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Track Scope and Objectives
The
track category is the general heading under which your abstract will be
reviewed and later published in the Conference printed matters if accepted.
Please choose the category that best describes the subject of your abstract.
TRACK A: Basic Science
The Track A (Basic Science) and Track B (Clinical Sciences) programmes focus
on one general theme: translational research. In the context of Track A,
translational research refers to basic HIV biology and pathogenesis research
that is conceptualized and implemented with an eye towards clinical
application.
The Track A programme will encompass a specific focus on research in HIV
evolution, pathogenesis, transmission, novel treatment and prevention
strategies, and vaccine development. Within Track A, the evolution of HIV,
its genetics diversity, developments within the global epidemic, evolution in
different risk groups and countries will be discussed. Track A will further
highlight novel findings in HIV pathogenesis, particularly in relation to
viral reservoirs, latency, the interactions of the virus with the immune
system, and influence of host genetics on viremia control. Advances in basic
research on the influence of opportunistic infections, TB, and coinfections
with HCV and HBV on HIV disease course and immune control will also be
addressed. Novel insights into the mechanisms of HIV transmission will be
presented and discussed with respect to their impact on current and future
prevention and treatment strategies. Advances in drug, microbicide and
vaccine development will be highlighted. Emphasis will be given to new
technologies in these areas, as well as to new diagnostic tools for the
immunological and virological monitoring of HIV infection.
Track A committee
TRACK B: Clinical Sciences
Sustaining the long-term goals of providing HIV treatment and therapeutic
prevention is an important focus of this track.
It will highlight the latest research findings, complexities and
controversies related to: the natural history, diagnosis and management of
HIV infection; antiretroviral therapy and immunotherapy; the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections and co-infections,
including TB, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections; and other
co-morbidities. Issues for discussion related to antiretroviral therapy will
include new drug therapies, the impact of therapies on HIV reservoirs,
pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, adherence to treatment, treatment
simplification and drug resistance, as well as short- and long-term adverse
events, including cardiovascular, renal and hepatic complications and
non-AIDS malignancies. Approaches to treatment, care and support in specific
populations – including men who have sex with men, infants and children,
adolescents, women (including prevention of mother-to-child transmission),
the ageing population, and marginalized groups, such as people who use drugs
– will be addressed, as will innovations related to the provision of HIV care
in resource-limited settings.
The application of basic research findings to HIV treatment and care is
important as it fosters further basic sciences research. This important
synergy between basic and clinical sciences research will be explored
Track B committee
Track C: Epidemiology and
Prevention Sciences
This track will focus on the dynamics of the HIV epidemic, and the design,
implementation and evaluation of the impact of HIV prevention interventions
and programmes. Sessions in this track will encompass the full continuum of
epidemiological and biomedical prevention sciences.
Approaches to accelerate efforts to reduce new HIV infections will be the
main focus of this track. This will include methods to assess HIV
transmission dynamics and to better understand and track epidemics and their
impact. New insights into determinants of acquisition and transmission of HIV
will be highlighted, including the role of other sexually transmitted
infections and co-infections.
Of particular interest are new HIV testing and diagnostic strategies. This
track will also address the surveillance of antiretroviral drug resistance.
The combination of prevention and treatment of HIV, as well as co-morbidities
focusing on special populations – in particular people who inject drugs, men who
have sex with men, people who sell sex, and prisoners – will also be
addressed in this track. Studies around HIV transmission in serodiscordant
couples and youth will be presented. Progress in prevention of
mother-to-child transmission will be highlighted. The results from studies on
new prevention technologies such as microbicides and use of antiretrovirals
for prevention, as well as AIDS vaccines and their potential contribution to
other prevention efforts, will be presented.
Track C committee
Track D: Social and Behavioural
Sciences
Track D invites submissions utilizing social and behavioural sciences
–especially anthropology, psychology and sociology – to increase understanding
and support for effective action and to lessen HIV risk, vulnerability and
impact.
The track aims to: build bridges between affected communities, scientists,
and service providers; create new generalizable knowledge; and address gaps
in the translation of behavioural and social science evidence into practice.
It also aims to contribute to the building of theory and understanding in
HIV-related social science.
