Tuesday 25th May 2010
The CAPRISA 004 study results will be released at the International AIDS Society conference, Vienna. The results of the study will demonstrate the direction in HIV prevention within the years to come.
The Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research Community Advocacy was awarded to Charles Saggy.
The venue of M2O12 is Sydney, Australia with suggested dates in April.
Closing remarks from the conference:
‘Determination, focus, resourcefulness, dedication, community support can make the impossible…possible’
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Special Session, Bridging to the Future
Monday 24th May 2010
The Microbicide Development Strategy
The Alliance for Microbicides Development launched a report entitled ‘Microbicides: Ways Forward’. The report attempts to look at the pipeline of new prevention technologies during the last year and priorities for this year. It suggests nine priority areas that the field should be working towards.
Key Points
Acceleration in efforts to develop a range of options for HIV prevention from 1994 to 2010 (to date 70 preclinical and 7 clinical trials)
The Nine priority areas of work include the following:
• Advancement of Lead Products
• Optimisation of Clinical Trial Design and Management
• Building strategically on Behavioural and Social Science Research
• Coordinating Function
• Regulation
• Donor Engagement and Education
• Costs
• Advocacy and Civil Society Engagement
• Evaluating Progress
The CHAARM Programme
The CHAARM Programme stands for ‘Combined Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Microbicides’. The programme is funded by the European Commission and aims to develop existing and new microbicides with focus on new combinations. The programme received the funding on 1st January 2010 and will end 31st December 2010, in total 17 million Euros. It will focus on the following:
• Investigate the potential of protease inhibitors and protease inhibitors as microbicides.
• Develop small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and integrase.
• Develop small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 fusion and further development of novel proteins.
The programme is a collaboration of researchers from different universities, institutions and research sites from all over the world.
The joy of Tech
Within the field on HIV prevention, advocates and researchers have been looking at innovative ways of communicating information to the public. The joy of tech focused on different approaches of messaging, emphasising the need to be smart and strategic especially with funding.
Key Points
• Use different ways to maximise communication
• List serves
• Teleconference calls
• Reports
• Web based learning (webinars)
• Blog/feed
• Face book/ Twitter
• Flicker
Grassroots to Government
This session focused on the role of community advocates in mobilising government support for Microbicide and prevention research with case studies from South Africa and Kenya. It emphasised that grassroots communities are important and should be involved in broader prevention dialogue with governments as they need to support research, demand from communities is important and understanding communities is essential during relevant research agendas. The speaker also urged that grassroots communities should be engaging with existing political structures, capacity building and technical assistance where needed and should build partnerships with government officials. In conclusion communities can and do influence national policy, governments are receptive to community input and resourcing certain skills and being strategic is important.
The Microbicide Development Strategy
The Alliance for Microbicides Development launched a report entitled ‘Microbicides: Ways Forward’. The report attempts to look at the pipeline of new prevention technologies during the last year and priorities for this year. It suggests nine priority areas that the field should be working towards.
Key Points
Acceleration in efforts to develop a range of options for HIV prevention from 1994 to 2010 (to date 70 preclinical and 7 clinical trials)
The Nine priority areas of work include the following:
• Advancement of Lead Products
• Optimisation of Clinical Trial Design and Management
• Building strategically on Behavioural and Social Science Research
• Coordinating Function
• Regulation
• Donor Engagement and Education
• Costs
• Advocacy and Civil Society Engagement
• Evaluating Progress
The CHAARM Programme
The CHAARM Programme stands for ‘Combined Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Microbicides’. The programme is funded by the European Commission and aims to develop existing and new microbicides with focus on new combinations. The programme received the funding on 1st January 2010 and will end 31st December 2010, in total 17 million Euros. It will focus on the following:
• Investigate the potential of protease inhibitors and protease inhibitors as microbicides.
• Develop small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and integrase.
• Develop small molecule inhibitors of HIV-1 fusion and further development of novel proteins.
The programme is a collaboration of researchers from different universities, institutions and research sites from all over the world.
The joy of Tech
Within the field on HIV prevention, advocates and researchers have been looking at innovative ways of communicating information to the public. The joy of tech focused on different approaches of messaging, emphasising the need to be smart and strategic especially with funding.
