volunteer videos & stories

Our participants are the heroes of vaccine development. The people highlighted here are among thousands of men and women who have participated in past HIV vaccine trials.

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Busy IT professional makes time to volunteer

Scott, Atlanta

Like many professionals, Scott Smith juggles many roles. A sales leader at a large technology company, he's also the vice-president of his neighborhood association, a stepfather, and owner of two basset hounds Honey and Pearl. Yet, Scott manages to fit one more thing into his packed schedule: volunteering for an HIV vaccine trial.

"I got involved because I felt it was something I could do that would have a significant impact on the fight against HIV. When I did the research about the potential vaccine, I found that the risk of contracting the virus through the vaccine was non-existent," he says.

"I entered the study with an expectation that the study's goal was to assess the impact, if any, of the vaccine on the physiology of the recipients. I didn't think of the vaccine as a license to do what I wanted in any reckless fashion. I made my physician aware of the fact that I was in the study, but it has had no adverse impact on my personal life or physical condition.

"I received very favorable feedback from my friends and family," he continues. "Many of them were surprised that I'd been participating in an HIV vaccine study. I received many words of thanks and encouragement for my work."

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