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Where Are We Now and What’s Next?: Mosaico Study Update

A Phase 3 study of an investigational HIV vaccine regimen has been discontinued following a planned, interim review by the study’s independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board. The investigational vaccine was generally safe and well tolerated; however, it was not effective at preventing the acquisition of HIV-1.

The results of the uniquely designed and implemented Mosaico study underscore the challenges that have faced the global scientific community in the 40-year search for an HIV vaccine, and may provide important data in the ongoing fight against HIV. Join the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and AVAC and key voices from the study including study investigators and community representatives in this important webinar as we will discuss the outcome of the Mosaico study, and discuss what these results mean and next steps.

View the recording here.

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Been There, Did That – Research Reflections from CROI 2023

Thursday, March 23 at 10:00–11:30am ET

Speakers will include community leaders and researchers reflecting on the most interesting, consequential science presented at CROI 2023.

Co-moderated by Devan Nambiar, Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance and CROI 2023 Community Educator Scholar

Featured researcher:
Dr. Monica Gandhi, UCSF

Featured community speakers:
CROI 2023 Community Educator Scholars

Register here.

This webinar is a part of The Choice Agenda.

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When Cure Means Control: An introduction to viral control off therapy

Tuesday, March 28 at 9:00 am ET

As the number of cure-related clinical trials grows, so does the number of people experiencing month-long delays in viral rebound. A very small handful of participants remain off therapy long after the trial ends. These individuals who can control HIV without therapy after an intervention are known as controllers.

This webinar will:
-Introduce the concept of viral control off therapy
-Provide a platform to ask experts questions on HIV control
-Introduce key issues advocates should be following

Featuring Jon LI, Harvard University; Marina Caskey, Rockefeller University; Ann Chahroudi, Emory School of Medicine, Josephine Nabukenya, EGPAF Board Member and IAS Governing Council Member, and moderated by Jessica Salzwedel, AVAC

Register here

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DRM Learning Collaborative

Thursday, April 6, 15.00hours to 16.30hours (EAT)/8:00-9:30am (EST)

Welcome to this year’s first meeting of the Domestic Resource Mobilization learning collaborative. The Learning Collaborative is a virtual space that brings together global health advocates, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders from Africa to engage in peer-to-peer learning and partner in advocacy for a sustainably funded health R&D and infrastructure in Africa.

The upcoming learning collaborative meeting take place on Thursday April 6th, from 15.00hours to 16.30hours (EAT)/8:00-9:30am (EST). The focus will be on the need to invest in local vaccine manufacturing in Africa. We will discuss the landscape including challenges and opportunities, and identify priority advocacy towards expanding local manufacture of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Register here.

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Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit

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The 6th annual Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit will take place in person on April 20-21 in Chicago, Illinois at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.

The Summit will highlight the role that biomedical prevention tools such as PrEP, PEP, Treatment as Prevention (TasP) and U=U have in ending the epidemic while working in the current COVID environment.

NMAC, the conference organizers, will apply COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure a safe conference experience. All conference attendees should be fully vaccinated with a booster and the latest CDC guidance for in person meetings will be followed.

Visit the conference website and watch this space for more as the conference approaches.

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CROI 2022

This year’s annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) took place virtually from February 12-24. This forum offered the latest from research on HIV, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis (HEP) and now also featured findings from COVID-19 studies.

Follow Along

Conference coverage came from aidsmap, AVAC on Twitter: @hivpxresearch, and via the conference hashtag: #CROI2022. AVAC also produced two roundups (week 1, week 2).

Previewing CROI

CROI’s Community Liaison Subcommittee (CLS), AVAC & EATG hosted a preview of CROI for global advocates to explore some of the key research on the program, get tips for how to get the most out of the conference, and learn where and how to stay connected. Here is a link to the recording.

Daily Research Updates at the Margarita Breakfast Club

February 14-24
The Margarita Breakfast Clubs (MBCs) were one-hour Zooms that provide an intimate setting for dialogue between researchers and community advocates on the hottest #CROI2022 science being presented this year. These sessions were open to anyone and are made possible through a collaboration including the CROI Community Liaison Subcommittee, AVAC, EATG and other groups.

  • Topic: From Long to Longer – How New ARVs are Rewriting the Script for HIV Prevention and Treatment
    Date: Monday, February 14

    Speaker: Dr. Chloe Orkin
    Moderators: Ntando Yola and Jim Pickett
    Watch the recording / Session recap
  • Topic: River Deep, Mountain High: Pathways Toward a Cure for HIV
    Date: Wednesday, February 16

    Speakers: Dr. Katharine Bar and Moses Supercharger
    Moderators: Danielle Campbell and Michael Louella
    Watch the recording / Session recap
  • Topic: Aging with HIV – Frailty, Comorbidities and a Call to Action
    Date: Tuesday, February 22

    Speakers: Dr. Kristine Erlandson and Jules Levin
    Moderator: Jeff Taylor
    Watch the recording / Session recap
  • Topic: Rings and Injectable Things: Moving from options to choices for HIV prevention in cisgender women
    Date: Wednesday, February 23

    Speakers: Drs. Sinead Delany-Moretlwe and Kenneth Ngure
    Moderator: Danielle Campbell and Breanne Lesnar
    Watch the recording / Session recap
  • Topic: Long COVID – What We Know, What We Need to Know, and What We Need to Do
    Date: Thursday February 24

    Speakers: Dr. Steve Deeks and JD Davids
    Moderator: Michael Louella
    Watch the recording / Session recap

CROI 2022 Conference Materials

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U=U Advocacy Webinar

Because we believe in it, we will advocate for it!

Speakers:

  • Cindra Feuer — Senior Program Manager at AVAC
  • Alice Kayongo — Public health worker in Uganda
  • Winifred Ikilai — National Forum of PLHA Networks Uganda

Time and Login Details
February 11, 2022 from 4-5:30PM CAT/SAST

Join us on Zoom. Meeting ID: 847 9660 1011; passcode: 262309

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New COVID-19 Vaccines Trials in Sub-Saharan Africa

On April 6, 2022, the COVID Advocates Advisory Board (CAAB) and AVAC’s Coalition to Accelerate and Support Prevention Research (CASPR) hosted a special webinar on the Ubuntu trial. Led by the COVID-19 Prevention Network (CoVPN), Ubuntu is a landmark COVID-19 vaccine trial in sub-Saharan Africa investigating the efficacy of mRNA vaccines in people living with HIV against the omicron variant.

Watch the recording and view the slides.

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COVID-19 GPP Resources: A deep dive for advocates

While there are a number of resources that address stakeholder engagement in COVID-19 research, some may not adequately reflect the needs of advocates. Join a conversation reviewing resources for advocates’ needs and shaping future resources!

This discussion will be moderated by AVAC’s Jessica Salzwedel.

  • Role of Advocates in Prevention Trials — Chilufya Kasanada, TALC
  • Essential Principals and Practices for GPP Compliance — Cathy Slack, HAVEG
  • GPP Resources & Implementation in Solidarity — Nina Gobat, WHO

Register here.

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Breaking Down the Latest in HIV Cure Research: What do new data mean for people living with HIV

Researchers broke down the recent case of HIV cure, the first among women. Speakers also provided updates from an ongoing trial studying pediatric remission. Participants learned what these advances mean for science and for people living with HIV.

Featuring:

  • Dr. Yvonne Bryson, University of California at Los Angeles
  • Dr. Deborah Persaud, Johns Hopkins University
  • Bridgette Picou, The Well Project CAB Co-Chair and Columnist “Being Bridgette” Positively Aware Magazine

Watch the recording: