The International Aids Conference
The international aids conference is one of the largest global health conferences and a unique forum for the intersection of science, advocacy and human rights. It ran from 23 to 27 July in Montreal, Canada.
A large number of sessions were streamed live online – a first for the meeting, opening up access to people who might otherwise be excluded.
Vaccines
Vaccines prevent diseases by preparing the body’s immune system to recognize and destroy germs that cause them. They are often made of dead or weakened forms of a disease-causing microorganism or one of its surface proteins. They may also contain toxins or parts of a microorganism’s toxins. Vaccines can be given by mouth or nose, by shot, or by mouthwash. They are used to prevent diseases like polio, measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox, influenza (flu), hepatitis A and B, rotavirus, human papilloma virus (HPV) and typhoid.
The International AIDS Society convenes, educates and advocates for a world free of HIV/AIDS. The Society’s scientific conferences, including the biennial AIDS Conference and HIV Research for Prevention conference, provide an essential forum for scientific exchange at the intersection of science, advocacy and human rights. CDC scientists will present over 20 studies of interest at the AIDS conference and in related sessions and activities. These “studies of interest” provide a brief overview and synthesis of CDC’s new and relevant HIV-related research.
Prevention
AIDS conference is one of the world’s largest conferences on any global health issue and a unique forum to share scientific information about HIV and to provide an opportunity for participants to discuss and debate issues related to HIV prevention, care and treatment. It’s an opportunity to move research into action and to strengthen local, national, and global efforts to prevent HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.
CHAI is focusing on primary prevention, which involves interventions to decrease the risk of acquiring a disease through reducing exposure and increasing protection (e.g., screening for hepatitis C and HIV, counseling, medical services, etc). This is a vital component of the broader Global Fund strategy.
CHAI is also participating in HIV Research for Prevention 2024, a special virtual conference that brings together the world’s leading scientists to address the challenges of biomedical prevention research (e.g., vaccines, microbicides, and treatments as prevention) with a strong focus on its social and behavioral implications.
Treatment
Despite significant progress toward HIV-related deaths being prevented, a combination of unmet commitments and structural barriers is preventing universal access to lifesaving treatment. A new impact report from CHAI highlights the progress made by our partners in Africa who are working with communities of people living with HIV to reduce these obstacles and ensure the availability of lifesaving treatment.
During the five days of this year’s conference, donors made new commitments; important research and development results were shared; and exciting innovations in testing and prevention were demonstrated. CHAI was proud to participate in these activities, and you can learn more about our time at AIDS 2022 by visiting the International AIDS Society’s daily conference summaries.
Research
Unlike other conferences, the international aids conference brings together scientists who are also activists and policymakers. This allows for cross-fertilization of ideas and a refocusing on the need to fight co-morbidities such as tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, and mental health that limit the effectiveness of HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
Delegates come away with new knowledge and connections. They can share their experiences with peers, and improve the quality of care they provide patients. They can learn about innovative approaches to combat stigma, which is often a barrier to HIV care.
In a survey, 81% of the intercept interview respondents indicated that they intended to change their work practices in one of six broad behavior change categories: programming; educating others; advocacy; and increased policy involvement. The survey sample included both researchers/scientists and hands-on clinical care providers, and a large proportion of respondents had attended 1 or more previous IACs. Working in a developing country and being a first-time attendee were significant predictors of behavior change.
