Avac Event

The More We Know: Evolving our understanding of PrEP for cisgender women

Science and real-world experience continue to demand a re-assessment of our collective understanding of the safety and effectiveness of PrEP options for women, including oral, vaginal ring, and injectable options. For instance, a new paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo (HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Emtricitabine and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Among Cisgender Women) challenges the notion, baked into policies, programs and “conventional wisdom”, that cisgender women need to be “super-adherers” to achieve protection utilizing oral PrEP. In this webinar, we discussed this important paper and more.

Speakers:
• Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• Joyce Ng’ang’a, WACI Health

Moderator:
Raniyah Copeland, Equity & Impact Solutions

Materials:
Recording / Ukrainian Audio / Slides / Resources / Audio Transcript (English/Ukrainian)

Avac Event

Updates on Pediatric HIV Cure Research From CROI

Researchers Deborah Persaud and Gabriele Cromhout join AVAC’s Jessica Salzwedel to discuss the latest from CROI on pediatric cure.

Recording / Gabriele Cromhout Community Slide

Avac Event

STI Awareness Week Webinar Series (April 16 and 18)

Syphilis in the US: The current state of the epidemic and how it’s being addressed  

Tuesday, April 16, 1:00PM ET

This webinar examined the current state of the syphilis epidemic in the US and how the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Federal Task Force is addressing the response.  

Speakers included: Kate Miele and LCDR Neelam Gazarian 

This webinar was co-hosted with ASHA (American Sexual Health Association).

Recording / Slides

DoxyPEP: Prevention, effectiveness, and AMR

Thursday, April 18, 3:00PM ET

This webinar focused on sharing the latest scientific insights on DoxyPEP, its effectiveness in preventing STIs, and considerations around AMR.  

Speakers included: Fabian Kong, Annie Luetkemeyer, and Connie Celum 

Recording / Fabian Kong Slides / Connie Celum Slides

Sexually Transmitted Infections: What You Should Know About STIs and Testing

Friday, April 26, 10:00AM ET

AVAC and ASHA hosted a webinar to discuss STIs and testing with Chase Cannon, MD, MPH and Stacey Grinder, PhD, MPH.

Recording

Avac Event

MOSAIC Global PrEP Learning Network – Building a Brand for PrEP: Positioning PrEP in the Hearts and Minds of Young People


With choice of PrEP products on the horizon – including oral PrEP, the PrEP ring, and injectable cabotegravir for PrEP (CAB PrEP) – PrEP marketing and demand generation must evolve with the availability of new PrEP products. Young people, in particular, need PrEP demand generation campaigns tailored to their needs and aspirations. In this webinar, we will hear from teams working to change the landscape of PrEP marketing by applying private sector approaches to brand the PrEP category. We will also hear how they are developing fresh, dynamic, and evidence-informed campaigns to increase PrEP awareness and encourage PrEP use among young people in Africa.

This webinar is being hosted by PEPFAR, USAID, and MOSAIC.

Avac Event

Decolonizing Global Public Health: Exploring the how, from now til as long as it takes

An interactive and thought-provoking discussion, this webinar critically examined a trend of historical legacies and power dynamics which if not checked, continue to shape global public health.

Participants engaged in deep reflection and dialogue to understand how colonialism, imperialism, and other systems of oppression have influenced the development and implementation of public health policies, practices, and research methodologies. The webinar further explored and contextualized strategies and approaches for decolonizing public health to promote equity and justice.

Speakers:

  • Preethi John, University College London
  • Bridget Malewezi, Mothers2mothers Malawi
  • Mareli Claassens, University of Namibia
  • Julieta Kavetuna, Member of Parliament, Namibia

Moderator:

  • Alice M. Kayongo – O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law

Recording / Slides / Audio Transcript

Avac Event

Community Breakfast Club at CROI 2024

The Community Breakfast Clubs are virtual webinars coordinated by the CROI Community Liaisons, the European AIDS Treatment Group, AVAC, and their global collaborators. They featured researchers and advocates discussing some of the most consequential science being presented at CROI.

This year, they will took place on March 4, 5, and 6 from 7AM MT to 8AM MT. For further information, you may reach out to CROI Community Liaison Jim Pickett at jimberlypickett@gmail.com.

Monday March 4

Spotlight on Social and Behavioural Science at CROI 2024
Moderator:
Nicoletta Policek, European AIDS Treatment Group
Speakers:
Dr. LaRon Nelson, Yale School of Nursing, CROI Scientific Program Committee
Dr. Sari Reisner, University of Michigan, CROI Scientific Program Committee

Recording / Chat / Audio Transcript

Tuesday, March 5

Living with HIV for a Lifetime – It’s Complicated
Moderator:
Dr. Annette Sohn, amfAR, UCSF, CROI Scientific Program Committee
Speakers:
Dr. Allison Agwu, Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Judith Currier, UCLA, CROI Scientific Program Committee

Recording / Chat / Audio Transcript

Wednesday, March 6

Research Roundup: Scientists and Advocates Offer Fresh Perspectives and Seasoned Analyses of CROI 2024 Research
Moderator:
Grace Kumwenda, CROI Community Liaison

Speakers:
Dr. Carlos del Rio, Emory, CROI Scientific Program Committee
Dr. Christina Farr, Case Western Reserve University
Natasha Mwila, CROI Community Educator Scholar
Moses Supercharger, CROI Community Educator Scholar Mentor

Recording / Chat / Audio Transcript

Avac Event

The New Public Health Order: Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness in Africa

WACI Health, RANA and The Choice Agenda hosted a webinar on Thursday, February 29 called, “The New Public Health Order: Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness in Africa”

This webinar introduced key initiatives for the coming year from Africa CDC and the African Union and illuminate roles for civil society and community engagement. We heard from both Africa CDC representatives and key advocates on the development of these initiatives and what goals they intend to achieve.

Speakers: 

  • Jens Pedersen – Senior Advisor for Africa CDC 
  • Dr. Fifa Rahman – Pandemic Negotiations Consultant for Africa CDC
  • Dr. Landry Tsague – Senior Advisor for Africa CDC

Moderator:

  • Samantha Rick – AVAC

Recording / Resources / Transcript

Avac Event

Black Gay Men in the US

Global Black Gay Men Connect (GMBMC) hosted a town hall discussion focusing on Black Gay Men and HIV in the US featuring influential figures in the Black Gay community, including Ace Robinson, Dr. Daniel D. Driffin, and GBGMC board member Kenyon Farrow.

Avac Event

HIV Cure and the Environment: How location informs cure research

AVAC and REACH for the Cure hosted a webinar to discuss how the environment may impact HIV cure strategies. During this webinar, both organizations explored how clades, co-infections, early treatment, and other factors can help inform existing approaches to HIV cure research. Dr. Adam Ward of Weill Cornell Medicine shared the latest data followed by an informal conversation.  

Recording / Dr. Adam Ward Slides

Avac Event

AVAC in Conversation with NIAID’s Jeanne Marrazzo

The new director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo joined AVAC Executive Director in conversation.