccination
  • Be monitored for safety with periodic blood and urine testing
  • Receive a history and physical exam throughout the trial
  • Be compensated for your time and efforts
  • Donate blood or blood components
  • Be monitored for safety with periodic testing
  • Be compensated for your time and efforts

The RVAC opened in 1999 to conduct phase I HIV vaccine studies in the immediate proximity of MHRP research laboratories. Clinic staff works closely with investigators to ensure study adherence. Patients enrolled in Program trials are critical to determining the vaccine's safety in humans, its metabolism and pharmacologic actions, and side effects associated with increasing doses.