• About
• Global Efforts
• Vaccine Research and Development
• Prevention, Care and Treatment
• Clinical Trials
  • Volunteer with MHRP
  • What is a Clinical Trial?
• Partners

Volunteer

The MHRP Rockville Vaccine Assessment Center (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.

Eligibility criteria includes:

• 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
• 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 STD avoidance counseling
• Blood draw and urine collection for safety monitoring
• Screening HIV testing
• Pregnancy testing for women

Enrollment

If you are eligible and enroll you will:

Vaccine Study 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 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

Blood Collection Protocol Donate blood or blood components Be monitored for safety with periodic testing Be compensated for your time and efforts

For more information, please call 301-251-8351

Hours of Operations:
Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m

Metro Accessible
Rockville Metro station, then Ride On bus #48 or #59 (8-10 minute ride).

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.

For international clinical trial volunteer opportunities, please e-mail info@hivresearch.org