Abstract submission

The 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2019) welcomes the submission of abstracts in the following scientific tracks:

Track A: Basic Science
Track B: Clinical Science
Track C: Prevention Science
Track D: Social, behavioural and implementation science

Abstract submissions is open until 22 January 2019. For detailed descriptions of each scientific track, please see the track scope and objectives and abstract categories below. Full submission guidelines are available here.

Regular abstracts

Regular abstract submission is now closed. Notifications of acceptance or rejection were sent to all submitting authors by the end of March 2019.

Late-breaker abstracts

Late Breaker abstract submission closed on 9 May 2019.

Final selection of late breaker abstracts will be done by members of the Scientific Programme Committee and notification of acceptance or non-acceptance of abstracts will be sent to the submitting author by mid-June 2019. It is the submitting author’s responsibility to inform all co-authors of the status of the abstract.

Log in to your profile to view and print abstracts you have already submitted.

Track scope and objectives

The scientific track is the general heading under which your abstract, if accepted, will be reviewed and later published in the conference printed matters. Please choose the scientific track that best describes the subject of your abstract.

Track A: Basic Science

Track A will focus on recent advancements made through both basic and translational research to further our understanding of HIV replication, transmission, pathogenesis and persistence. Highlights will include advances in:

Molecular virology (HIV replication and transmission)
Vaccine development (both prophylactic and therapeutic)
Biological variables in HIV pathogenesis and the implications on aging
Persistent HIV infection
Cure strategies.

We anticipate an emphasis on HIV persistence and novel curative strategies stemming from the identification of recently discovered clinically relevant reservoir sources and novel mechanisms driving persistence and latency. The track also encompasses T and B cell vaccinology by exploring the interplay between innate, humoral and cellular HIV immunity, as well as the role of NK cells in the control of HIV infection. Track A will also cover the molecular aspects of HIV infection, including the development of new antivirals to improve efficacy and durability for long-term treatment, and will explore the consequences of aging with HIV infection at the molecular level. In addition, it will explore the impact of gender, ethnicity and co-infections on HIV pathogenesis, persistence and curative strategies. Track A also highlights the development of novel technologies to advance basic HIV research, including single cell analysis, metabolomics and new animal models in HIV pathogenesis and cure studies.

Download the full list of track A abstract submission categories

Track B: Clinical Science

Track B will focus on the latest evidence, state of the art and challenges related to antiretroviral treatment in adults, children and key populations (women and transgender women) and in challenging socio-economic contexts. In addition to the intrinsic efficacy and safety of new regimens and strategies, it will incorporate the role that health systems play in the attainability of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 goals, bridging with Track D (Social, Behavioural and Implementation Science).

Track B will also bridge with Track C (Prevention) in the role of antiretrovirals for the prevention of HIV acquisition (PEP and PrEP). Track B will address the latest research in epidemiology, prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections; there will be special focus on tuberculosis as this infection continues to be the most significant opportunistic infection for people living with HIV worldwide. In this context, novel approaches to models of care of HIV/TB co-infection, as well as novel therapies, will be discussed. Other important opportunistic infections, such as cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis, will be addressed in terms of epidemiology, diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.

Track B will also focus on the clinical management of people living with HIV beyond antiretroviral treatment, especially in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs), including management of chronic non-AIDS-defining events and other non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer and conditions relevant to aging populations. Finally, Track B will deal with care of PLHIV in the setting of complex humanitarian emergencies, such as earthquakes, flooding and war.

Download the full list of track B abstract submission categories

Track C: Prevention Science

Track C will focus on major advances in HIV prevention science, including progress in the development of primary prevention methods, challenges and successes in expanding access to effective HIV prevention, particularly for those at greatest need, and the impact of scaling up prevention on the HIV epidemic. Updates on the design and evaluation of next-generation primary prevention strategies, including long-acting and intermittent PrEP, broadly neutralizing antibodies and HIV vaccines, will be presented. The Prevention Science track will also discuss progress on novel approaches to monitoring of prevention programmes, as well as mathematical modelling outputs on the impact of PrEP across countries.

There will be a focus on advances at the intersections of HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health, including inclusion of pregnant and breastfeeding women in HIV prevention trials, interactions between prevention products and exogenous hormones, and implications for STI control.

