Monday, May 18, is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). It is a time to educate the public about the importance of HIV vaccine work. It’s also a time to thank the volunteers, researchers and health care professionals working toward finding a vaccine.

A press release by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recaps the history of HIV vaccine research—such as the RV144 study in Thailand—and highlights current clinical trials.

“Although the path to developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine has so far been difficult,” reads the press release, “achieving this goal remains key to realizing a durable end to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.”