The search for an effective HIV vaccine continues to be a challenge. Several candidates have been tested in preclinical protocols, and a few have been tested in clinical trials without resounding success. It is unclear why vaccine approaches to control HIV infection have been unsuccessful, but opportunities to dissect the causes for the failure have surfaced from recent work on the virology, immunology and pathogenesis of HIV and from analysis of vaccine studies. The significance of the innate immune system in HIV infection may provide new paths to discover effective approaches. This report summarizes a workshop held to discuss the role of selected aspects of innate immunity to viral infections and successful vaccines that may have important implications for designing effective HIV vaccines.