The Science and Ethics of HIV Vaccine Research
Our HIV Vaccines Curriculum Unit explores the scientific and ethical issues involved in clinical HIV vaccine trials using human research participants. The unit begins by examining students’ current knowledge of HIV, and by reviewing HIV structure and transmission. Next, it familiarizes students with types of vaccines and with challenges related to creating an HIV vaccine. Students are encouraged to explore issues related to human research participants using basic ethical principles and historical case studies. Lastly, global issues regarding the pandemic are explored to give the students an understanding of cultural issues involved in the spread of HIV. This cultural context introduces students to ethical dilemmas inherent in the selection of human participants in global vaccine trials. The lessons culminate in having students design their own hypothetical HIV vaccine clinical trial, based upon knowledge of HIV structure, vaccine characteristics, human research participants considerations, and global contexts.
The complete five-lesson HIV Vaccines Curriculum is now available free for download from the Lessons page.
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