Committes

1. The CNR-UNESCO Technical-Administrative Committee, responsible for the management of the CNR-UNESCO Agreement on AIDS Research met on 3 June 1998 at the National Research Council, in Rome, Italy.

2. Committee members who attended the meeting are : V. Colizzi , L. Montagnier, M. Moroni, P. Vagliani. Absent with justification: V. Kouzminov, A. Forti, E. Garaci, P. Bisogno. UNESCO was represented by Ms. M. De Faveri; moreover, Dr. C.Costa and Dr. F. Poccia also attended the meeting.

3. Before the meeting Prof. L. Montagnier together with Dr. P. Vagliani and Prof. V. Colizzi, submitted to the President of CNR, Prof. Lucio Bianco, a letter of the Director General of UNESCO Prof. Federico Mayor, asking CNR to guarantee the same level of contribution for the year 1998.
Prof. L. Bianco confirmed that he will do his best to assure the same level of contribution .

The agenda of the meeting consisted of the following items:
· Definition of Programme activities for 1998-1999;
· Report of activities since the last meeting;
· Set up of the International Center for AIDS at the IRCCS "L. Spallanzani";
· Miscellaneous
· Date of next meeting .

Definition of Programme Activities for 1998-1999

It has been decided to maintain the same percentage of funds' distribution among the lines of action decided for the previous contribution, as also indicated by the CNR-UNESC0 Agreement.

Research Project 40%

It has been approved by the Committee the continuation of the Research Project initiated by Dr. A. Beretta through the execution of its phase II "Development of a type C vaccine to be tested in vaccinotherapy phase I trials", as well as the Research Project proposed by Dr. F. Poccia titled "Immunotherapy with non-peptidic antigens in SIV-infected macaques".
Prof. M. Moroni will try to identify by the end of June 1998, a new research project to be executed within this Agreement.

It has been approved by the Committee the continuation of the UNESCO Interdisciplinary Chair in Biotechnology held at Tor Vergata University.

The research grants will be assigned to researchers coming from East European countries, developing countries and Italy. They will be hosted by the CIRBS of the World Foundation for the AIDS Research and Prevention (50%) and the IRCCS "L. Spallanzani" (50%).

A Meeting on AIDS will be held at the UNESCO Venice Office from 4 to 6 September 1998. This meeting will be financed with the previous year contribution.
The aim of this meeting is to convene some research groups working on AIDS (from the World Foundation network, Man against virus's project, IRCCS "L. Spallanzani" and other groups proposed by UNESCO-CNR Committee Members) in order to have an exchange of information and the coordination of the respective projects .
Moreover the IRCCS "Spallanzani" togheter with CNR-UNESCO and the Ministry of Health will organize in Rome an international Symposium on AIDS in the occasion of the AIDS-day on December 1st 1998 .
It has also been agreed to convene a small scientific meeting like those held in Saint Vincent either in December on the occasion of the AIDS day or later in 1999.

It has been approved by the Committe the transfer of 10.000.000 Lire previously assigned to the organization of a meeting in Naples now cancelled to the Documentation Center and Data Bank (See article III point 2 of the report of activities 4 April 1997 - 3 April, 1998). These funds will be used for the organization of an exhibition on AIDS which will be diplayed at the University of Tor Vergata, at the IRCCS "L. Spallanzani" and in Milan at the initiative of Prof. M. Moroni.

The Committee would like to study the possibility to revise the position of Dr. Cristina Costa, responsible of the Documentation Center at IRCCS "Spallanzani" to a UNESCO Temporary Post depending on available funds. UNESCO Venice Office is requested to provide at the next meeting all data related to the opening of such kind of position.

This amount is currently used to partially cover the salary of Dr. C. Costa responsible of the Documentation Center at Spallanzani.

Prof. V. Colizzi has been requested to prepare the Programme of activities for the 1998-1999 to be submitted to CNR for releasing of funds for next year. This draft should be submitted to Prof. L. Montagnier for his approval.

Dr. P.Vagliani and Prof. Colizzi informed the Committee of activities undertaken since the last meeting.

The Committee has been informed that Prof. V.Colizzi has been nominated Director of the Center. Discussions will be held later in the day with Dr. Melaragno and Prof. Ippolito on the various issues concerning the nomination of other staff, the appointment of the research committee and budgetary framework for the activities of the Center. It has been also discussed the possibility that 20 milions previously assigned to the activity "Integration of different Networks under UNESCO and World Foundation" will be used for a further Fellowship to Dr. F. Poccia for his activity as responsible for the Laboratory created at the IRCCS "L. Spallanzani".

