Fisher folk study involves those that are most affected by HIV/AIDS

'Talking Boat' - HIV prevention message targeting fishermen. Photo credit IAVI/ Vanessa Vick.

The challenges to HIV/AIDS research are great, and potentially even more so when the research is conducted in developing countries where more than 95% of the 7,500 daily new infections occur. Finding and involving those that are most affected is one major challenge. Currently, about 2000 fishermen in Uganda and Malawi, until now considered a ‘hard to reach’ research population, are being enrolled in a Fisher folk study; a joint collaboration led and managed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and supported by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

Fishermen are a mobile community, who often spend extended periods on the water and away from home. They have no or limited access to health services, which means they have been largely excluded from AIDS programmes and research. As a result, these communities suffer from high rates of HIV infection, putting the local fisheries industry under serious threat.

The current study involves the fishermen communities based around the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda and on the shores of Lake Malawi in Malawi. It has two major goals. The first is to map the prevalence and ways in which HIV spreads throughout these mobile communities. This information provides critical guidelines on how to best prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. Second, the study will also evaluate the strain of HIV circulating among this population to ensure that vaccines in development correspond with the virus that is prevalent in these communities. The study will also look at the early-stage immune responses observed in individuals who become HIV-infected during the study, information that could provide important clues for vaccine design. 

Pontiano Kaleebu, Assistant Director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and coordinator of the Fisher folk study addresses the issue: “We are proud to be working with local organizations in Uganda and Malawi to gain a better understanding of HIV and AIDS in fishing communities and develop an approach to engage them in AIDS vaccine research.”

Study samples will be made available to broader consortia looking to solve some of the major scientific challenges facing AIDS vaccine researchers. This includes groups such as IAVI, the Centre for HIV-AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI) and the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD), who are all looking at a different piece of the puzzle. 

 “The work undertaken by the Uganda Virus Research Institute with these fishing communities serves two important goals. It informs both a strategy for improved access to AIDS prevention, treatment and care as well as an approach for AIDS vaccine design. IAVI is proud to support this unique initiative and to collaborate with the UVRI,” said Frans van den Boom, Vice President at IAVI for Country and Regional Programmes. 

Study strengthens African-based network for HIV/AIDS research
Beyond the study’s primary goals, the unique contribution and expertise of each partner involved will help to support a broader African-based network that enables research teams to benefit from each other’s experience and expertise in conducting clinical trials of preventive HIV vaccines to the highest scientific and ethical standards. UVRI, for example, has a wealth of experience in HIV vaccine research, and is committed to help stimulate such research in other countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Charles Mgone, Executive Director of EDCTP while adressing the importance of this collaborative effort noted: “The Fisher folk study emphasizes the importance of enabling Africans to solve the problems in their region. It is very encouraging that this study is one of a growing number of research projects that are led by African principle investigators, and take place in countries where the disease burden is highest. It also underpins the EDCTP values of working in partnership with other initiatives such as IAVI. We strongly believe that this will contribute to sustainability of research on HIV.”

First results expected in 2010
When the study ends in 2010 we should have critical data on the risks of acquiring HIV and have provided fishing communities with increased access to healthcare. This information will be provided to the Ministries of Health in Uganda and Malawi, as well as the Uganda AIDS Commission and will provide important guidance on approaches to reduce infection rates in these communities.