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ICASA 2017

The 19th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA 2017) was held December 4-9 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire and organized sessions under the theme Africa: Ending AIDS-delivering differently. AVAC was there along with many of our partners participating in sessions both before and during the conference. Below we’ve provided overview materials and highlighted key sessions and issues.

Biomedical HIV Prevention Forum (BHPF) Pre-conference Session
Hosted by the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS), in collaboration with a number of partners including WACI Health and the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), this session explored data trends in Africa, hot topics in prevention research and African leadership in prevention research. Check out this blog covering the forum by Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan of the New HIV Vaccine and Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS)! Find more information at the BHPF website.

Key Population Pre-Conference Session
Hosted by African Men for Sexual and Health Rights (AMSHeR), African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), Gender Dynamix/Southern Africa Trans Forum, the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) and other networks of key populations (KP), the theme for this pre-conference session was Onto the African Map: Youth Key Populations and HIV.

Satellite Session
WHO and the OPTIONS Consortium sponsored a session titled, Making the Case for PrEP for Women: What we know and experiences to date to provide an overview what we know and have learned about delivering oral PrEP to women, in particular adolescent girls and young women. Presenters reviewed the evidence, the status of oral PrEP rollout for women, and opportunities for oral PrEP delivery for women through the private sector. A facilitated panel with the audience discussed the challenges, innovative solutions and future direction for Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Satellite Session
Health GAP and AVAC hosted a workshop on the planning process for PEPFAR’s Country Operational Plans (COP). Advocates learned about changes to the 2018 process, reviewed advocacy resources, explored strategies to increase PEPFAR investment in community priorities and tried out tools for analyzing PEPFAR data.

ICASA on Social Media
See the social media conversation on all things ICASA via the hashtag #ICASA2017. AVAC also covered the conference on Facebook and Twitter.

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HIV Drug Therapy Glasgow 2018

HIV Glasgow 2018 LogoThe program is of interest to clinical investigators from across the globe to review current research and to discuss its implications for HIV management strategies. In addition to looking at these treatment issues, the Congress is moving into areas, such as prevention, with time in the program focused on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and issues across Europe and beyond.

The important role of people living with HIV in treatment decisions and self-management continues to feature, and we look forward to a number of perspective from the community.

For more information, visit hivglasgow.org, or download a flyer.

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Webinar: PEPFAR Data Interpretation with Brian Honermann

On Tuesday, November 21, there was a joint amfAR, AVAC, Health Gap webinar in a PEPFAR Watch series focusing on PEPFAR data interpretation with Brian Honermann, Deputy Director for Policy at amfAR. The webinar covered:

  • How PEPFAR presents data in public settings such as country operational plans (COP) meetings
  • How to interpret common PEPFAR graphs and charts
  • Methods that have been used to question/intervene in relation to different data areas and targets

Recording: YouTube / Audio / Slides

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Webinar: CROI 2018: Latest on the dapivirine vaginal ring

On March 29, Dr. Zeda Rosenberg, International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), and Dr. Jared Baeten, Microbicide Trials Network (MTN), presented on and discussed the latest data on the dapivirine vaginal ring for HIV prevention. Initial data from the HOPE and DREAM open-label extension ring trials were presented at CROI 2018 and showed that the use of the ring cut HIV risk by 50 percent. Learn more about what these initial data show us, what additional data are expected and plans for the ring in the coming year. And, as always, what can advocates do to advance the agenda?

Recording: YouTube / Audio / DREAM Slides / HOPE Slides

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Webinar: CROI 2018: Risk of HIV for Pregnant and Post-Partum Women

Researchers Renee Heffron and Kerry Thomson discussed their data that showed women who were pregnant or post-partum were 3-4 times more likely to acquire HIV. They review the data presented at CROI 2018 and discuss implications for care and prevention.

Recording: YouTube / Audio / Slides

Additional Resources:

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Webinar: Introducing Oral PrEP: A step-by-step framework, tools and updates

At CROI 2018 we heard stories, saw new data, and had lots of questions about early PrEP rollout. On Wednesday, April 18th, AVAC and partners from Jilinde in Kenya and PZAT in Zimbabwe explored valuable resources for people working to deliver oral PrEP. See below for some of the tools and resources we will explored and discussed during the webinar.

  • Country Updates and the Global PrEP Tracker provide the status of PrEP.
  • A Framework For Scaling Up PrEP provides step-by-step guidance for introducing PrEP into new settings.
  • PrEP Resources aims to be a central repository for materials currently being used by programs—in areas such as global guidance; national policies and guidelines; M&E; training curricula; advocacy; implementation; and demand creation.

