Updated at 4:51 p.m.
A Washington lawyer who worked for Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) notified Congress on Friday that he is lobbying for a New York-based nonprofit organization that develops preventative HIV vaccines.
Kevin McGuiness, who is a former chief of staff to the senator, is advocating for the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. He is looking to obtain federal funding for vaccine research, according to a lobbying registration filing.
McGuiness, principal of Kevin McGuiness PLLC, said he is happy to have the opportunity to lobby for the organization.
"It's very exciting," he said.
An Initiative spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The organization paid public affairs consultant Meredith McGehee $50,000 for lobbying she did for it during the first eight months of this year, according to congressional records. McGehee was the only lobbyist registered with Congress this year to advocate for the group before she stopped lobbying for the organization in August.
McGuiness is the second lobbying hire the organization made this year. Palmetto Group also submitted paperwork this month to Congress to lobby for the group.
The Initiative, which was founded in 1996, collaborates with more than 50 institutions to create and evaluate potential HIV vaccines, according to the group’s Web site. The organization and its partners have made 21 potential HIV vaccines. Of those candidates, a dozen are undergoing early-stage human trials.
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