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The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control

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  • History of CFAR

History of the Centre for AIDS Reagents 

The Centre for AIDS Reagents (CFAR) Repository was created in 1989 following the combination of three separate repository activities for HIV commissioned at NIBSC between 1987 and 1989:

  • The WHO AIDS Reagent Project (ARP) Collaborating centre funded by the WHO Global Program on AIDS
  • The MRC AIDS Directed Program Repository (MRC ADP Repository), funded by the MRC AIDS Directed Program
  • The European Vaccine against Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome consortium (Programme EVA) repository, funded by the European Commission through Biomed 1 and 2 and the 4th Medical and Health Research Program MHR4.

The WHO ARP, MRC ADP and Programme EVA repository activities at NIBSC were formally amalgamated in 1989 and renamed the Programme EVA Centralised Facility for AIDS Reagents (Programme EVA CFAR). Funding from the European Commission continued for the repository under Biomed 1 and 2 until 2003 and then through various Framework Programme grants until 2017. The MRC provided direct funding to support the repository until 2003 and the WHO supported the project with financial input until 2008. The repository was renamed in 2006 to reflect changes in funding and became the Centre for AIDS Reagents (CFAR).

Our objectives

  • To facilitate and strengthen HIV/AIDS research through the provision of high-quality research materials to scientists globally.
  • To provide secure storage and archiving facilities under ISO9001 regulatory compliance for the receipt storage stock control and dispatch of reagents.
  • To support and promote partnerships between research groups and investigator driven networks, whilst protecting the intellectual property rights of donor scientists.

Involvement in consortia

CFAR has been a partner in a number of large consortia, providing reagents and acting as a legacy storage.

  • Programme EVA – EC Framework Programme 5, 1989-2004
  • AIDS Vaccine Integrated Project AVIP – EC Framework Programme 6, 2004-2009
  • NeutNet – EC Framework Programme 6, 2005-2008
  • EUROPRISE Network of Excellence – EC Framework Program 6, 2007-2011
  • Next Generation HIV-1 immunogens inducing broadly reactive neutralising antibodies (NGIN) – EC Framework Program 7, 2008-2012
  • Global HIV Vaccine Research Cryorepository  Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (GHRC CAVD) – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2005-2011
  • European Research Infrastructures for Poverty Related Disease (EURIPRED) – EC Framework Programme 7, 2013-2017
 
 
 
 
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