NEW! IAS 2021 Meet the Expert sessions

You will have the chance at IAS 2021 to join experts and fellow delegates for small, dynamic group discussions.

Delegates can engage with other attendees and leaders of the HIV response during interactive Meet the Expert sessions. These 40-minute virtual sessions will allow delegates to converse on specific themes across disciplines and sectors in a private meeting room.

Please note that the virtual Meet the Expert sessions will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis; most are limited to 25 attendees. Anyone registered for IAS 2021 will be eligible to attend through the video rooms in the virtual event platform.

SUNDAY, 18 JULY

14:15 – 14:55 CEST

Meet with prime session speaker Deborah Williamson

Global adult STI incidence is not declining and clearly, we need to pay due attention to STIs. There are large gaps in domestic budgets and international funding for STI prevention and care. As the HIV and STI syndemics become better understood, we must use more effort and find more opportunities to increase attention and identify resources to strengthen STI prevention and control. Continue the conversation with Professor Deborah Williamson in this 40-minute Meet the Expert session, moderated by Professor Sheena McCormack.

Expert: Deborah Williamson

Organized by the International AIDS Society

MONDAY, 19 JULY

14:00 – 14:40 CEST

Meet the activists: Speak out

In this session, meet with Cecilia Chung and Anjali Gopalan to discuss activism across generations. They will share challenges and speak about how to influence decision-making, as well as hear views on what has changed 40 years into the HIV response. We are looking forward to a lively 40-minute discussion, moderated by Jessica Whitbread.

Experts: Cecilia Chung and Anjali Gopalan

Organized by the International AIDS Society

16:00 – 16:40 CEST

Meet the Experts: Using Implementation Science to Advance HIV Care

Implementation science is a multidisciplinary collaboration bridging the research-to-practice gap. Join an expert panel discussion on the pivotal role of Implementation Science in advancing HIV care and in HIV prevention.

Experts: Dr. Eva Woodward, Dr Michelle Moorhouse and Prof. Kenneth Sherr

This is a ViiV Healthcare-sponsored educational session.

TUESDAY, 20 JULY

14:15 – 14:55 CEST

Meet with prime session speaker Jennifer Hoy

Forty years ago, the HIV response was born in a time of panic and fear about an unknown virus that led to AIDS. We’ve come a long way. Advances have made HIV a treatable condition. We remember the advent of AZT with its severe side-effects in 1987 and then the development of effective combination ART in the 1990s. Today, long-acting injectables are coming onto the market and they promise to revolutionize treatment and adherence. But where are we now? And what can we truly expect from the science moving forward? Answering these questions is Professor Jennifer Hoy in this 40-minute Meet the Expert session, moderated by Professor Sharon Lewin.

Expert: Jennifer Hoy

Organized by the International AIDS Society

16:00 – 16:40 CEST

Meet the COVID-19 Expert: WHO COVID-19 response and other global emergencies

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all and it has set back the gains in the HIV response potentially by a decade. In this session, you can ask Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO leader for the COVID-19 response about the epidemiology, science, vaccines, country level response, impact on health care workers and expectations as we look forward towards a post-COVID world. How can the global health architecture address the inequities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage? What is the vision for future pandemic preparedness and resilient health systems? The session will be moderated by WHO HIV and Emergency Departments.

Expert: Dr. Michael Ryan

Organized by the World Heath Organization

WEDNESDAY, 21 JULY

14:00 – 14:40 CEST

Perspectives from young HIV professionals

Did you know that HIV-related illness is still a leading cause of death among young people globally? The largest youth generation in history are either in or entering their sexual and reproductive years. Compared with other age groups, young people have lower uptake of treatment services and poorer retention rates, and the World Health Organization estimates that more than 30% of all new HIV infections globally are among people aged 15-25 years.

Young HIV professionals are finding innovative solutions to these challenges and demonstrating that the best experts in the HIV youth response are young people themselves. Join us as three well-known young HIV professionals answer your questions and share their expertise on what is required from research, programming and service delivery to improve health outcomes for young people.

Experts: Mercy Shibemba, Pascal Akahome and Igor Kuchin

Organized by the International AIDS Society

Email: info@ias2021.org

IAS 2021 Code of Conduct