Spotlight On

Mission:
AVAC's mission is to accelerate the ethical development and global delivery of vaccines against AIDS. AVAC uses advocacy, policy analysis and public education to accomplish these goals.

Background:
AVAC is the leading consumer-based AIDS vaccine advocacy organization. Seven years ago, it called upon former President Clinton to set a national goal for AIDS vaccine research, and he responded by challenging the nation to develop a vaccine within a decade. Five years ago, AVAC designed Congressional legislation to provide incentives for the development and delivery of vaccines against AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria; this legislation helped engender a growing international discussion on neglected health research, and AVAC is now actively engaged in helping to revise these policy proposals. AVAC encouraged the National Institutes of Health to develop research milestones that are now updated regularly. AVAC also helped UNAIDS develop ethical guidelines for AIDS vaccine clinical research.

Each May for the last six years AVAC has issued a widely praised report on the status of AIDS vaccine research that makes detailed recommendations for an improved effort. As the results of the first efficacy trial of an AIDS vaccine were announced in spring 2003, AVAC provided materials and informed commentary on the complex data. AVAC's work has been cited in the two best known books on AIDS vaccine research: Shots in the Dark by Jon Cohen, and Big Shot by Patricia Thomas. AVAC's major funders include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

AVAC is solely a watchdog, educator and advocate. It can address policy and ethical issues, push industry and government, critique the work of regulatory agencies, provide appropriate education, and speak on behalf of communities with an impartial and objective voice. Because AVAC does not have actual vaccine products in development, it can analyze and advocate across the entire field of research and policy with a keen focus on community interests.

AVAC's consumer-based perspective is particularly important in working domestically and internationally with affected communities and pubic officials on mobilization around AIDS vaccines. AVAC has always worked in partnership with other organizations, but because AVAC understands the importance of maintaining its status as an objective consumer advocate, it does not accept funding from government or industry.

Current Programs:

• Public policy analysis and advocacy
• Education and outreach to communities and the public
• Science communications and advocacy

Recent Successes:
AVAC recently posted its "Introduction to AIDS Vaccines" presentation on its Web site .

Funding Needs:
AVAC needs sustained support for several ongoing programs: Public policy advocacy, community education and outreach, and science communication and advocacy.

Every month, the "Spotlight On" highlights the activities of a different 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in the tri-state region (NY, NJ, or CT). The selection of organizations for the "Spotlight On" is based on criteria such as programmatic interests, geographic focus, and size, to ensure the broadest possible representation of the region's nonprofit sector.

If you'd like to see your NPO in the "Spotlight," please use this submission form to send us a profile of your organization. Or e-mail a description of your organization, following the above format, to nyweb@foundationcenter.org, with "Spotlight Submission" in the subject line.