While antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV into a manageable condition, the search for a preventive vaccine continues. Dr. Sehulong Robert Moraba contributed to this quest as a Sub-Investigator in a groundbreaking Phase 1 study: “A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity of the HCMV-HIV Vaccine Candidate VIR-1388.”
This trial, referenced under SAHPRA number 20230614, explored a unique approach using a weakened cytomegalovirus (HCMV) vector to deliver HIV antigens. The goal was to stimulate a powerful and potentially durable immune response in healthy adult participants. Dr. Moraba’s role at Setshaba Research Centre involved ensuring rigorous participant safety monitoring, precise protocol adherence, and accurate data collection for this early-stage, high-potential vaccine candidate, bringing innovative science from the lab to the community.
