Tuesday Dec. 20, the United States Food and Drug Administration have approved researchers from the University of Western Ontario to test a possible HIV/AIDS vaccine, according to a press release by the university. This grants researchers permission to conduct human trials.

According to a release by the university, the vaccine “holds tremendous promise, having already proven to stimulate strong immune responses in preliminary toxicology tests with no adverse effects or safety risks.”

Global Toronot reports Dr. Chjil-Yong Kang, of Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, said the “FDA approval for human clinical trials is an extremely significant milestone for our vaccine, which has the potential to save the lives of millions of people around the world by preventing HIV infection.”

Kang added the vaccine is the “first and only preventative HIV vaccine based on a genetically modified killed whole virus.”

The vaccine is the first developed in Canada.

The first phase of human trials are expected to begin in January 2012.