All of these materials (and many more) can be found on PrEPWatch.org, the clearinghouse for oral PrEP efforts across the globe.

Recording: YouTube / Audio / Slides

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Webinar: Vaccine and Cure Research in Europe: the EHVA and HIVACAR Consortiums

AVAC PxROAR Europe presents a webinar introducing European approaches to HIV vaccines and a cure:

  • The European HIV Alliance’s Sheena McCormack will discuss HIV vaccines and the quest to identify immune correlates associated with control of HIV replication. The EHVA is a consortium of 39 partners from eleven countries in Europe plus four in sub-Saharan Africa and the US. It is pursuing a number of different preventative vaccine strategies including improved viral vectors, modified versions of HIV envelope proteins and dendritic-cell vaccines.
  • HIVACAR’s Felipe Garcia will discuss research into a therapeutic alternative to “cART for life” (combined antiretroviral therapy). An innovative strategy based on the patient’s immune system that is safe, affordable and scalable to achieve the functional cure of HIV-1 infection will be tested in a Phase I/IIa clinical trial. HIVACAR is a 14-site consortium evaluating a combination of immune-based therapies to achieve a functional cure of HIV infection.

Both EHVA and HIVACAR are funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.

Recording: YouTube / Audio / EHVA Slides / HIVACAR Slides

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Webinar: HVAD 2018

On Thursday, May 17, AVAC’s HVAD 2018 webinar told the story of the current state of HIV vaccine research from two perspectives. Dr. Sandhya Vasan of the Military HIV Research Program in Thailand provided her perspectives on the world of HIV vaccine research since RV144: where have we come and where are we going? Mark Hubbard, a veteran vaccine advocate and community representative for HIV research in Nashville, Tennessee offered his take from a community and advocacy perspective: what are today’s current successes and challenges, and how are community members pushing the HIV vaccine agenda?

Recording: YouTube / Audio / Dr. Sandhya Vasan’s Slides / Mark Hubbard’s Slides

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Swish or Insert Then Flirt: An update on rectal microbicides

On Thursday, September 17, IRMA and AVAC hosted this global teleconference which discussed rectal microbicide studies underway and being planned that incorporate common anal sex practices, focusing on the development of gels, douches, fast-dissolving rectal tablets (inserts) and suppositories – options that recognize the complexity of sex, human nature, pleasure and HIV.

Presenters included Jose Bauermeister (University of Pennsylvania), Kenneth Ho (University of Pittsburgh) and Craig Hendrix (Johns Hopkins). IRMA’s Jim Picket will moderated the call.

Recording: YouTube / Audio / Jose Bauermeister’s Slides / Kenneth Ho’s Slides / Craig Hendrix’s Slides

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HIV R4P 2018

HIV R4P Logo

HIVR4P is the world’s first and only international scientific meeting dedicated exclusively to biomedical HIV prevention research.

Table of Contents

Conference Program & AVAC’s Roadmap

View the conference program here or download the PDF.

For those joining in-person, AVAC made this roadmap of conference sessions and satellites, sortable by intervention.

Updates from Madrid

Follow the official R4P Facebook and Twitter accounts. AVAC will also be posting from the conference on Twitter.

Webcasts

The HIVR4P webcast library features recorded presentations from current and past conferences, making them accessible world-wide and free of charge. Take a look!

Satellites with AVAC and Partners

Sunday, 21 October

Advocates’ Pre-Conference Workshop
AVAC, IRMA, NHVMAS
Provides an overview of the field and explores cross-cutting issues, priorities and common goals. Click for the full schedule.

Planning for Success: Next Steps for Dapivirine Ring
OPTIONS, IPM
Stakeholders share research and experience to inform next steps for introduction. Download the flyer and view the webcast.

Social Sciences in Vaccine Trials: A Booster to Recruit Volunteers
ANRS, Vaccine Research Institute
Time: 12:30-14:30​
Location: Marsella

Monday, 22 October

Current State of Play: PrEP Implementation Update and Challenges
AVAC, WHO
A look at the status of PrEP and future products, and approaches to implementation in low and middle income countries, including challenges and controversies.
Time: 8:30-11:30
Location: Bristol

Voices in the Long-acting PrEP Movement: Fostering Dialog Between End-users and Product Developers During the Product Development Process

AVAC, RTI International, Desmond Tutu HIV Research Foundation, IAVI
Time: 8:30-11:30
Location: Burdeos

GPP@10—Setting New Standards for Clinical Trial Engagement Globally
AVAC, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases
How Good Participatory Practice evolved over the last ten years with a look at implementation, challenges, and the status of GPP as a standard in clinical trials.
Time: 8:30-11:30
Location: Marsella