Key Points
• Use different ways to maximise communication
• List serves
• Teleconference calls
• Reports
• Web based learning (webinars)
• Blog/feed
• Face book/ Twitter
• Flicker
Grassroots to Government
This session focused on the role of community advocates in mobilising government support for Microbicide and prevention research with case studies from South Africa and Kenya. It emphasised that grassroots communities are important and should be involved in broader prevention dialogue with governments as they need to support research, demand from communities is important and understanding communities is essential during relevant research agendas. The speaker also urged that grassroots communities should be engaging with existing political structures, capacity building and technical assistance where needed and should build partnerships with government officials. In conclusion communities can and do influence national policy, governments are receptive to community input and resourcing certain skills and being strategic is important.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
State of the ART for Microbicides
The plenary session was by Professor Robin Stattock from St George’s University. He spoke about the field moving towards ARV targeted microbicides, roll out of treatment, universal access to treatment and how achievable it is, and the globally recession on HIV prevention. With regards to funding he discussed that research on new prevention options will need to be prioritised which will include working towards a more comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS.
Key points
• First generation microbicides successful but lack potency
• More systematic testing
• More studies on drug distribution
• Prioritise and accelerate efficacy testing
• Prioritising new formulations to maximise adherence
• Development of combination products
HIV Prevention: Taking it to the Streets
The session was facilitated by Nono Eland from TAC who spoke about giving power to the people. She emphasised that treatment and prevention have to work together and not separately.
Key Point
• Access to treatment
• Importance of community and social mobilisation
• Empowering community members
• People driven / People centred approach to prevention
• Ownership and building confidence on success gained
• Trial participants should be involved in dialogue with scientists
• Community advocates must educate scientists on context and challenges
• Building allies and sustaining research advocacy
• Better research and better deliverables
• Combined strategies (e.g. gender, economics etc)
She closed the session with the following, I quote ‘Activism without scientists is nothing; scientist without activism will not go far. We need to collaborate and use evidence-based research’.
Oral Abstracts: Identifying Participants for HIV Prevention Trials
Different presentations looking at participants’ willingness for HIV prevention trials. The presentations were from studies conducted in the US, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Key Approaches for Recruitment and Retention
• Education
• Building Capacity (training)
• Involvement of men in training sessions and workshops
• Different strategies to address men
• Community mobilisation
• Recruitment and Retention (use of peer-educators, print media, market places, clinics, sport centres)
• Monitoring & Evaluation
Assessment Tools
• Community Activity Log
• Prescreening forms
• Review Meeting and reports
Challenges
• HIV Testing
• Stigma and Discrimination
• Partners not allowing potential participants
• Fear of losing partners- trial discovery
• Issues of disclosure
In all the different studies is showed that participants were willing to participate in trials, more involvement of men in training workshops and different use of recruitment strategies. The different studies showed that participants were recruited in different ways for example in the US recruitment mainly through the internet, whilst in Africa more fliers, door to door and advertising in market place. In designing different trials the social and cultural norms need to be considered, need to explore factors of willingness, language barriers, situational analysis and cultural appropriateness.
Mini-Symposia: For Whom and How? Partnerships in Prevention
The sessions discussed developing models of HIV prevention advocacy, creating partnerships with the community and community research literacy.
Key Points
• Build partnerships which are strategic and long-lasting
• Collaborate with different organisations
• Be strategic, resourceful and think critically
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Use different communication tools and activities
• Connect with broader issues
• Community development
• Empower community members with research knowledge
• Provide community members with relevant information to make informed decisions
• Address myths and misconceptions
• Liaise with political leader
Oral Abstracts: Adherence in Microbicides Trials
Researchers from different institutions presented their studies on adherence and measurement.
Measures of adherence
• Dye Test
• Self Reports
• Wisebag
• ACASI
• Stimulated Applicator test
M2010 Advocates Corner
The advocates corner is an interactive space for community members, scientists, civil society members to dialogue, exchange ideas, relax and socialise. The following events have been held:
• Presentation of the Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research and Community Advocacy.
• Launch of IRMA new report from Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicides Research and Advocacy.
Key points
• First generation microbicides successful but lack potency
• More systematic testing
• More studies on drug distribution
• Prioritise and accelerate efficacy testing
• Prioritising new formulations to maximise adherence
• Development of combination products
HIV Prevention: Taking it to the Streets
The session was facilitated by Nono Eland from TAC who spoke about giving power to the people. She emphasised that treatment and prevention have to work together and not separately.