It has been decided that the next meeting will be held in Venice in September if all the members are present or in December around the event to be organzed on December 1st.

1. The CNR-UNESCO Technical Administrative Committee, established by the decree of the President of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) in consultation with UNESCO for the management of the CNR-UNESCO Agreement on co-operation in the field of AIDS Research and Prevention, met in Rome, at CNR's Headquarters on 18 April 2000.

Colizzi Prof. Vittorio
Ippolito Dr. Giuseppe
Montagnier Prof. Luc
Kouzminov Dr. Vladimir
Vagliani Dr. Pierluigi

The Meeting was assisted by :
Ms. Michela De Faveri, UVO Administrative Officer;
Dr. Cristina Costa, ICAERI Secretary, responsible for information services.

· Presentation and discussion of the results of the implementation of the CNR- UNESCO Agreement in 1999 (April) -2000 (March);
· Discussion of the work-plans for 2000 (April) - 2001 (March);
· Elaboration and discussion of the Minutes of the Meeting.
· Miscellaneous

4. Presentation and discussion of the results of the implementation of the CNR-UNESCO Agreement in 1999 (April) -2000 (March);

4.1.The scientific and administrative-financial reports on the activities undertaken during the period April 1999-March 2000, according to the Committee's recommendations elaborated at the previous Committee meeting held at Ischia Island, Italy, April 18-20 1999, were submitted to the Committee. Copies of these documents are annexed to the minutes (Annex 1 and Annex 2).

4.2. Prof. V. Colizzi provided the members of the Committee with some additional explanations and details related to the scientific activities implemented during the period indicated above. He pointed out that the selection of the research projects and short-terms of research grants had been done with the help of the scientific selection committee composed of the prominent experts in the field of virology and immunology who served in their private capacities without any financial consequences for the general budget of UVO-ROSTE established under CNR-UNESCO Agreement.
The report of this selection committee is included in both scientific and administrative-financial reports.

4.3. Dr. V. Kouzminov drew the attention of the Committee members to the fact that the scientific results of projects and short term research grants should be evaluated by independent experts able to advise UVO-ROSTE and CNR on scientific values produced. It was also understood that the different types of evaluation could be arranged taking into account the scope and duration of projects and their complexity. Therefore it was commonly agreed that after the completion of an activity (research project, short term grant or scientific event) preliminary or definite results attained should pass evaluation in order to justify the continuation of selected research lines, future activities and necessary administrative actions including intermediate and final payments under corresponding contractual agreements.
The Committee agreed that a small team of independent experts both for the selection of research project and short term grants and for the evaluation of results should be established taking into account the experience gained by the above mentioned scientific selection committee. It was also recommended that this evaluation process should not bring any financial implications to the CNR budget.

4.4. The Committee noted that some limited funds assigned for administrative expenses of UVO-ROSTE were used for printing of a scientific volume "Introduzione alla Biofisica delle Radiazioni" which is not completely relevant to the principle subjects of research projects. It was also understood that the scientific values of this monograph was evident and it could be used as learning material by students and young scientists involved in biomedical research including virology and immunology. Therefore it was recommended that this book be provided to medical faculties, biology departments and university's libraries in order to be available for research and teaching staff of Italian universities as well as for research centres.
It was also advised that financial provisions assigned for administrative expenses for UVO-ROSTE can be reduced in the favour of other lines of activities.
As for the eventual publications it was recommended that the scientific publications in the form of technical reports be arranged in consultation with the Committee's members and within funds identified for information activities being carried out in the framework of the Agreement.

4.5. The Committee finally approved the scientific report and accepted the administrative-financial report. The latter will be evaluated by the Committee's members-representatives of CNR and will be presented to the CNR Administration before the end of April 2000.

5.1.The Committee discussed the major orientations of the activities to be undertaken in 2000-2001 (April 2000 - March 2001) and corresponding financial provisions for each line of actions.

5.2. It was unanimously agreed to arrange the distribution of funds as follows :

5.2.1. 50% share for Research Projects (50% of which to be assigned for projects to be implemented in favour of Africa in close co-operation with the Abidjan Centre - CIRBA)

5.2.2. 20 % share for Short-Term Research Grants (50% of which will be assigned to studies in the favour of Africa in close co-operation with Abidjan Centre - CIRBA)

5.2.3. 10% share for Scientific Meetings (the Committee agreed that a scientific meeting on selected topics related to AIDS research. and prevention should be arranged in Rome in October 2000, in conjuction with the inauguration of new research- clinical facilities of ICAERI)

5.2.4. 20% share for Documentation Centre, Reporting and Collection of materials as well as Limited Publication of Scientific Reviews on the Subject of Cooperation, Meetings of the Committee and Administration of UVO.

5.3. The Committee recommended that two of its members (Profs. V. Colizzi and L. Montagnier) undertake a mission to Ivory Coast in June 2000 for the formulation of a project and connected research grants in order to meet the most urgent needs in AIDS research and prevention in Africa (Abidjan, Ivory Coast). The cost of this mission should be included in 5.2.1. line "Research projects"

6.1 It was also proposed that a new Scientific and Selection Evaluation Committee should be established soon. Prof. V. Colizzi and Dr. V. Kouzminov were requested to advise all members of the Technical-Administrative Committee on this matter as soon as possible. It was a common understanding that the functioning of this team would not bring any financial implications to the budget.

6.2. Since Prof. A. Forti (member of this Committee) concluded his affiliation with UNESCO in December 1999, it was proposed by Mr. V. Kouzminov that UNESCO nominates a substitute whose name should be communicated to the National Research Council for modification of the composition of the Technical Administrative Committee according to existing rules and procedures.
The Committee agreed.

6.3. The Committee expressed its appreciation of the work done in the course of the implementation of the Agreement during the reported period and for the preparation of the present Committee Meeting by Dr. Cristina Costa, who is responsible of the Documentation Centre, and by the Administrative Unit of UVO-ROSTE and naimly by Ms. Michela De Faveri and Mrs. Tatiana Carpenè.

Colizzi Prof. Vittorio Ippolito Dr. Giuseppe Montagnier Prof. Luc

Kouzminov Dr. Vladimir Vagliani Dr. Pierluigi

CNR-UNESCO Agreement
Technical-Administrative Committee

Minutes of the Meeting
ICAERI, Rome - 10 March 2001

1. The CNR-UNESCO Technical-Administrative Committee, established by the decree of the President of the Italian National Council (CNR) in consultation with UNESCO for the management of the CNR-UNESCO Agreement on co-operation in the field of AIDS Research and Prevention, met in Rome at the International Centre Centre for AIDS and Emerging and Re-emerging Infections (ICAERI) located at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" on 10 March 2001.

2. Members of the Committee:

Present:

o Colizzi Prof. Vittorio
o Ippolito Dr. Giuseppe
o Montagnier Prof. Luc
o Kouzminov Dr. Vladimir
o Vagliani Dr. Pierluigi

Absent:

o Moroni Prof. Mauro
o Garaci Prof. Enrico

The Meeting was assisted by:

o Ms. Michela De Faveri, UVO Administrative Officer;
o Mrs. Cristina Costa, UVO-ROSTE-ICAERI Secretary, responsible for information services.

Dr. Henry Chenal, Director of the Centre Integré du Recherche Bioclinique d'Abidjan (CIRBA) was invited to the meeting.

3. The Agenda of the meeting was approved as follows:

· Presentation and discussion of the results of the implementation of the CNR UNESCO Agreement in 2000 (April) - 2001 (March);
· Discussion of the work-plans for 2001 (April) - 2002 (March);
· Elaboration and discussion of the Minutes of the Meeting;
· Miscellaneous.

4. Presentation and discussion of the results of the implementation of the CNR-UNESCO Agreement in 2000 (April) - 2001 (March);

4.1. The Technical Report on the activities undertaken during the period April 2000 - March 2001, according to the Committee's recommendations elaborated at the previous Committee meeting held in Rome, Italy, on 18 April 2000 was submitted to the Committee. Copy of this document is annexed to the minutes (Annex I).

4.2. Profs. L. Montagnier and V. Colizzi provided the members of the Committee with some additional explanations and details related to the scientific activities implemented during the period indicated above. They pointed out that the selection of the research projects and short-term research grants had been done according to the recommendations of the Technical-Administrative Committee and were focused on the AIDS Research and Prevention in Africa in cooperation with CIRBA.
They also underlined the fact that these activities had contributed to very important research projects being implemented in CIRBA and ICAERI. The efforts of both centres are greatly appreciated. The selection of candidates for research work in CIRBA and ICAERI was done by the Selection Committee. A special training was provided to Dr. G. Capelli who is currently assigned to CIRBA.

Profs. Montagnier and Colizzi were requested by the Committee to elaborate a short scientific report on results attained during one year operations within the "African" project and related activities.
This scientific report should be an integral part of these minutes.