Whose Desire? Whose Choice? A Debate on the Future of HIV Prevention
AVAC, IRMA
Panelists unpack the priorities for HIV prevention research and product development and debate what it means to give people choices.
Time: 12:00-15:00
Location: Oxford

Accelerating a Labor of Love: Time to Transform HIV Prevention for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
AVAC, Jhpiego, MTN, PHASES
A look at the growing body of evidence and advocacy for biomedical HIV prevention options for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Download the flyer.
Time: 12:00-15:00
Location: Estrasburgo

The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy
African Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG), AVAC, IRMA, Journalists Against AIDS in Nigeria (JAAIDS), NHVMAS
This award honors individuals who have shown extraordinary leadership and commitment to HIV prevention research advocacy and inspired others to action. This year’s recipient will be announced during the opening session, 17:47-17:55.
Location: Auditorium

Tuesday, 23 October

Entry Into the PrEP Continuum (oral abstract)
Tracking Global Oral PrEP Provision: The Who, What, Where of Oral PrEP
Time: 10:30-12:00
Location: Marsella, Burdeos & Estrasburgo

ARVs for Prevention: Extrapolating from Data to Clinical Practice (symposium)
The PrEP Paradigm for Prevention, Advocacy and Implementation in sub-Saharan Africa: Strong Starts, Short Cuts, and the Use (and Abuse?) of Data
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Marsella, Burdeos & Estrasburgo

Wednesday, 24 October

Accelerating Product Introduction for Impact (roundtable)
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Bristol

Trials and Tribulations in Roll Out (poster discussion session)
Time: 16:45-17:30
Location: Oxford

Thursday, 25 October

Opinion 360: Meaningful Engagement From Research to Roll Out (oral abstract)
Time: 8:30-10:00
Location: Oxford

Putting It Together: Strategies to End the Epidemic (closing plenary)
Implementing a Multi-disciplinary Prevention Revolution
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Auditorium

In the Sessions: AVAC at R4P

Tuesday, October 23

Entry Into the PrEP Continuum (oral abstract)
Tracking Global Oral PrEP Provision: The Who, What, Where of Oral PrEP
Time: 10:30-12:00
Location: Marsella, Burdeos & Estrasburgo

ARVs for Prevention: Extrapolating from Data to Clinical Practice (symposium)
The PrEP Paradigm for Prevention, Advocacy and Implementation in sub-Saharan Africa: Strong Starts, Short Cuts, and the Use (and Abuse?) of Data
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Marsella, Burdeos & Estrasburgo

Modeling The Impact of Biomedical Interventions to Break the Cycle of HIV Transmission
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Community Engagement in HIV Biomedical Prevention Research: Use of Mobile Technologies and the Asset Based Community Development Approach
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Wednesday, 24 October

Good Participatory Practice (GPP) Online Training Course: Evaluations and progress over four years
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Planning for Dapivirine Ring Introduction: Summarizing Lessons Learned from Like-Product Experiences
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Risk Assessment Tools and the Identification of Individuals at High-Risk of HIV infection in the Delivery of Oral PrEP
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Should Good Participatory Practice (GPP) Become a Trial Standard? A Report from the First Global GPP Think Tank
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Civil Society Role in HIV Vaccine Research: A Report from the Vaccine Advocacy Resource Group (VARG)
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

HIV Prevention Research & Development Funding Trends 2016-2017: Investing to End the Epidemic as a Public Health Threat
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Delivering PrEP: Lessons From Early Demonstration Projects
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Understanding HIV prevention from the perspective of adolescent girls & young women by applying behavioral economics & human centered design
Time: 17:30-19:30
Location: Poster Hall
Download the poster here.

Thursday, 25 October

Opinion 360: Meaningful Engagement From Research to Roll Out (oral abstract)
Session chaired by AVAC’s Manju Chatani-Gada and IAVI’s Kundai Chinyenze
Time: 8:30-10:00
Location: Oxford

Putting It Together: Strategies to End the Epidemic (closing plenary)
Implementing a Multi-disciplinary Prevention Revolution
Time: 15:00-16:30
Location: Auditorium

Advocates’ Corner

The Advocates’ Corner is a space where delegates representing community, advocacy, civil society and allies can exchange ideas, network, build solidarity, relax and socialize. View the Advocates’ Corner schedule.

In addition to the material displays and opportunities for informal networking, the Advocates’ Corner played host to a program of activities including tea breaks and lunchtime discussions with advocates, researchers and policy makers on a variety of scientific and community issues. Sessions included a series of dialogues to discuss key issues in the field, discussions with researchers about trials and new data, networking for advocates, social media training and more.

scene from the Advocates’ Corner