International Workshops on HIV Pediatrics

ABSTRACT The International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics is organized on an annual basis prior to the biennially planned IAS or AIDS Conference. This workshop is the only meeting entirely devoted to research in prevention and treatment of HIV infection in infants, children, and adolescents, making it the premier forum for the world’s leading researchers. By bringing together experts from different disciplines with presentations in a variety of formats, the meeting offers a collaborative setting where the latest developments are presented, discussed, interrogated, and evaluated. The 14th Workshop will take place in Montreal, Canada and virtually, July 27-28, 2022, prior to the 24th International AIDS Conference. The program will include topics from among the following: HIV prevention in adolescents and pregnant/breastfeeding persons; prevention of vertical transmission; clinical issues in HIV- exposed uninfected children; pediatric HIV case finding; HIV treatment in infants, children, adolescents and pregnant/breastfeeding persons; clinical management and coinfections/complications for infants, children, adolescents and pregnant/breastfeeding persons; and COVID-19. Given previous success with this format, we expect the 15th and 16th editions to follow this same pattern, including similar program and schedule. The meeting format is also highly innovative. Moving from a more traditional format of plenaries and oral abstract sessions, the organizers have introduced unique approaches including structured debates, oral poster presentations, poster walks, clinical-case presentations, curated panel discussions, video presentations and a social program including a networking breakfast where junior investigators meet with senior researchers. Attendance has increased substantially in the last several years with 370 delegates in 2021; highly favorable annual evaluations underscore the Workshop’s importance. The aims of the workshop are to provide a platform for presentation and discussion of the latest developments in the field; to gather leading researchers involved in pediatric and perinatal HIV in a stimulating, interactive forum; to promote the next generation of research by supporting junior and international investigators; and to promote diversity with the inclusion of international, multiracial leadership, faculty, and scholarship recipients. The objective of this proposal is to provide support for three annual workshops including participation of key plenary speakers as well as members from the community of adolescents living with HIV infection, and to increase the number of scholarships for junior investigators and investigators from low-income countries.