Friday, April 26, 2024
17:00 – 18:30 | Special Session Basic Sciences |
17:00 – 18:30 | Special Session Social Sciences |
Saturday, April 27, 2024
17:00 – 18:30 | Special Session Clinical Sciences |
17:00 – 18:15 | Special Session Epidemiology and Public Health Sciences |
BASIC SCIENCES
Title: Modeling HIV in vivo: new frontiers with HIV model systems across species
Description:
This session will highlight emerging model systems to study HIV infection, spanning mouse models, non-human primates, and post-mortem analyses on PLWH. Three short talks will emphasize what advantages these alternative model systems can offer for studying HIV infection in vivo, including new knowledge recently generated with these approaches.
Learning Objectives:
- Highlight emerging model systems to study HIV infection, spanning mouse models, non-human primates, and post-mortem analyses on PLWH
- Examine the advantages these alternative model systems can offer for studying HIV infection in vivo
- Discuss new knowledge recently generated with these approaches
Moderator:
Dr. Jimmy Dikeakos and Dr. Christina Guzzo
Panelists:
Dr. Kerry Lavender (University of Saskatchewan)
Dr. Thomas Murooka (University of Manitoba)
Dr. Amy Gillgrass (McMaster University)
Dr. Nicolas Chomont (University de Montréal)
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Title: Not losing sight of our common goal: maintaining HIV urgency in the face of emergent public health crises
Description: The development of biomedical innovations over the past two decades has improved the quality of life for people living with, and affected by, HIV. As health outcomes improved for some populations, public attention and resources have shifted to other emerging health crises. And yet, high infection rates and barriers to quality care persist for some of Canada’s most vulnerable populations. Furthermore, Canada’s response to COVID-19 demonstrated that new epidemics can upend care cascades for people living with HIV (PLWH). This session engages a collective of researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to articulate the stakes of dedicated and sustainable resources to the study and treatment of HIV amid new outbreaks.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss challenges to current HIV programming and funding programs which are increasing in scope to consider intersecting public health crises
- Explore barriers to care for people living with and affected by HIV during new and ongoing health crises (e.g., mpox, COVID-19, etc)
- Propose strategies for providing timely and sustainable HIV care during concurrent epidemics
Moderator:
Martin McIntosh, Executive Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC)
Panelists:
Dr. Robert Hogg, Professor, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Notisha Massaquoi, Assistant Professor, University of Toronto Scarborough Campus
Renee Masching, Indigenous Community-based Researcher, Seven Directions Consulting
Jody Jollimore, Executive Director, CATIE
Dr. Kristen Kindrachuk, Project Manager – Research Initiatives, Canadian Institutes of Health Research
CLINICAL SCIENCES
Title: Anal Cancer Screening and Management: Considerations following the release of new international guidelines
Description: People living with HIV have a 20-90-fold greater risk for anal cancer than the general population. In January 2024, new clinical recommendations were released from the International Anal Neoplasia Society recommending screening for anal precancer for high-risk populations including people living with HIV who are middle-aged and older. Existing clinical guidelines also recommend annual Digital Rectal Anal Examination (DARE) for people living with HIV. Although the practice of anal screening is already in place in some clinical settings, particularly for sexual minority men living with HIV, most settings have not yet implemented anal screening for all people living with HIV. This 90-minute session will present the new guidelines and clinical considerations for their application in anal screening among people living with HIV, from the initial screening offer to treatment of identified disease.
Specific topics will include:
- Epidemiology of anal cancer risk among people living with HIV
- Recommendations for who, when, and how to screen
- Confirmatory testing with high resolution anoscopy
- Treatment options for anal pre-cancer and cancers
- Considerations for equitable implementation of screening
Learning Objectives:
- Review new clinical recommendations for anal precancer screening for people living with HIV
- Examine treatment and management options for those diagnosed with anal precancer and cancers
- Consider implementation barriers and facilitators among people living with HIV and their providers
Moderators:
Dr. Ann Burchell, Canada Research Chair in Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention, Scientist, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto, Associate Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Dr. Troy Grennan, Physician Lead, HIV/STI Program, BC Centre for Disease Control, Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UBC
Panelists:
Dr. Alexandra Easson, Surgical Oncologist and Clinician Investigator, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
Dr. Apondi Odhiambo, Postdoctoral Fellow, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES
Title: Race-based data: challenges and opportunities for HIV research, policy, and practice
Description: Race-based data provides an opportunity to identify and understand disparities in HIV care and outcomes that stem from Canada’s history of colonialism and continued systemic and structural inequities. However, there are challenges with collecting and using race-based data.
This session will cover the current availability of race-based data for HIV programs in Canada, the legislation around race-based data, why it is important, how it is used, and the challenges in collecting it. Panelists will include researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the role of race-based data in HIV control and how it contributes evidence-based for effective, self-determined policies, programs, and services
- Identify racialized groups in Canada and the challenges in categorizing race
- Explore the challenges and opportunities in collecting race-based data
- Consider strategies to improve the completeness, interpretation, and contextualization of race-based data
Moderator:
Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw, McMaster University
Panelists:
Dr Notisha Massaquoi, University of Toronto
Dr. Hugues Loemba, University of Ottawa
Dr. Abigail Kroch, Ontario HIV Treatment Network
Renee Masching, Seven Directions Consulting