Physical
Facilities
The
Centre occupies the tenth and eleventh floors of the Chamlong Harinasuta Building
of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine with a total area of 648 square meters:
A. Self-contained clinical facilities on the 10th floor comprises of :
- A
twenty bed isolation ward ท Sufficient space for recreational
activities
- A nursing section
- A doctor's office and quarters
- Laboratories
B. Outpatient unit on the 11th floor includes :
- A
lecture room
- Recruitment and screening areas for volunteers
- Follow-up facilities
C. Administrative office on the 11th floor
D. HIV Vaccine Trial Projects on the 9th floor Anekprasong Building
- Registration
and data entry rooms
- Volunteer waiting area
- Counselling rooms
- A physical examination room
- A vaccination room
E. Data Management Unit on the 9th floor Anekprasong Building
Financial
Sources
Initial
capital costs for the Centre were supported by
-
United States Agency for International Development
(USAID)
- International
Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada
- World
Health Organization (WHO)
Work Scope
The
VTC was planned to serve as a clinical facility for the evaluation of newly
developed vaccines, in terms of reactogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective
efficacy against various infectious diseases prevalent in the area. Three
disease areas for vaccine studies identified at this time: diarrhoeal diseases,
malaria, and viral infections. All volunteer studies are carried out in adults
or children with informed consents.The costs of each vaccine study should
be borne by either the individual or the institution wanting the vaccine to
be tested. It could be supported by funds from interested vaccine developers,
pharmaceutical companies, or donor agencies.
Types
Of Studies Planned
- Evaluation
of reactogenicity and immunogenicity of living
(attenuated) and non-living vaccines.
- Assessment of
vaccine formulation and dose schedules
for optimum immune response.
- Evaluation of the
efficacy of vaccines for partial or complete protection
from illness.
- Study of the pathogenesis
and immune response to pathogenic
agents.
- Determination
of the level and mechanisms of natural immunity
to pathogenic agents.