July 14, 2021
IAS 2021 is around the corner! This year’s virtual event covering advances in HIV research runs from Sunday, July 18 to Wednesday, July 21. AVAC will be tracking the landscape of prevention research to explain, frame, connect and contextualize what’s new, what’s next and what it all means for advocacy.
Below we’ve gathered some resources and highlights so you won’t miss a thing!
Resources
- Use AVAC’s Prevention Roadmap to find sessions where prevention is in the spotlight. You can download it as a sortable spreadsheet or pdf.
- AVAC’s Research Literacy Zone takes the conversation deeper with advocates and researchers exploring timely topics including: updates on rolling out the Dapivirine Vaginal Ring, updates on recent results and new trials, advances in vaccine and cure research and new approaches to understanding social factors that impact health. See the full schedule here.
- To follow events in real time, AVAC will offer comments and updates on Twitter, and our friends at NAM/AIDSMAP who will be reporting throughout the conference. Join the conversation using the conference hashtag, #IAS2021.
Satellites, sessions and panels featuring AVAC and partners
Sunday, July 18
Symposium – Pivoting HIV prevention during a parallel pandemic
Ch. 4 14:00-14:50 CEST / 8:00-8:50 EDT
This session explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted HIV prevention services and some of the positive changes to how services are managed. Co-moderated by AVAC’s Micheal Ighodaro and Loice OMBAJO, University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Monday, July 19
Satellite – Paving the road for new PrEP products: The promise of differentiated, simplified, and decentralized delivery to maximize the potential of emerging PrEP products
Ch. 2 08:30-09:30 CEST / 2:30-3:30 EDT
PrEP uptake has increased over 100 percent since 2019, largely due to efforts to innovate and adapt PrEP delivery. The next generation of PrEP must learn from these experiences. Implementers, advocates and researchers discuss these models and others to scale up all forms of PrEP to reach those who need it. Chaired by AVAC’s Jessica Rodrigues, Anna Grimsrud of the International AIDS Society, Davina Canagasabey and Kim Green of PATH. Download the flyer.
Symposium – What is missing in the HIV response? Strengthening HIV programmes for trans populations in the Global South (CME)
Ch. 3 11:00-11:50 CEST / 5:00-5:50 EDT
There’s a serious dearth of information on health outcomes for trans populations in much of the world. Without this information how can HIV programmes effective? Join this session for a dialogue among academics, HIV service providers and trans community members on where research must expand and to engage the trans community in the development of this research agenda.
Symposium – Build it: But will they come? Prevention efficacy versus population effectiveness
Ch. 3 14:00-15:50 CEST / 8:00-9:50 EDT
Community uptake is crucial for the success of prevention interventions. This session will discuss how the field can better prepare for the delivery of effective prevention interventions and how communities can contribute to ensuring their success. Co-moderated by AVAC’s Manju Chatani-Gada and Moses R. Kamya of Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Satellite – Bringing the Dual Prevention Pill to Market: Opportunities for HIV and Pregnancy Prevention and Implications for Future Multipurpose Prevention Technologies
Ch. 1 21:00-22:30 CEST / 15:00-16:30 EDT
The Dual Prevention Pill (DPP), a tablet containing oral PrEP and combined oral contraceptive, is likely to be the first MPT with PrEP to go to market. This combination, preventing both pregnancy and HIV, may transform challenges related to stigma that women face taking PrEP alone. Using the DPP as a case study, this session will highlight practical considerations for future MPTs such as: What are best practices with end users and providers? How do different financing sources for family planning and HIV shape next steps? What approaches can be used to estimate impact?
Tuesday July 20
Satellite – An HIV vaccine: who needs it?
Ch. 3 19:00-20:30 CEST / 13:00-14:30 EDT
The response to the HIV epidemic, now in its fourth decade, has marked tremendous progress in developing effective treatments and prevention options, but the challenge of developing a safe and effective HIV vaccine persists. Co-sponsored by the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise at IAS and UNAIDS, this satellite offers. A panel discussion, including AVAC’s Daisy Ouya and others, will explore critical questions that will come when an HIV vaccine is discovered, such as who should be immunized, what will be the benefits, the costs, and who will pay?
Access these resources, conference highlights and more at AVAC’s dedicated IAS 2021 event page. And watch this space for further updates. Hope to see you in the virtual halls!