9th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2017), Paris, France, 23-26 July 2017 - Project Summary - Significant scientific advances were made in the last few years that contribute to better HIV
prevention and treatment outcomes and increased cost-effectiveness but major challenges remain that could
undermine the attainment of the global goal to end AIDS as a public health threat: Better treatment and vaccines
remain an urgent challenge to address the HIV/TB epidemic. Much more is needed to effect scale up and
optimize treatment strategies in high-burden regions. Globally challenges remain in reaching ambitious targets
across the continuum of care. Concrete innovations are urgently needed to improve HIV testing and its uptake
and to retain individuals successfully in life-long care. This is particularly evident in adolescent populations.
IAS 2017 will contribute to addressing some of the continuing challenges in HIV prevention, treatment and care
in a scientific program that will integrate innovative approaches, such as the active application of avant-garde
technologies in basic science and implementation research, and precision medicine as a bridging theme.
France’s key role in HIV science and the strong political will enabling a rapid translation of science into policy,
along with the country’s strong links with countries in Africa and Asia, will be defining factors for a scientific
conference program that will present latest science from across the globe and discuss its translation into a variety
of specific epidemiological and policy contexts.
IAS 2017, taking place in Paris on 23-26 July 2017, has an expected attendance of 6,000 to 7,000 delegates
from more than 120 countries. The specific aims of IAS 2017 are to:
1. Accelerate basic science and innovation for the development of new prevention, treatment and care options;
2. Strengthen research towards remission off treatment and a vaccine;
3. Enhance knowledge transfer and sharing between HIV and co-infections, including tuberculosis, viral
hepatitis, malaria, and co-morbidities;
4. Strengthen the implementation science research agenda to address key barriers and challenges across the
HIV prevention and treatment cascades in a variety of epidemic scenarios;
5. Explore the links between HIV and human rights.
The scientific program will consist of four tracks: Basic Science; Clinical Science; Prevention Science;
Implementation Science. A symposium on HIV cure and cancer research with a further focus on therapeutic
vaccines will be organized in conjunction with the conference. Cross-cutting aspects will be covered in plenary
talks that also connect the scientific tracks with community and leadership perspectives; bridging sessions cut
across at least two of the tracks to provide opportunities for multi-disciplinary dialogues. The participation of
young researchers, basic scientists and researchers in related fields such as non-communicable diseases will
be strengthened by active solicitation of relevant science and the provision of specific financial support.