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Program History

From NIH AIDS Reagent Program to NIH HIV Reagent Program

The NIH HIV Reagent Program, formerly NIH AIDS Reagent Program, evolved from a small bank of HIV research materials into a unique worldwide resource of state-of-the art reagents for HIV and other pathogens. Many of these reagents were not commercially available. Since the publication of the first catalog in 1988, listing 62 reagents from 20 contributors, the NIH AIDS Reagent Program grew significantly. 

Reagents continue to be shipped to scientists all over the world. The value of the former NIH AIDS Reagent Program was evident from the diversity of registered users; nearing 3000 scientists from 60 different countries as of 2020. The number of active registrants continues to grow. Although the majority of registrants were scientists at academic institutions, many are now also from private industry, US Government, and other institutions.

The former NIH AIDS Reagent Program served as an information resource for scientists, a liaison for communication in establishing partnerships, and a provider of technical assistance on handling and shipping infectious substances, which continues today as the NIH HIV Reagent Program.

The NIH HIV Reagent Program is directed by the Pathogenesis and Basic Research Branch, Basic Sciences Program, Division of AIDS (DAIDS), NIAID, NIH. This program is now operated and managed by ATCC under the new designation NIH HIV Reagent Program and website, https://www.hivreagentprogram.org.

The NIH HIV Reagent Program continues to expand its selection of reagents for research in the areas of AIDS therapeutics and vaccine development. All comments and suggestions to improve the NIH HIV Reagent Program and offers of novel reagents are welcome. The NIH HIV Reagent Program owes much of its continued success to the generosity of many investigators, including those from the private sector, who have shared their reagents and information with the scientific community. The support of all of these individuals is gratefully acknowledged.