UGANDA SITE TO GET FUNDING FOR MICROBICIDE RESEARCH

A research center in Uganda will receive more funding to conduct microbicide clinical trials thanks to a multiyear, multimillion-dollar grant from the U.S. NIH.

The NIH has awarded the grant to the Case Clinical Trials Unit centered at University Hospitals Case Medical Center for expanding research of HIV treatments and advancing the Microbicides Trials Network.

The seven-year grant includes $2.1 million for the first year of clinical research. The grant money will also fund the Joint Clinical Research Center in Kampala, Uganda.

Microbicides refer to topical treatments in the form of a gel, foam or cream that could decrease or prevent the sexual transmission of HIV. The development of an effective HIV microbicide has been the focus of international researchers as a promising method of slowing the spread of HIV, according to Case Medical Center.

The center's collaboration with the research site in Uganda began in 1991.