Over 120 adult and pediatric network investigators and TREAT Asia and amfAR staff gathered for the 18th TREAT Asia Network Annual Meeting October 25–26, in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting provided opportunities for network investigators to collectively review HIV research accomplishments, and to plan for future studies in the context of continued challenges to regional HIV responses.
Over the past year, the network implemented 16 adult, pediatric, and adolescent research studies addressing HIV clinical and treatment outcomes, drug resistance, coinfections, comorbidities, and cancer. The network also developed or contributed data to 29 abstracts and 21 publications, including a number of IeDEA global analyses.
Dr. Yu-Jiun Chan, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Dr. Jeremy Ross, TREAT Asia
On the first day of the meeting, investigators and study coordinators from 13 countries focused on the network’s adult HIV research activities. Updates included plans for completing studies on resistance to 2nd-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), cardiovascular disease management practices, and pregnancy outcomes. New studies were proposed on the viral hepatitis cascade of care, liver cancer, and stigma and depression among adults living with HIV in Asia. Additional research priorities included treatment outcomes and adverse events associated with newer HIV treatments, and CD4 monitoring and HIV viral load monitoring trends.
(Left to right) Dr. Thanyawee Puthanakit, Chulalongkorn University; Dr. Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University; Dr. Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy, YRGCARE Medical Centre, Voluntary Health Services (VHS) Hospital; Dr. Wanatpreeya Pongsamart, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University; and Dr. Wipaporn Songtaweesin, Chulalongkorn University
The second day was spent working with pediatric and adolescent HIV investigators and study coordinators from seven countries. There were updates on ongoing studies of the transition of adolescents to adult HIV care services, human papilloma virus prevalence and persistence, and depression and anxiety screening outcomes. As fewer children become infected due to prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs and adolescents age out of pediatric care programs, priorities for the research network will continue to shift to supporting older youth and studying longer-term treatment outcomes.
Biostatisticians from the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Australia, provided support to both adult and pediatric site research coordinators to enhance data collection and management processes for research studies.
View additional photos of the meeting below.
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