4.3 Dr. V. Kouzminov informed the Committee members that according to the letter of the National Research Council dated 6 July 2000 and addressed to UNESCO the period from April 2001 to March 2002 should be the last year of the current Agreement between UNESCO and CNR ( a copy of the letter is given in Annex II).
He also suggested that the research grants and fellowships to be provided during this period be given in the favour of ICAERI's needs to implement as fully as possible the objectives of ICAERI-CIRBA's cooperative project in order to obtain more valid scientific results.
Prof. V. Colizzi expressed his opinion that some research grants should be given for a free selection by the Selection Committee which will give some more visibility to CNR-UNESCO's cooperation inside and outside Italy.
The Committee agreed with Prof. V. Colizzi's opinion and recommended to continue the same modalities of the selection of candidates for research grants assuming that the latters will fully respect the major orientations of the cooperation between CNR and UNESCO within the framework of the present Agreement.

4.4. Prof. V. Colizzi informed the Committee of the Documentation Centre's activities as well as of some logistic problems of its functioning at the facilities of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani".
Due to the limited number of visitors to the Institute because of its nature, the Documentation Centre can not provide a full range of services for a general public, university and school students.
He proposed that the Centre be moved to the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" where the Documentation Centre could provide information services to a large number of students and young researches as well as to the general public.
The presence of the Centre at the University can continue until the Institute "Lazzaro Spallanzani" opens a public library which will be opened for an increased number of visitors.
This proposal was accepted by the Committee's members.
Prof. V. Colizzi also informed the Committee of an innovative work done by the Centre on having put together a full range of information on CNR-UNESCO's cooperation in the field of bio-medical research related to AIDS and to other infectious diseases presented in the form of CD-ROM which has an initial title "UNESCO and CNR: Agreement to Increase the Cooperation in Scientific Research and Science Communication in the Field of AIDS".
This initiative of the Documentation Centre was particularly appreciated by the Committee.
The Committee also agreed that the Documentation Centre should take the responsibility for the processing and printing of the Scientific Report entitled "Les Grand Orientations de la Recherche en veu d'Ameliorer le Traitement des Infectious par le Virus de l'Immunodefecience Humaine et de le Rendre Plus Accessible" being prepared by Profs. R. Daudel, L. Montagneir and Dr. L. Thibodeau by the end of May 2001. It was also agreed that some additional funds should be given to the Centre for this particular purpose.

4.5. The Committee finally approved the technical report, which also includes a full range of administrative data and recommended its submission to CNR in April 2001 according to existing rules and procedures.

5. Discussion of the work-plans for 2001 (April) - 2002 (March)

5.1. The Committee discussed the major orientations of the activities to be undertaken in 2001-2002 and corresponding financial provisions for each line of actions and confirmed the validity of funds distribution rates arranged during the reported period:

5.1.1. 50% share for Research Projects (50% of which to be assigned for projects to be implemented in favour of Africa in close co-operation with the Abidjan Centre - CIRBA);

5.1.2. 20% share for Short-Term Research Grants (50% of which will be assigned to studies in the favour of Africa in close co-operation with Abidjan Centre - CIRBA);

5.1.3. 10% share for Scientific Meetings (a theme of the meeting and the dates will be identified later);

5.1.4 20% share for Documentation Centre, Reporting and Collection of materials as well as Limited Publication of Scientific Reviews on the Subject of Cooperation, Meetings of the Committee and Administration of UVO.

5.2. the Committee recommended that the costs of potential missions should be included in corresponding lines of actions e.g. 5.1.1. - 5.1.4.

6. Dr. V. Kouzminov has been requested to prepare the draft minutes of the present meeting, to be communicated to the Committee's members as soon as possible.

7. Miscellaneous

7.1. Due to the fact that the period from April 2001 to March 2002 is the last year to be covered by the present Agreement, it was agreed that the Committee Members would consider possible future areas of cooperation of CNR and UNESCO and communicate to UVO-ROSTE their proposals on this matter before the end of April 2001.
The Committee also thought that it would be advisable to convene an extra-ordinary meeting for discussing future awereness of cooperation in order to advise UNESCO and CNR on the main provisions of the cooperative agreement according to both organizations' priorities.

7.2. The Committee expressed its appreciation of the work done in the course of the implementation of the Agreement during the reported period and for the preparation of the present Committee Meeting by Mrs. Cristina Costa, who is responsible of the Documentation Centre, and by the Administrative Unit of UVO-ROSTE and namely by Ms. Michela De Faveri and Mrs. Tatiana Carpené.

Rome, 10 March 2001

Colizzi Prof. Vittorio Ippolito Dr. Giuseppe Montagnier Prof. Luc

Kouzminov Dr. Vladimir Vagliani Dr. Pierluigi

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