The much-publicised halting of the joint Merck/HIV Vaccine Trials Network phase IIB candidate HIV-1 vaccine trial in 2007 has led to an unprecedented degree of discussion and introspection amongst the HIV research community. In this commentary, we will summarise the lessons learned from the trial and examine the current state of HIV vaccine research.

OBJECTIVES To review the DREAM studies and the role of participatory research using a Home and Community Care model in treating First Nations diabetes. STUDY DESIGN Population survey, pilot and prospective randomized trial METHODS Review documented history of these studies since inception. Collation of all data from the DREAM studies from 1998 to the present, including interviews with all p...

Efforts to increase community members' involvement in research may create novel ethical challenges. We describe an ongoing randomized trial of a peer-delivered intervention to encourage hypertension self-management. Community members serving as peer leaders participate in subject recruitment, the informed consent process, and intervention. We describe our experience with several ethical issues ...

INTRODUCTION Antiretroviral (ARV)-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a promising new HIV prevention strategy. However, variable levels of adherence have yielded mixed results across several PrEP trials and populations. It is not clear how taking ARV - traditionally used for HIV treatment - is perceived and how that perception may affect the use of these products as preventives. We explore...

INTRODUCTION The Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation (COMMIT) was a large-scale undertaking that incorporated virtually all key features of past community trials. It was the largest National Cancer Institute (NCI) effort to test methods to help people stop smoking. COMMIT used many methods and strategies developed in smaller NCIfunded trials conducted in the early 1980’s (U.S. De...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To see whether the community mothers' programme, using lay volunteer mothers to deliver a childhood development programme, could be extended successfully to the travelling community in Ireland. DESIGN This was a prospective study of the travelling community; comparisons were made with results of a previous randomised trial of settled mothers. SETTING A regional health author...

PURPOSE To describe surface and deep structure dimensions of a culturally sensitive smoking cessation intervention developed with southeastern US public housing neighborhoods. PROCEDURES Community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods were used to develop this culturally sensitive smoking cessation intervention by the following research partners: academicians, neighborhood residents, co...

BACKGROUND The Screen Time Weight-loss Intervention Targeting Children at Home (SWITCH) trial tested a family intervention to reduce screen-based sedentary behaviour in overweight children. The trial found no significant effect of the intervention on children's screen-based sedentary behaviour. To explore these null findings, we conducted a pre-planned process evaluation, focussing on intervent...