Pittsburgh
scientist to head microbicide research

A senior investigator at the Magee-Women's Research Institute in Pittsburgh has been named the chief investigator for the Microbicides Trial Network, a six-center research consortium sponsored by the federal government, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hillier and her fellow network researchers have worked for the past decade in the development of products aimed for use by women to prevent HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Microbicides may be particularly useful in developing nations where women are unable to insist on condom usage, Hillier says. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will provide funding for the Mircobicides Trial Network. The network will have three experimental products in human clinical trials by the end of this month; five to 10 more are expected to reach human trials within the next seven years. Tests will be conducted both in the United States and in poor nations hit hard by HIV, according to Hillier. (The Advocate)