Agenda & Presentation Slides

1. What is community involvement in research advocacy?

HIV prevention research advocacy takes many forms, from identifying research needs, advocating for funding and policies, and giving input into trial design, to developing community preparedness through outreach and education, volunteering as study subjects, and communicating research outcomes. This panel will look at the various ways advocacy can impact the research process. Followed by Q & A.

Moderator:
Emily Rigmont, AIDS Action Committee and Massachusetts for Microbicides
Panelists:
Marc-André LeBlanc, Global Campaign for Microbicides and IRMA (International Rectal Microbicides Advocates)
Jim Maynard, Fenway Community Health
Waheeda Shabazz-El, CHAMP
Melanie Thompson, AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta

2. Prevention research overview & cross cutting challenges

This session will provide a brief introduction of the three main prevention research categories: biomedical, behavioral, and structural. Presenters will also discuss research challenges that are important to consider in prevention trials, including risk compensation, partial efficacy, sero-prevalence and incidence, sample size, trial participant safety, and Informed consent. Followed by Q & A.

Presenters:
Monica Ruiz, amfAR
Click here for PowerPoint slides

Robert Grant, UCSF Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology
Click here for PowerPoint slides

3. Prevention research infrastructure at the National Institutes of Health

This session will provide a brief overview of where HIV prevention research happens in the National Institutes of Health, with a focus on the philosophy, structure, and operations of NIH’s clinical trials networks. Presenters will also look closely at the newly restructured HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) and to identify opportunities for community engagement.

Presenters:
Monica Ruiz, amfAR
Click here for PowerPoint slides

Ken Mayer, Fenway, Brown University, HPTN
Click here for PowerPoint slides


4. Research advocacy skills

This session will provide some basic knowledge and skills for new advocates to better understand the science and methodologies behind prevention research and trial design. Presenters will discuss what is currently known about how HIV infection works, and factors that may increase or decrease risks. Participants will also learn how to interpret trial results and what these results can or cannot demonstrate based on the trial design. Followed by Q & A.

Presenters:
Richard Jefferies, Treatment Action Group
Click here for PowerPoint slides

Walt Senterfitt, CHAMP
Click here for PowerPoint slides

5. Advocacy challenges in prevention research

Using three prevention research trials as examples (Merck vaccine, Carraguard microbicide, and VOICE oral and vaginal ARVs), this panel will examine current challenges in research advocacy at different stages of research trials, such as addressing community concerns in trial preparation, managing expectations & preparing for pending trial results, understanding & communicating confusing outcomes, and moving forward after research set backs & maintaining community support.

Moderator:
James Learned, CHAMP
Click here for PowerPoint slides

Panelists:
Ian McGowan, University of Pittsburgh, Magee-Womens Research Institute
Richard Jefferys, Treatment Action Group
Cindra Feuer, AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC)
Click here for PowerPoint slides
Steve Wakefield, HIV Vaccines Trials Network
Click here for PowerPoint slides