Architects at an Oxford firm have teamed up with scientists working on a vaccine for Aids to design a mobile medical laboratory.

The team from Berman Guedes Stretton

The team at Berman Guedes Stretton produced the plans for the trailer, which can be towed across desert and mountain terrain to reach African communities at risk from the virus.

The mobile laboratory allows scientists and health workers to use the latest equipment and procedures.

The project links in with the development of an Aids vaccine now being carried out by the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine at Oxford University, which is working closely with the Kenyan Aids Vaccine initiative at the University of Nairobi.

It also links the McMichael family -- with Hamish McMichael from BGS part of the architects team, while Prof Andrew McMichael is leading the development of the vaccine.

Hamish McMichael said: "The vaccine is currently undergoing stage two trials and the next step is to test 10,000 people who have a high risk of contracting the virus.

"The vehicle has a small laboratory and there are two inflatable structures attached which can be used as clinical suites."

Clinical research highlights that, of the 40 million people infected with the Aids virus, 25 million live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prof Andrew McMichael added: "There are many strains of Aids and to make a vaccine that is effective for African people requires local testing.

Providing effective inoculation to a large population is the ultimate aim."

The BGS team -- Hamish McMichael, Jon Du Croz and Chris Hale along with aeronautical engineer and designer Gavin Palmer -- also had the project shortlisted in the Architecture for Humanity awards.

It has been selected to be showcased in New York and then internationally, visiting the

Royal Institute of British Architects in London next September.

BGS is currently working on a variety of laboratory projects for Oxford University but as well as the McMichael family connection, Mr Du Croz has also studied the geography of East Africa at UCL university while Mr Hale recently spent a year working in the transportation industry in Nairobi and obtained a unique insight into the requirements of a travelling laboratory.