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Community Advisory Board – CAB

In 2007, the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) was integrated to the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), Seattle, USA, which is one of the biggest HIV vaccine networks worldwide.

In addition to HVTN collaborations, the VIC founded in June 2007 a Community Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB consists of about ten voluntary members from various backgrounds.

The main goals of the CAB have been set as following :

• The CAB will act as a spokesperson for the civil society, in order to open a dialogue with the scientific researchers working in the field of HIV/AIDS. Its goal is to identify the questions or misunderstandings that the population may have, in order to continuously improve the quality of information given by the researchers.
   
• The CAB will inform the community on the different strategies and developments on HIV/AIDS vaccine research and on the clinical trials taking place at the VIC.
   
• The CAB will participate in events linked with themes around HIV/AIDS.
   
• The CAB will review and advise VIC staff on all the documents meant for future trial participants, in order to guarantee clarity and morality of the information given to participants.

Here is a short description of the CAB members:
 

WEBER Monique – Educational deputy of the Profa Foundation

Monique focuses on prevention of HIV infection, as well as in sexual and reproductive health. She participated to preventive implementation measures against HIV, and in educator's training. Recently, one of these training was recognized by the Swiss universities in the field of sexual and reproductive health. She is currently coordinating sexual education, family planning and AIDS network. Monique is also part of the Global CAB and chair of Lausanne CAB.

RODUIT Sabrina – Project manager "Groupe Sida Genève"

Sabrina participates to the CAB activities since the very beginning. She works as a Project Manager at “Groupe Sida Genève”, particularly supporting actions for MSM and migrant vulnerable groups. For her, the bridge with vaccine research is important to support in order to keep connected various actions fighting against AIDS and to share respective life experience. Sabrina is also coordinator of the Lausanne CAB.

RAMELET Daniel – Nurse and social worker

"Being a volunteer for the development of a vaccine against HIV means contributing to improvements of the affected AIDS communities". Daniel took part of  two clinical trials in Lausanne on HIV research vaccine. During the 3 years spent in Africa, Daniel  was confronted to the harsh reality of AIDS and its consequences on People's lives.

CAND Jean-Philippe – Head of the Department of the Profa Foundation

As the head of the HIV-STD prevention center, Jean-Philippe supports the important need of communication between the AIDS community, the Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center (VIC) in Lausanne, volunteers participating in clinical trials and HIV patients who will, hopefully, one day benefit from this research. The HIV-STD prevention center is deeply involved in implementing locally the Switzerland's national HIV-STD program 2011 to 2017, including medical prevention for which VIC participates in a research effort.

NGARAMBE BUFFAT Chantal – Nurse of the anonymous AIDS consultation

"I have worked for ten years in the field of prevention (travel medicine, AIDS anonymous consultation and co-creator and mediator of AFRIMEDIA). I participated to  the implementation of prevention program specific to sub-Saharian region mincing behalf of AFRIMEDIA. As a CAB member, this is a privilege for me to make a small contribution in searching solutions as a bridge between the community and research".

BEGLE Ana Maria – Sexual and reproductive health advisor and medical doctor

"I am part of the CAB because I love the contact with people. Our volunteers are people who have the most admirable motivations, but still, sometimes apprehensivequestions or concerns due to lack of information. Communication and Ethic are at the heart of this process. This interface between science and humanity is essential because it is for them, for me and for all, a contribution to this research effort".

LINDLAU Diego – Coordinator of the SID’Action

Diego is currently coordinator of SID'Action Foundation, offering an individualized psycho-social support for people living with HIV / AIDS at greatest risk, in order to promote empowerment and improve their quality of life. Since 2010, he also coordinates the Romande HIV / AIDS Coordination (Corom) under Swiss Aid against AIDS (SSA) mandate. The primary aim is to improve exchanges of experiences and information between HIV / AIDS network members while promoting synergies for the development of joint projects. "Integrating the CAB is for me an opportunity to participate in concrete terms to  the construction and / or strengthening bridges between professional and volunteers in the vaccine research field of HIV / AIDS".

JOUINOT Florent – Committee member of VoGay since 2009

Florent is a member of VoGay (Vaud Association of people concerned by homosexuality) in which he assumes the role of "manager of young people’s projects". He collaborates with various organizations (Mosaic-info, PREOS) and the government on issues related to youth and education.

Florent also coordinates the Youth Group of VoGay. In addition, as part of VoGay "Health Project" he represents the association in several meetings: Coordination Romande HIV / AIDS (Corom) Coordination Vaud December 1^st, Coordination Love & Life ... Florent ensures also the administration of various websites like www.journee-mondiale-sida-vd.ch.

We thank our CAB members for their voluntary commitment.

Contact: Lausanne.CAB@gmail.com