THE International AIDS Society (IAS) announced on June 10 that the Government of Canada, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), has committed almost Cdn$400,000 in funding for the 8th Biennial IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2015) that will be held in Vancouver, Canada from July 19 to 22, 2015.

This year’s conference, hosted in partnership with the University of British Columbia’s Division of AIDS, is expected to bring together more than 6,000 scientists, researchers and advocates from over 125 countries, and will focus on moving scientific advances into practice.

The combined funding from DFATD and PHAC, totalling Cdn$390,000, will support the development of a high-quality conference programme, highlighting recent critical developments in HIV science.

It will also support the International Scholarship Programme, one of the largest of its kind, which enables delegates from resource-limited nations, sectors or communities to attend the conference; and ensures equitable participation of those populations most affected by, and most directly contributing to, the response to HIV.

“We are proud to support the IAS 2015 both as a host nation and donor. This is a critical opportunity to not only bring together leaders in the global response to HIV, but also to highlight the work Canada has done in the effort to end this epidemic,” the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, said.

“Canada’s top development priority is improving maternal, newborn and child health. Sadly, children account for more than 3.2 million of the people living with HIV, and the greatest rate of new infections is occurring among adolescents, especially young women. It’s these statistics that drive us to continue our efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, whether through our support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — which has saved an estimated 8.7 million lives since its inception in 2002 — or through our current support for IAS 2015.”

The support continues Canada’s leadership in HIV, and longstanding partnership with the IAS. The 1996 Vancouver International AIDS Conference was a watershed moment in the history of the epidemic. It was there that the results of the first trials of triple antiretroviral therapy were announced, an event often looked back on as the beginning of our current era of effective HIV treatment.

“Canada has demonstrated its dedication to the fight to stop the spread of HIV time and again, and the Government of Canada is pleased to help support this important meeting,” added the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health.

“As one of the largest platforms in the world for sharing the latest research and science by some of the most prominent thinkers in the field, IAS 2015 will provide invaluable insights into the future of HIV prevention, treatment and care; and its focus on implementation ensures that what is presented at the meeting will have real world applications that can quickly be put into practice.”

ABOUT THE IAS
Founded in 1988, the International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world’s largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more than 180 countries. IAS members work on all fronts of the global response to AIDS, and include researchers, clinicians, policy and programme planners, and public health and community practitioners.

The IAS organizes the world’s two most prestigious HIV conferences, each convened biennially in alternating years. The IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention features the latest HIV science, including basic, clinical, and prevention research. It brings together a broad cross-section of HIV professionals from around the world with a focus on implementation — moving scientific advances into practice.

The International AIDS Conference is the largest conference on any global health or development issue. First convened during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, the conference continues to provide a unique forum for the intersection of science and advocacy, and an opportunity to strengthen policies and programmes to ensure an evidence-based response to the epidemic.

The next International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016) will be held in Durban, South Africa from 17th to 22nd July 2016.