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Pushing the frontiers of science — the Population Council's Microbicide Basic Science Network on vaginal microbicide research
Author(s) -
Johansson E.D.B.,
Maguire R.A.,
Phillips D.M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(99)00155-1
Subject(s) - microbicide , microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases , medicine , population , virology , environmental health , health services , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Microbicides are the new frontier of products for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Twelve years ago, scientists realized that existing spermicides had some anti‐microbial activity and perhaps could be improved or reformulated with new compounds to provide a complete barrier against STIs. However, the development and successful marketing of an effective, non‐toxic, convenient and affordable vaginal microbicide that women can use on a long‐term basis hinges on a close collaboration between research institutions and the pharmaceutical industry. The Population Council has recently taken the first step in instituting a multifaceted strategy for the development of a microbicide by establishing the Microbicide Basic Science Network, comprising of scientists with diverse backgrounds and expertize.