Russia To Allocate $40M to $50M for HIV Vaccine Research Center, Health Official Says

Russia plans to allocate $40 million to $50 million from its federal budget to a regional HIV vaccine development center between fiscal years 2007 and 2009, Gennady Onishchenko, the country's chief medical officer, said on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports (RIA Novosti, 2/6). According to Onishchenko, seven research institutions in Russia have been investigating HIV/AIDS in the country, one of which will become the primary research center under the regional body. Leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations in July 2006 at the close of their summit released a final communique that endorsed the Russian center, which will coordinate HIV vaccine research in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. G8 leaders also agreed to establish a global center for HIV vaccine research (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 7/25/06). According to Onishchenko, the country is drafting a government resolution that proposes the $40 million to $50 million in funding (RIA Novosti, 2/6).