Mary Allen

Publications of Mary Allen

• Social impact of preventive HIV vaccine clinical trial participation: a model of prevention, assessment and intervention.

  Authors: Mary Allen, Chuen-Yen Lau

  Social science & medicine (1982). 03/2008; 66(4):945-51.

  Preventive HIV vaccine trial participants may experience problems related to trial participation, including difficulties with personal relationships, employment, education, health care, housing,Preventive HIV vaccine trial participants may experience problems related to trial participation, including difficulties with personal relationships, employment, education, health care, housing, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, travel or immigration. During the 19 years that the U.S.-based National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has conducted preventive HIV vaccine trials, we have developed a model to prevent and resolve social impact related to study participation and assist study participants who report such events. Key elements of the model include: informing potential volunteers of risks prior to enrollment; standardizing data collection methods on social impact events; reviewing and following-up on reported social impact events; assisting participants, including provision of free HIV testing to differentiate HIV infection from vaccine-induced HIV antibody; implementing broad-based and targeted community education programs for achieving community support; communicating with scientific and health care communities; and working with government agencies, non-government agencies and industry on mechanisms to address SI. This approach, established in collaboration with NIAID-funded clinical trial groups, serves as a model for prevention, assessment, monitoring, and intervention for social impact related to preventive HIV vaccine clinical trial participation. Although further research is necessary, this model could be adapted for use in different clinical trials.

• Current advances and challenges in HIV-1 vaccines.

  Authors: Isaac R Rodriguez-Chavez, Mary Allen, Edgar L Hill, Rebecca L Sheets, Michael Pensiero, James A Bradac, M Patricia D'Souza

  Current HIV/AIDS reports. 03/2006; 3(1):39-47.

  Recent advances in science, which have aided HIV-1 vaccine development, include an improved understanding of HIV-1 envelope structure and function, expansion of the pipeline with innovative vaccineRecent advances in science, which have aided HIV-1 vaccine development, include an improved understanding of HIV-1 envelope structure and function, expansion of the pipeline with innovative vaccine strategies, promising multi-gene and multi-clade vaccines that elicit cellular immunity, conduct of clinical trials in a global network, and development of validated techniques that enable simultaneous measurement of multiple T cell vaccine-induced immune responses in humans. A common feature of several preventive vaccine strategies now in early clinical trials is their ability in nonhuman primates to attenuate clinical disease rather than completely prevent HIV-1 infection. One vaccine concept has been tested in large-scale clinical trials, two are currently in efficacy trials, and one more is poised to enter efficacy trial in the next few years. Simultaneously, expanded efforts continue to identify new designs that induce mucosal immunity as well as broadly neutralizing antibodies.

• Current advances in HIV vaccines.

  Authors: M Patricia D'Souza, Mary Allen, Rebecca Sheets, Margaret I Johnston

  Current HIV/AIDS reports. 05/2004; 1(1):18-24.

  Development of a safe and preventive HIV-1 vaccine is a high priority. Recent advances in HIV vaccine development include an improved understanding of HIV envelope structure, development ofDevelopment of a safe and preventive HIV-1 vaccine is a high priority. Recent advances in HIV vaccine development include an improved understanding of HIV envelope structure, development of techniques that enable a detailed analysis of vaccine-induced immune responses in humans, expansion of the pipeline of promising candidate vaccines, and completion of the first vaccine efficacy trials. A common feature of several preventive vaccine strategies in early clinical trials is their ability to attenuate clinical disease rather than completely prevent HIV infection in nonhuman primates. One or more candidate vaccines will likely advance into efficacy trials within the next few years, while efforts to identify new designs that induce broadly neutralizing antibodies continue with incremental success.

• HIV Vaccines: Biological and Clinical Considerations.

  Authors: M Patricia D'Souza, Mary Allen, Margaret Johnston

  Current infectious disease reports. 09/2002; 4(4):359-368.

  The discovery of an HIV-1 vaccine is a high priority. Recent advances in HIV vaccine development include an improved understanding about virus biology and structure, and the development ofThe discovery of an HIV-1 vaccine is a high priority. Recent advances in HIV vaccine development include an improved understanding about virus biology and structure, and the development of quantitative techniques that enable a detailed analysis of vaccine-induced immune responses in humans. The preclinical vaccine pipeline looks healthy, and a common feature of the new vaccine strategies is their ability to attenuate clinical disease rather than prevent HIV infection in nonhuman primates. Human clinical trials to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of these vaccine candidates and strategies are being actively pursued.