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Current Registration Figures Suggest That Record Numbers of Delegates Will Benefit From High
Quality Science Programme
14 April, 2011 (Geneva, Switzerland) - The 6th IAS Conference
on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) will examine basic, clinical and prevention sciences as well as operations and
implementation research. IAS 2011 will be held in Rome, Italy, from 17 -20 July, and will offer up a strong
roster of plenary speakers and a high-quality scientific programme in a robust range of topics.
The conference programme itself, and in particular the recently expanded operations and implementation
research track, is intended to emphasize how scientific advances can be translated into practical
interventions that respond to current challenges in HIV prevention, treatment and care, particularly in low
and middle-income countries. Reflecting the urgent need for the rapid translation of science into practice
in Africa, the number of presentations from the African region has increased since the 5th IAS Conference
on HIV (IAS 2009), with over 25% of accepted abstracts for IAS 2011 submitted from the region.
"By bringing the latest operational and implementation research to an international audience, IAS 2011
will advance our understanding of how to translate new research into interventions that work in real life
settings. Without this critical focus on the practicality of implementations, even the best scientific
developments are of little real value," said Elly Katabira, IAS 2011 International Chair and IAS President.
With 55% of all abstract presentations by women, and with the potential impact of important trials such as
the CAPRISA 004 tenofovir-gel microbicide trial set to be explored, IAS 2011 will also provide an exiting
opportunity for scientists to effectively and efficiently translate evidence into real-life tools to benefit
women and girls affected by HIV and AIDS, as well as other key affected populations.
Reflecting a very strict selection procedure which ensures an outstanding quality of science at the
conference, 35% of over 3,000 submitted abstracts have been chosen for presentation. "With nearly
3,300 abstracts submitted[1], the highest number ever for an IAS conference, I am confident that IAS 2011
will reveal important new information that will advance our collective work to prevent HIV and to treat and
care for HIV-infected people around the world," said Stefano Vella of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and
IAS 2011 Local Co-Chair.
Conference Programme
The Abstract-Driven Sessions will present the latest HIV research across all four conference tracks. The
basic sciences track will highlight advances in the understanding of HIV biology and transmission, viral
reservoirs, latency and persistence, immunoactivation, virus neutralization and immunity against HIV. The
clinical sciences track will highlight the latest research findings and controversies related to the diagnosis,
treatment and management of HIV infection; opportunistic infections, co-infections, other long-term complications
and co-morbidities. The prevention science track will examine advances in HIV prevention
research: epidemiology, social and behavioural aspects, best practice in HIV prevention, combination
prevention and approaches for particular groups at risk. The track on operations and implementation
research will focus on access and quality of HIV prevention, early detection, care and treatment. It will
also include cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis; diagnostics and monitoring tools; HIV
surveillance methodologies; and the synergies between HIV programmes and health care systems.
In addition to abstract-driven sessions, the conference will offer daily plenary sessions featuring
distinguished researchers, scientific leaders and clinical experts. Confirmed plenary speakers and topics
include:
• Giovanni DI PERRI, Italy, Managing HIV Treatment in 2011
• Serge EHOLIÉ, Ivory Coast, Challenges in HIV Treatment and Care in a Resource
Constrained Environment
• Susan KIPPAX, Australia, The Social Barriers to Effective HIV Prevention
• Philippa MUSOKE, Uganda, Caring for Mothers and Children: Towards the Millennium
Development Goals
• Gary NABEL, USA, The Changing Face of HIV Vaccine Research
• Peter PIOT, Belgium, The AIDS Response: The Need for a Long Term View
• Robin SHATTOCK, UK, The Combined Approach to Preventing HIV Infection
• Eric VERDIN, Belgium, Towards an HIV Cure
• Nora VOLKOW, USA, Ending HIV Transmission Among Drug Users by 2015
Workshops Offered for First Time
For the first time the IAS will offer a series of workshops as part of the official programme of the
Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. Delegates will be able to participate in 11
high-quality, targeted workshops that will promote and enhance opportunities for knowledge transfer,
skills development and collaborative learning. Workshops will cover all tracks and include several crosscutting
issues and themes, with topics including: career paths for basic scientists in low- and middleincome
countries; combating HIV stigma and discrimination in health care settings; structural approaches
to HIV prevention among sex workers; and operational research designed to scale up programmes to
prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The workshop programme is aimed at increasing the capacity of delegates to implement and advocate for
effective, evidence-based HIV/AIDS policies and interventions in their respective communities and
countries.
Register Now
Registration for IAS 2011 is nearly double that of IAS 2009 at this stage, and participants are encouraged
to register soon to avoid disappointment due to number restrictions. To register for IAS 2011 please click
here. For further information and registration fees please click here. Delegates are encouraged to register
by 5 May to avoid a last-minute fee surcharge.
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About the IAS 2011 Organizers
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent association of HIV professionals,
with over 16,000 members from more than 196 countries working at all levels of the global response to
AIDS. Our members include researchers from all disciplines, clinicians, public health and community
practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic, as well as policy and programme planners.
custodian of the biennial International AIDS Conference and lead organizer of the IAS Conference on HIV
Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, which will be held in Rome, Italy in July 2011.
www.iasociety.org | http://www.ias2011.org Follow us on Twitter @iasociety
ISS
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) is the leading technical and scientific body of the Italian National
Health Service. Its activities include research, clinical trials, and control and training in public health. It
also serves as a major national clearing-house for technical and scientific information on public health
issues. Among other things, the Institute conducts scientific research in a wide variety of fields, from
cutting-edge molecular and genetic research, to population-based studies of risk factors for disease and
disability, to Global Health research.
For more information about this release:
Sian Bowen (Geneva, Switzerland)
Senior Communications Manager, IAS
Email: Sian.Bowen@iasociety.org
Tel: +41 22 710 0864
Lindsey Rodger (Geneva, Switzerland)
Communications and Media Officer,
IAS
Email:Lindsey.Rodger@iasociety.org
Tel: +41 22 710 0822
Andrea Tomasini
IAS 2011 Local Communications Coordinator (Italy)
+39 3292634619
omasini39@hotmail.com
"Reproduced with permission - International AIDS Society"
International AIDS Society
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