AIDS 2022 is the world's largest gathering on HIV and AIDS. From 29 July to 2 August 2022, the International Aids Society (IAS) hosted the 24th International AIDS Conference in a hybrid format both online and live in Montreal, Canada.
With this event, the International AIDS Society sought to bring the topic of HIV infection and its consequences back into a international focus. HIV is one of the most common transmissible infections and is a threat to public health, regionally and worldwide. As of 2020, about 38 million people are living globally with an HIV infection.
Despite extensive research into prevention, HIV therapy and treatment of the disease, AIDS relief organisations are sounding the alarm. For them, 40 years after the first person had an infection with the virus, HIV has become a forgotten epidemic. The International AIDS Society wants to change that and provide more information beyond the World AIDS Day. With the AIDS 2022 conference, the hope is to create a forum for science and in the hope that very soon every HIV patient is able to receive treatment.
At the International AIDS Conference, the focus is on people. The latest findings on HIV were presented on infection, prevention, therapy, and living with HIV. The conference aimed to define measures to overcome the HIV epidemic. The development of an HIV vaccine and a possible cure were also discussed.
At the opening session, presenters talked about the causes for the lack of interest and drew attention to the new and existing gaps in HIV response. In the other sessions, symposia and workshops, updates in prevention and treatment of HIV infection were shared presented, for example on areas such as antiretroviral therapy. Furthermore, care models and economic factors for health were discussed.
Does the Corona pandemic also have consequences for HIV research? What effects does an infection with the new SARS-CoV-2 virus have on the therapy and health of HIV-infected people? These were important topics also addressed in the event.
You can find the complete programme online on the IAS congress page. esanum also reported on IAS 2021. Here you can find our coverage of the 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science in 2021.