Microbicides 2004 Microbicides 200428-31 March 2004, Hilton London MetropoleThe conference42 million men, women and children worldwide were living with HIV by the end of December 2002 (source: UNAIDS), including five million newly-infected during that year alone. Another 45 million people will become infected between 2002 and 2010, unless the current transmission rates can be vastly reduced. Of the 42 million, 29.4 million live in sub-Saharan Africa and 58% of them are women. Not only are women more susceptible to HIV infection, many are powerless to insist on the use of condoms or other methods of protecting themselves. In this context, and with the knowledge that an effective HIV vaccine is unlikely to be available for several years, the need for an effective topical microbicide grows ever more urgent. 2004 should prove to be a landmark year in the field of microbicide development as the first Phase III trials of novel products are due to start – the next step along the road to making a microbicide available to the millions worldwide in desperate need of protection.The aims of the Microbicides 2004 conference are to:Report novel or innovative work in the microbicides fieldProvide updates on recent microbicides research, divided into three tracks: basic science, clinical science, and behavioural science (including public health and the microbicide marketplace)Provide a forum for the discussion of new developments in microbicide research including ethical, clinical, behavioural and methodological issuesPresent opportunities for knowledge-sharing between microbicide researchers, public-health workers and advocacy organisations.There will be an opening ceremony on the evening of Sunday 28 March at which politicians, policy makers and the international media are expected. The conference will run for a full three days, each of which will contain:Scientific overviews and presentations with plenary sessions, invited lecturers and presentations of original researchWorkshops to review issues unique to microbicides such as trial design and outcome measures, and ethical issues in the clinical trials of microbicidesPoster sessions. Focus on LondonFollowing the successful Microbicides conferences in Washington in 2000 and Antwerp in 2002, March 2004 sees the focus move to London.The venue is the Hilton Metropole Hotel, two minutes by taxi from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express, with a journey time from the airport of 15 minutes. The hotel is in walking distance of Hyde Park and London’s main shopping streets, and close to Imperial College. Accommodation will be available at the venue and other hotels in the vicinity.London in March offers a variety of diversions for out-of-conference relaxation, including sight-seeing and shopping; the arts and the theatre; and pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit every taste. Conference staff will be on hand to help delegates plan their spare time.To book your place or find out more information, e-mail info@microbicides2004.org.uk or telephone the Event Office on +44 (0) 20 7720 4411
Oral: invited speaker Oral: Track A Oral: Track B Oral: Track C Poster: Track A Poster: Track B Poster: Track C Abstract only Authors

02578 CANADA: APPLYING RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO MOBILIZE COMMUNITY FOR MICROBICIDES

Alexandrova, Anna*
*Canadian AIDS Society

As the AIDS epidemic enters its third decade, it becomes clear that enabling those who are not yet infected to protect themselves from HIV, and providing adequate and affordable treatment and care to people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are two of the biggest challenges facing humankind today. From a global perspective, numbers of HIV infection in Canada seem quite low (52640 HIV-positive tests reported in adults and children), but they are significant to Canada’s population of approximately 32 million. Women represent an increasing proportion of reported HIV cases in Canada, and since 2000 there has been an increase of HIV cases among gay men in urban settings.

Canada does not have a Microbicides Development and Delivery Stratege. Canada is yet to earmark funds specifically for microbicides development and delivery. Currently, there is only one candidate product in clinical trials in Canada, and the researchers often face financial constraints.

The general public as well as HIV/AIDS community often lack awareness about microbicides, and the importance of advocating for increased investment in microbicides development and delivery.

In 2003 Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) with funding from Health Canada and in close collaboration with the Global Campaign for Microbicides launched an advocacy initiative, seeking to raise community awareness, increase community participation in microbicides development and delivery, and enhance community advocacy efforts through applying the rights-based approach to HIV prevention. As a result of this project an advocacy tool “Microbicides in Canada: Legal, Ethical and Human Rights Issues” was published and disseminated among CAS membership (115 AIDS service organizations). This presentation outlines legal, ethical and human rights issues in microbicides development and delivery that were identified through research and extensive community consultations, and hi-lights the important role communities around the world, including in such industrialized countries as Canada, can play in advocating for the global access to microbicides

Ms. Anna Alexandrova
309 Cooper Street, Ottawa ON K2P 0G5
(Telephone) (613) 230-3580 (Fax)   (E-mail) annaa@cdnaids.ca