Microbicide Research

CONRAD, a leading institute in the world of reproductive health, is developing new ways to protect women from acquiring infections, especially HIV/AIDS, one of the deadliest epidemics in medical history.  CONRAD links basic and clinical research and brings investigators in the laboratory and the field together, whether they are employed by agencies, non-governmental organizations, foundations, or the private sector. In developing microbicides, CONRAD’s primary goals are for safe, acceptable, and affordable methods and products.

Microbicide Candidates: CONRAD scientists and researchers have already advanced several microbicide candidates.  Continuing to look for less expensive, less toxic and more accessible microbicides, CONRAD evaluated 166 potential microbicides in 2008, finding that the most promising ones are reverse transciptase inhibitors.  New formulations of UC781 and tenofovir, alone and in combination, were also analyzed. Gels containing a single microbicide, tenofovir (TFV) were delivered to clinical sites, even as other studies tested properties of dual microbicides (TFV and UC781) for use in gels and bolus products.  Scientists at CONRAD also aggressively pursued the identification of new molecular mechanisms, discriminatory genes and biomarkers of microbicide-mediated mucosal damage.  To investigate further the outcome of the cellulose sulfate clinical trials, CONRAD is currently characterizing the immunophenotypes and activation statuses of vaginal biopsies, cervical and vaginal cells taken from women who participated in the Phase I cellulose sulfate study.

Small Animal Models: CONRAD is refining various animal models of vaginal infection by STD pathogens, including HIV, as part of the development necessary for attaining nontoxic, broad spectrum, vaginal microbicides. In collaboration with scientists at Rush University, George Washington University and University of Heidelberg, CONRAD investigators, in 2008,  developed susceptibility to the HIV virus in small animals and have begun to characterize the resulting infections.

Safety:  CONRAD is committed to the development of safe vaginal microbicides.  The development, standardization and validation of cell based assays of cytotoxicity and proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo are important methods in the improvement of preclinical safety assessments.  With collaborators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, CONRAD investigators determined that, in response to specific antigens, anionic polymers reduced the natural secretion of IL-8, IFN-B and IL-1 normally induced by those antigens.