New Science, New Directions in HIV and Hepatitis C

We are at a pivotal point in our response to HIV, one which is filled with tremendous optimism. In recent years there has been a rapid acceleration of research findings in HIV prevention, transmission, testing and treatment. During the 2012 World AIDS conference, world leaders began to speak of the possibility of an "AIDS-free generation". However, translating this knowledge into reduced infections and improved quality of life is challenging because new research is fundamentally changing our understanding of HIV treatment and prevention. One of the most significant recent research developments is "treatment as prevention", which was named "Breakthrough of 2011" by Science. As a result of this research, it has become necessary to rethink how prevention and treatment work together in our front-line response. As HIV treatment and prevention have converged, attention is also turning to how well we are engaging people living with and at risk of HIV in the continuum of services, including prevention, testing, care and, ultimately, effective treatment. Other research developments also have the potential to inform our programming, such as how STIs increase susceptibility to both transmission and infection, and new testing technologies that have the ability to detect HIV earlier. This 2-day forum will bring together 200 stakeholders from across Canada working in research, clinical care, public health, community based work, health care systems and policy, as well as HIV positive people, to learn and talk about about new advances in research. The forum will also highlight novel programming, at both the systems and community levels, which have used emerging research to inform their development. These programs will show how new research can be used to inform and develop better programming. Webinars, in advance of the forum, will lay the foundation for the forum by establishing the research context for the even