Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

Hepatitis B and C co-infections and their associated liver related complications have emerged as leading causes of illness and death among HIV infected persons. Despite the serious health and clinical impact, stakeholders across Canada and the world have not come together to address the issue of access to the new generation of drugs and care necessary to prevent and cure Hepatitis B and C (HBV and HCV). The proposed activity will support the 2nd International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-infection Meeting during the International AIDS and HIV Pathogenesis conference (Vancouver, July 17 to 18, 2015). This international summit lead by Canadians and a group of international experts will bring together people living with HIV and hepatitis co-infections, infectious diseases and HIV specialists, physicians, liver specialists, gastroenterologists, researchers and those working in community organizations, non-governmental organizations, governments and the pharmaceutical industry. It will be organized around five research themes: 1) HCV therapeutic development and access; 2) HBV prevention and management; 3) Optimizing HCV treatment costs and outcomes; 4) Complex issues in viral hepatitis management; and 5) Challenges and opportunities for scaling up viral hepatitis programs. The 2nd International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Meeting will result in the development of a roadmap that will focus on access to care and will set out a strategic research and policy agenda in HIV and HBV/HCV co-infection and address the significant gaps in our current understanding and response to this emerging public health issue. The meeting will promote knowledge exchange within the HIV and HBV/HCV prevention, treatment, care and support sectors.