Track D also aims to promote understanding of the individual and social
determinants of HIV-related risk, vulnerability and impact, to inform
development of effective and sustainable HIV responses.
Finally, Track D promotes scientific debate and consensus on the methods and
resources available and necessary to document, design, and evaluate social,
behavioural and structural programmes for prevention of HIV and other
sexually transmitted infections (STI), including evaluation methodologies
(e.g. ‘good enough evaluation'), participatory methods, outcome measures
(e.g. quality of life, changed social norms, empowerment, social
mobilization), and methods for building capacity in the social and
behavioural sciences.
To achieve these objectives, Track D will feature research, analysis and
evaluation on:
- psychosocial factors that shape individual attitudes,
experiences, and behaviours across the life cycle, including healthy and
pleasurable sexuality, risk perception, risk taking, and risk
compensation; and those that shape HIV-related developmental and
mental-health issues;
- social and structural factors that shape
vulnerability and risk, including family systems, community and social
capital;
- social and cultural norms that underlie individual
risk and community vulnerability, including HIV-related stigma, multiple
stigma, and discrimination (e.g. towards people who inject drugs, men
having sex with men, migrants, sex workers);
- socially and culturally constructed differences and
inequalities of age, gender, geography, disability, sexuality,
heritage/ethnicity and other variables;
- programmes that promote access to HIV/STI prevention,
treatment, care and support, as well as strategies to enhance demand for
effective and comprehensive HIV programs;
- methods and outcomes of individual and community
engagement, leadership, empowerment, and self-determination.
Track D committee
Track E: Economics, Operations
Research, Care and Health Systems
This track will examine how HIV programmes affect non-HIV outcomes, global
health indicators, health systems functioning and financing, as well as
economic growth and human development. It will also explore how resources are
allocated to and within the fight against the epidemic. There will be a
particular interest in human resource issues, including task shifting. In
addition, the effect of health systems status on the design, implementation
and effectiveness of HIV programmes will be addressed.
Track E will also evaluate the impact of HIV prevention, care and treatment
programme scale-up and implementation. Operations research related to
effectiveness of interventions, as well as research on improving resource
allocation for HIV prevention and care, will be addressed. Additional
research on the effectiveness of community structures and community
involvement will be explored, including the role of such organizations in
health systems strengthening.
Costing and cost-effectiveness analyses will be a focal point of this track.
This includes:
- Assessments of optimizing diagnostics and monitoring
tools;
- Improving monitoring of HIV outcomes and its major
complications;
- Improving management of health care systems; and
- Programmes oriented toward improvement of human,
community, and institutional capacity.
Emphasis will be given to outcome
evaluation and modeling of the effect of HIV-related programmes at national,
regional and local level, as well as their impact on and integration with
other health services, including models of programme delivery and scale-up.
Track E committee
Track F: Policy, Law, Human Rights
and Political Science
This track invites contributions from a wide diversity of approaches, including
interdisciplinary approaches, which describe progress, challenges, gaps and
successes in the area of policy formulation and implementation, development
of appropriate legal frameworks and politics. Sessions will focus on concrete
examples of human rights programming and analysis of HIV interventions within
a human rights framework, with special reference to substance abuse,
incarceration, sex work, sexual minorities, ethnic minorities, migrants and
gender. In addition, analyses of the impact of legal and political frameworks
on HIV prevention, treatment, care and support will be addressed.
This track invites submissions on:
- Comprehensive evaluations of policies, laws and
programmes that have successfully applied a human rights-based approach;
- Documentation and critical analysis of advocacy,
including the meaningful participation of people living with HIV and
most affected communities, and its impact on legislative, policy and
programme development, governance and socio-political development;
- Evaluation of the impact of international commitments
and policy guidance on national/regional policy formulation and
implementation and its impact on the HIV epidemic;
- Methodologies for measuring policy indicators to
ensure accountability for commitments made at national, regional and
international levels;
- Critical analyses of global trade policy and patent
legislation and their impact on HIV programmes; and
- Exploration of the ethical dimensions of biomedical
research, HIV testing, and implementation of existing prevention and
treatment technologies.
Track F committee
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