Post AIDS 2014 Webinars: Experts, issues, answers—and more!

The special set of post-AIDS 2014 webinars concluded on Wednesday, October 8. As part of the ongoing Research & Reality series, these webinars gave advocates a chance to talk to leaders from various fields about issues including cure and prevention research, new global targets and more—all of which were raised at the recent International AIDS Conference.

See below for information on and links to slides and recordings from each of the AIDS 2014 webinars. And stay tuned for updates on future installments in the Research & Reality series.

UNAIDS, Targets and Civil Society
In Melbourne, UNAIDS launched a new initiative known as “90-90-90”, which lays out new targets for testing, treatment and virologic suppression. Where did these targets come from, what do they mean—and where does prevention fit in? Chris Collins, Chief of the Community Mobilization Division at UNAIDS addressed these questions and more.
October 8 — Animation: Flash, Audio: MP3, Slides: PDF

Data and Uncertainty: Understanding updates on hormonal contraceptives and HIV
AIDS 2014 featured analyses of data on the potential relationship between hormonal contraceptives and risk of HIV infection. Researchers Charles Morrison (FHI 360) and Kristin Wall (Emory University), and Mary Lyn Gaffield from the WHO discussed the newest findings and guidance.
October 1 — Animation: Flash, Audio: MP3, Slides: PDF

Results of the iPrEx open-label extension (iPrEx OLE): PrEP uptake, sexual practices and HIV incidence
Get details on the iPrEx OLE study from principal investigator Robert Grant, who presented the data at AIDS 2014. The first open-label PrEP study to publish results, these data from iPrEx OLE begin to answer a number of questions on PrEP use in the “real world”.
September 24 — Animation: Flash, Audio: MP3, Slides: PDF

Latest developments in VMMC research and implementation
AIDS 2014 brought more updates on voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) including new data on risk behaviors in circumcised men, the impact of cash transfers as part of VMMC programming and more. Kenyan researcher and implementer Kawango Agot reviewed the latest findings.
September 17, 2014; — Slides: PDF

State of the Art HIV Cure: Where are we now and where are we going?
The field of cure research is evolving and expanding, with various proposed trials that require informed engagement from many stakeholders. Get an update, discuss research and hear questions answered by plenary speaker Jintanat Ananworanich.
September 3, 2014 — Animation: Flash, Audio: MP3, Slides: PDF

As always, questions or comments are most welcome! 

A Chance to Shape the Global Review of HIV/AIDS Treatment Access for Women

Earlier this week, AVAC, ATHENA Network, Salamander Trust and UN Women announced their collaboration on a Global Review of HIV/AIDS Treatment Access for Women. This project has multiple elements—desk review of available information, discussions with groups of women living with HIV, in-depth “country case studies” in a few places. Our goal is to ensure that the realities, priorities and advocacy of women and girls around a truly effective AIDS response are amplified and, ultimately, incorporated into work towards the UNAIDS “90-90-90” goals, and other country-level campaigns.

This Review is a great opportunity to share work, ideas and information that you have collected; there are also opportunities to take on new work as we build out the country case studies (this is one of AVAC’s primary focus areas within the project.) We would love to have an informational call with interested partners sometime in the coming weeks. If you are interested in joining, please contact us.

Looking forward to further collaboration!

Data Watch: Closing a Persistent Gap in the AIDS Response

In this update to the 2012 Action Agenda to End AIDS, amfAR and AVAC argue that critical and expensive decisions made with incomplete data can undermine the response to the AIDS epidemic—even as the systems for collecting these data continue to improve. The report describes the issues and identifies critical areas where better, more complete data are needed to guide the key decisions for the response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It also provides an update on prevention and treatment targets set in the Action Agenda.

AVAC Fellow Maureen Milanga pushes for increased funding for ARVs

With new guidelines in place calling for earlier access to antiretrovirals for HIV treatment, many more Kenyans are eligible for the drugs. Activists, including AVAC Fellow Maureen Milanga argue that the current budget for treatment falls short.

“The Government must expand its domestic funding this financial year to close the treatment gap and begin to end Kenya’s AIDS epidemic,” said Maureen Milanga arguing for more than doubling the current domestic financing for treatment.

Read more here.

Antiretroviral Treatment for Prevention of HIV and Tuberculosis

Despite considerable evidence supporting the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for prevention of HIV and TB illness, death and transmission, only 37 percent of the 35 million people living with HIV were receiving it in 2013. This paper examines ongoing and planned global treatment as prevention studies and addresses research questions related to access and implementation.

Download

Community-driven strategies for the use of antiretrovirals as prevention: United States Workshop Report

Launched in 2011, the multi-national Mapping Pathways project provides a community-led, research-driven, multi-layered synthesis about the use of antiretroviral-based prevention strategies. Project partners included RAND, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, AIDS United, Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, Naz India, and Bairds CMC.

In the latter half of 2013, a subset of the Mapping Pathways team from RAND Europe and AIDS Foundation of Chicago conducted a series of three “knowledge exchange” scenario development workshops with a focus on the United States, held in San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, DC. The aim of the workshops was to further share the findings of the report and to continue enhancing the community-driven, locally informed approach to the wider evidence base for ARV-based prevention. This report summarizes the outputs of those three workshops.

Download

Mapping Pathways: Developing evidence-based, people-centred strategies for the use of antiretrovirals as prevention

Mapping Pathways is a multinational project to develop and nurture a research-driven, community-led global understanding of the emerging evidence base around the adoption of antiretroviral (ARV)-based prevention strategies to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The project is based on the premise that the current array of prevention options is not sufficient; new pathways to prevention, based on enhanced assessment and analysis of likely impact, are needed to address new infections adequately.

Download

Treatment as Prevention: An introductory factsheet

This introductory 2-page document defines treatment as prevention, reviews the scientific evidence behind it, and outlines implementation advocacy priorities. The factsheet is part of a series on emerging HIV prevention strategies.

Download

Press Statement from Kenya AIDS Civil Society AIDS Groups Cheer First Major New Commitment by Presidential Candidate

This press release from a coalition of Kenyan civil society groups celebrates a success in an election-year campaign led by 2013 AVAC Advocacy Fellow Maureen Milanga to secure commitments to good HIV policy by political candidates. The pledge by Prime Minister Raila Odinga committed his administration, if elected, to provide universal access to antiretroviral therapy and to spend 15 percent of the national budget on healthcare.

Download

HIV Civil Society Recommendations for Kenya’s New Health Secretary and Global Fund Application

This letter, written by a civil society coalition co-led by 2013 AVAC Advocacy Fellow Maureen Milanga, summarizes concerns and demands related to Kenya’s 2013 application to the Global Fund. The letter was sent during the Global Fund’s transition to its New Funding Model and includes guidance to the Government of Kenya on how to navigate the new system to secure support for ambitious treatment scale-up in the wake of new WHO treatment guidelines.

Download