Key Point
• Access to treatment
• Importance of community and social mobilisation
• Empowering community members
• People driven / People centred approach to prevention
• Ownership and building confidence on success gained
• Trial participants should be involved in dialogue with scientists
• Community advocates must educate scientists on context and challenges
• Building allies and sustaining research advocacy
• Better research and better deliverables
• Combined strategies (e.g. gender, economics etc)
She closed the session with the following, I quote ‘Activism without scientists is nothing; scientist without activism will not go far. We need to collaborate and use evidence-based research’.
Oral Abstracts: Identifying Participants for HIV Prevention Trials
Different presentations looking at participants’ willingness for HIV prevention trials. The presentations were from studies conducted in the US, Kenya and Zimbabwe.
Key Approaches for Recruitment and Retention
• Education
• Building Capacity (training)
• Involvement of men in training sessions and workshops
• Different strategies to address men
• Community mobilisation
• Recruitment and Retention (use of peer-educators, print media, market places, clinics, sport centres)
• Monitoring & Evaluation
Assessment Tools
• Community Activity Log
• Prescreening forms
• Review Meeting and reports
Challenges
• HIV Testing
• Stigma and Discrimination
• Partners not allowing potential participants
• Fear of losing partners- trial discovery
• Issues of disclosure
In all the different studies is showed that participants were willing to participate in trials, more involvement of men in training workshops and different use of recruitment strategies. The different studies showed that participants were recruited in different ways for example in the US recruitment mainly through the internet, whilst in Africa more fliers, door to door and advertising in market place. In designing different trials the social and cultural norms need to be considered, need to explore factors of willingness, language barriers, situational analysis and cultural appropriateness.
Mini-Symposia: For Whom and How? Partnerships in Prevention
The sessions discussed developing models of HIV prevention advocacy, creating partnerships with the community and community research literacy.
Key Points
• Build partnerships which are strategic and long-lasting
• Collaborate with different organisations
• Be strategic, resourceful and think critically
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Use different communication tools and activities
• Connect with broader issues
• Community development
• Empower community members with research knowledge
• Provide community members with relevant information to make informed decisions
• Address myths and misconceptions
• Liaise with political leader
Oral Abstracts: Adherence in Microbicides Trials
Researchers from different institutions presented their studies on adherence and measurement.
Measures of adherence
• Dye Test
• Self Reports
• Wisebag
• ACASI
• Stimulated Applicator test
M2010 Advocates Corner
The advocates corner is an interactive space for community members, scientists, civil society members to dialogue, exchange ideas, relax and socialise. The following events have been held:
• Presentation of the Omololu Falobi Award for Excellence in HIV Prevention Research and Community Advocacy.
• Launch of IRMA new report from Promise to Product: Advancing Rectal Microbicides Research and Advocacy.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
2010 International Microbicides Conference (M2010)
The M2010 conference entitled ‘Microbicides: Building Bridges in HIV Prevention’ will be held from the 22-25 May 2010, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The aim of the conference is to highlight recent developments, challenges and experience of advocates and scientists within the field. The conference will also focus on the increased collaboration between basic, clinical and behavioural scientists in bridging the gap between community and advocacy groups involved in HIV prevention.
The African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) will be represented by Mariama Kamara, the Office manager.
At the conference, the poster below entitled, ‘Leading the Way: Faith Leaders Talk Microbicides’ will be presented. This describes the work of the UK African Microbicides Working Group, coordinated by the AHPN with faith leaders. It illustrates the important role that faith leaders play within African communities and their increased involvement in HIV prevention.
The African HIV Policy Network (AHPN) will be represented by Mariama Kamara, the Office manager.
At the conference, the poster below entitled, ‘Leading the Way: Faith Leaders Talk Microbicides’ will be presented. This describes the work of the UK African Microbicides Working Group, coordinated by the AHPN with faith leaders. It illustrates the important role that faith leaders play within African communities and their increased involvement in HIV prevention.
To read more about this conference, click here.
For you from Austria: Coming soon
this will be written by our colleagues attending the XVIII International AIDS Conference 2010 in Vienna, July 18th-23rd.
For you from Mexico:
It was written by colleagues that attended the XVII International AIDS Conference 2008 in Mexico, August 3rd -8th.
To learn more about the AHPN, click here.
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