HIV research conferences provide opportunities for disseminating research outcomes and hearing updates on the latest science. TREAT Asia and its network investigators play important roles in representing the Asia-Pacific region at these gatherings, and help to ensure that study data on Asian patients are reported to global audiences.
APACC – Hong Kong, June 1−3, 2017
The Asia Pacific AIDS & Co-infections Conference (APACC) is a new and emerging regional-level HIV research conference, which was held for the second time in June in Hong Kong. APACC provides opportunities for local clinicians, students, and researchers to submit abstracts for presentation. It emphasizes developing local clinical and research capacity, and has created a platform for individuals who may not attend international HIV and hepatitis conferences outside of Asia.
This year’s co-chairs included TREAT Asia Director Dr. Annette Sohn and current and former TREAT Asia network investigators Dr. Patrick Chung-Ki Li, formerly of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong SAR, and Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Malaya. “APACC 2017 was extremely successful, with almost 500 people registered,” said Dr. Kamarulzaman. “The presentations and workshops addressed some of the most pressing HIV issues in the region, and gave us context to press forward to solve both scientific and sociological challenges in our response to HIV and co-infections. It was also heartening to see the increased research activities and capacity taking place in the region. ”
Group photo from APACC 2017, Hong Kong SAR (click to enlarge)
Other TREAT Asia investigators who helped implement the conference included Dr. David Cooper from the Kirby Institute in Australia, Dr. Man-Po Lee of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Dr. Fujie Zhang of Beijing Ditan Hospital in China, Dr. Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy of YRG CARE Medical Centre and Dr. Sanjay Pujari of the Institute for Infectious Diseases in India, Dr. Evy Yunihastuti of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Indonesia, Dr. Shinichi Oka of the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Japan, Dr. Reena Rajasuriar from the University of Malaya in Malaysia, Dr. Rossana Ditangco of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in the Philippines, Dr. Jun Yong Choi of Severance Hospital at Yonsei University in South Korea, and Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre and Dr. Somnuek Sungkanuparph from Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University in Thailand. Other network investigators and regional partners are also on the conference’s organizing and scientific planning committees.
A key feature of the program is that travel scholarships are available for junior investigators and abstract presenters to attend. APACC is organized by Virology Education, and will take place again in Hong Kong in June 2018.
IAS Science – Paris, July 23−26, 2017
The International AIDS Society (IAS) organizes the largest HIV/AIDS research conferences in the world, alternating a science-focused conference with a world AIDS conference. In July, the 9th International AIDS Conference on HIV Science (IAS Science 2017) will take place in Paris. More than 6,000 people will attend this year to discuss the latest research in the field, and seek to translate clinical, prevention, and implementation science data into practice and policy.
Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre researcher and TREAT Asia grantee, speaks at AIDS 2016 in Durban, South Africa, July 2016TREAT Asia network investigators will be representing the region in this global effort. Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre is on the epidemiology and prevention research planning committee, and Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman of the University of Malaya is on the implementation research planning committee. In addition, Dr. Kamarulzaman, Dr. Anchalee Avihingsanon of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, and TREAT Asia Director Dr. Annette Sohn will co-chair various sessions and facilitate workshops.
“The IAS conferences are critical opportunities to put the spotlight on research and innovative projects to improve HIV care delivery that are being implemented across low- and middle-income countries,” says Dr. Sohn.
Abstract presentations at IAS 2017 from the TREAT Asia program and grantees:
Mr. Tarandeep Anand, Purple Haze, Thailand: Comparison of HIV risks and HIV prevalence between poppers, amphetamine-type substance (ATS) and polydrug-using Thai men who have sex with men and transgender women
Dr. Linda Aurpibul, Chiang Mai University, Thailand: High risk of liver fibrosis among HIV-infected youth with chronic viral hepatitis B coinfection despite receiving tenofovir-containing antiretroviral regimen
Ms. Rimke Bijker, Kirby Institute, Australia: Increasing cardiovascular disease incidence in HIV-positive adults in Asia: projections for 2017-2018
Dr. Monica Gandhi, University of California, San Francisco, USA: Lopinavir hair concentrations predict viremic episodes in HIV-infected Asian children and adolescents on second-line ART
Dr. Awachana Jiamsakul, Kirby Institute, Australia: Missed clinic visits in the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database (TAHOD)
Dr. Sirintip Sricharoenchai, Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, Thailand: High-risk vaccine-specific HPV infection in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected, vaccine naïve Asian female adolescents
Ms. Sirinya Teeraananchai, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center, Thailand: Viral resuppression and persistent failure after viremia on second-line antiretroviral treatment among Asian children and adolescents