THE International Aids Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is to begin testing two HIV vaccines in Uganda soon with the collaboration of the Ugandan government. Under the memorandum of understanding, the two signatories will begin trials for a vaccine which will prevent the transmission of HIV, the virus that causes Aids. Under the agreement, IAVI will sponsor the construction of a clinical trial centre at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and sponsor the testing of two different vaccines in a small number of people. IAVI will work with the UVRI to carry out initial studies on between 20-40 healthy volunteers to test the efficacy of the vaccine DNA-NVA, which is administered by injection. – AFP Thursday August 30, 2001