IHVN Leads West Africa’s First HIV Vaccine Research With Global Partners

The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) has said it is pioneering a research project to develop a vaccine targeting the specific HIV strains found in West Africa.

The institute is partnering with the World Health Organisation (WHO), USAID, and other global organisations to address the challenges posed by infectious diseases in the region.

Speaking during the institute’s 20th-anniversary celebration in Abuja, IHVN’s chief executive officer, Dr Patrick Dakum, highlighted the institute’s achievements and ongoing efforts in disease control.
He emphasised that IHVN has grown from focusing on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria to tackling non-communicable diseases and training healthcare professionals.

Executive director of IHVN’s International Research Centre of Excellence (IRCE), Prof. Alash’le Abimiku, revealed that the institute has received $200,000 in initial funding from a $34 million USAID grant for HIV vaccine research. Nigeria is now the first country in West Africa to participate in this initiative.

For 30 years, HIV vaccine research has been ongoing without addressing the unique strains found in West Africa, Abimiku said, adding that the HIV virus in Eastern and Southern Africa differs from those in Nigeria, which is why the IHVN research is crucial.

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This project ensures that West Africa has a voice in global HIV vaccine development, she emphasised.
The vaccine project aims to sequence the HIV variants found in West Africa and develop a construct suitable for clinical trials. “We will first ensure the vaccine’s safety through animal testing, followed by trials on small groups of healthy individuals. In phase three, we’ll involve thousands of at-risk individuals to confirm its efficacy,” Abimiku explained.

Dr. Dakum reflected on IHVN’s role in public health, noting its significant contributions to managing HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria over the past two decades.

He also credited the institute for assisting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in controlling the spread of COVID-19 through testing, diagnosis, and monitoring.

IHVN is currently implementing the “Action to Sustain Precision and Integrated HIV Response Towards Epidemic Control” (ASPIRE) programme in Nasarawa, Rivers, Katsina, and the Federal Capital Territory. Funded by the U.S. government, ASPIRE focuses on tracking HIV status, preventing mother-to-child transmission, and providing antiretroviral treatment for children, adults, and pregnant women.

Looking to the future, Dr. Dakum announced plans to establish a learning and development centre, transforming short-term training programmes into long-term educational initiatives.

IHVN also intends to collaborate with local and international universities to offer degree programmes.

Since its inception in 2004, the institution has expanded from six testing and treatment sites to reaching millions of Nigerians with healthcare services.

According to the chief operating officer, Dr. Olalekan Mensah, the institute has secured over $300 million in grants from the Global Fund and other international development agencies.

“Our growth goes beyond infectious diseases. We’ve built a reputation for training laboratory scientists, clinicians, and palliative care professionals across the country, supporting the government’s public health efforts,” Dakum said.

With two operational centres—one for public health implementation and another for research excellence—IHVN is positioned to continue its leadership in healthcare innovation and disease control.

He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to combating infectious diseases and improving healthcare delivery through public-private partnerships. As the institute embarks on its new vaccine initiative, it hopes to find lasting solutions to the challenges of long-term HIV management, he added.