Track C will also specifically address key populations: drug users, poor and marginalized populations (such as homeless migrants and refugees), men who have sex with men and transgender women (especially those in LMICs where they face stigma and criminalization), sex workers and young women. The focus will be on combination interventions or programmes that address social and structural vulnerabilities to HIV in these particular populations, which may also be barriers to uptake and adherence to prevention interventions. In this way, the Prevention Science track in 2019 will focus both on iterations of a single intervention and combinations of different interventions.

Areas of special interest include:

PrEP
New ARVs for prevention
Designing and implementing next-generation HIV prevention trials
Immunization approaches: clinical trials on broadly neutralizing antibody and HIV and TB vaccines
Treatment as prevention (TasP) and U=U
New prevention interventions for drug users, men who have sex with men and adolescents
Combination/integrated prevention approaches
Intersections with sexual and reproductive health, such as STI prevention interventions
Novel monitoring and evaluation approaches
HIV testing strategies for key populations, including self-testing
Transgender populations
Sex workers.

Download the full list of track C abstract submission categories

Track D: Social, Behavioural and Implementation Science

Evidence exists that ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic is possible with the use of a combination of strategies, including biomedical (PrEP, PEP and TasP) and socio-behavioral prevention interventions, test-and-treat approaches, and differentiated delivery of treatment, care, and prevention. However, the translation of new evidence into policy and practice remains slow. This is in part due to a combination of social and political factors – including stigma and discrimination, decreasing funding for the HIV/AIDS response, and changing political regimes that have implemented regressive legislation (e.g., affecting LGBT populations, criminalization of HIV transmission, and lack of availability of harm reduction services for people who use drugs). These challenges have undermined the ability to scale up prevention, treatment, and care as rapidly as would be required to reach global targets. Track D will offer a critical analysis of the factors that hinder or enhance reach, uptake, and effectiveness of HIV prevention, care, treatment, and social support, with a particular emphasis on emerging strategies, such as e-health, community-participatory models of research and service delivery, strengthening of health systems, and policy development as tools to accelerate the discovery-policy-implementation trajectory. It also will offer an analysis of behavioral, social, economic, and political factors that have an impact on service delivery at scale, as well as interventions to address them. New evidence in specific areas will be presented.

The track will examine new and promising theories, analyses, and methodologies. This will include:

Conceptual models charting trajectories between specific social factors/determinants and HIV and related health outcomes in different populations and settings
Qualitative analyses of research targeted for HIV prevention, treatment, care, and cure strategies
Community-based participatory and action research methods
Other effective community engagement strategies
Using modeling to inform combination HIV prevention strategies and track incidence
Implementation study approaches that better identify real-life challenges that impact trial results
Better definitions and measurements for “epidemic control” and their application in real-world settings in view of currently available data
Big data in surveillance and outcome measurement.

Co-submission

If you are hosting a pre-meeting or workshop leading up to IAS 2019 and inviting authors to present abstracts at your event, you may wish to consider applying for co-submission with IAS 2019. If co-submission is approved, selected abstracts can be presented at your event and at IAS 2019 without breaking the embargo policy, although your event will take place before the conference.

To apply for co-submission of abstracts with IAS 2019, your event should meet the following conditions:

The event is closed:
- Delegates attend the event on an invite-only or paid-registration basis (that is, sessions are not open to the general public).
- Media representatives are not invited to attend or they agree to abide by the IAS 2019 embargo policy.
- Any sessions involving co-submitted abstracts that will be recorded or sessions that are already recorded comply with the IAS 2019 embargo policy.
A final list of abstracts presented at the event is shared with the organizers of IAS 2019.
Authors must submit their abstract using the IAS 2019 submission system to be considered for inclusion in IAS 2019.
Although not mandatory, for events that meet the criteria, it is highly recommended to apply for IAS 2019 Affiliated Independent Event status.

IAS 2019 has approved co-submission of abstracts with the following events:

13th INTEREST Conference
14 – 17 May 2019, Accra, Ghana

11th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics
19 - 20 July 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico

TB/HIV 2019
20 July 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico

IAS HIV & HBV Cure Forum
20-21 July 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico

5th International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-Infection Meeting
20-21 July 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico

4th Asia Pacific AIDS & Co-infection Conference (APACC)
27-29 June 2019 in Hong Kong

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