EVENT SUMMARY

The Vaccine Translational Research Branch (VTRB), in coordination with other branches of the Vaccine Research Program (VRP), are committed towards advancing an effective AIDS vaccine. Additionally, the Branch also supports and is interested in advancing HIV antigen discovery and vaccine delivery concepts/approaches utilizing novel technologies (nanotechnology/synthetic delivery vehicles), improving processes and manufacturing unit operations in vaccine design & development, and generation of broadly enhanced humoral and cellular immune responses.

The 2nd Nanotechnology Workshop for HIV, RNA and Vaccine Delivery 2017 is the second meeting in this new series, for multidisciplinary international researchers working on Infectious disease targets including HIV (protein and DNA/RNA-based) and the use of synthetic or biologically-derived nanoparticles/delivery vehicles as a platform for vaccine/immunogen delivery. Understanding the mechanisms of action and delivery of nanoparticle vaccines coupled with scalable manufacturing translation remains an important endeavor for HIV vaccine and infectious disease research. VTRBs objective is to provide impetus to such innovative and enabling technologies that can greatly accelerate next-generation prophylactic and therapeutic vaccine development. This meeting will focus on discussion and exchange of ideas in diverse areas of vaccination, innovative therapies and delivery systems for development of new-generation vaccines against prevalent and emergent infectious diseases including HIV.

In continuation with the theme from last year, the nanoworkshop will focus on
(a) nanoparticle display of immunogens (proteins, RNA/DNA) for targeting and enhancing antigen delivery;
(b) induction of broadly humoral and T cell responses in both small and large animal models;
(c) development and progress in systemic RNA/nucleic acid vaccine delivery platforms against infectious diseases;
(d) codelivery of adjuvant-antigen nanoparticles/formulations to regulate Ab and T cell immune responses;
(e) progress and advances in promising technologies/vaccine candidates from Lab to Clinic;
(f) discuss product development and manufacturing and reproducibility aspects of nanoparticulate formulations.

Finally, the goal of the workshop is to provide a forum to exchange information and experiences that investigators/innovators have gained to date and to provide a status of ongoing efforts.