HIV Vaccines

For almost two decades, CAPRISA has played a pivotal role in the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), contributing to multi-centre Phase I–IIb clinical trials evaluating a wide range of HIV vaccine candidates. These studies are designed to test the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of next-generation vaccine platforms, including mRNA-based, viral vector-based, and protein subunit vaccines. Our work directly supports global efforts to develop an effective HIV vaccine, with particular focus on vaccines tailored to HIV-1 subtype C, the predominant strain in southern Africa, where the HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women remains high.

HPV Vaccine and Prevention Research

Recognising the devastating impact of cervical cancer, particularly in women living with HIV (WLHIV), CAPRISA is expanding its vaccine research portfolio to include human papillomavirus (HPV) prevention and immunisation strategies. Our long-term aims are to evaluate HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment strategies that are effective, scalable, and context-appropriate in sub-Saharan Africa. CAPRISA is an active member of the CASCADE Clinical Trials Network, which is a global partnership focused on optimizing the cervical cancer screening, management, and pre-cancer treatment cascade for WLHIV.

Key areas of focus in CAPRISA’s HPV research include:

• Evaluating the immunogenicity and durability of single-dose and multi-dose HPV vaccines in adolescent girls and young women;
• Investigating immune responses to HPV vaccination in the context of HIV co-infection and ART;
• Supporting integrated models of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening;
• Exploring novel biomarkers of HPV persistence, vaccine failure, and lesion progression through immune and virological profiling;
• Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic HPV vaccines in WLHIV.

This body of work is critical for informing public health policy on HPV vaccine delivery in South Africa and contributes to the global WHO strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat.

Our Vision

The CAPRISA Vaccine Research Programme is committed to generating high-impact evidence to accelerate the development of vaccines that are accessible, affordable, and effective for communities most affected by HIV and HPV. Through clinical trials, translational laboratory science, and strategic global partnerships, we aim to transform prevention and immunisation landscapes across Africa.