CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT

 

 

 

Deadline: Abstracts must be submitted electronically by 31 January 2016, not later than 16:00 South African Time (GMT +02:00).

Call for Abstracts

The Scientific Committee of the 2016 Southern African HIV Clinicians Society Conference invites papers of high quality in HIV research relevant to the Southern Africa context. Work that introduces new research, ideas and understanding to the field is encouraged.

 

Guidelines:

Abstracts must be submitted online. Abstract submissions are peer-reviewed for scientific content, logical presentation, and current interest of the topic to the scientific community.

A limited number of accepted abstracts will be considered for oral presentations.

 

Abstract Format:

Abstracts should be limited to 300 words in English. Select a category from the conference track list below that best fits your abstract. Primary research submission should include the following headings:

a. Background – Statement of issue evaluated and study objectives

b. Methods – investigational method used and study subjects

c. Results – specific findings and statistical significance

d. Conclusion – summary of findings supported by results

Clinical cases should include the following components:

Presenting complaints, relevant history, clinical findings, investigations, management and clinical course.  Implications to clinical practice - Summary of findings and recommendations.  Adequate information should be provided to allow for the "expert" panel to appreciate the relevance and teaching/learning points from the case.

Radiological and pathologic images are encouraged. Ensure that appropriate consent is obtained and all identifiers are removed.

 

Acceptance:

Presenters will be notified of acceptance via email. Presenting authors agree to register for and attend the conference.　Oral abstract and poster presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses, as well as the applicable registration fees.

 

Tracks:

1. Antiretroviral Treatment

This track includes sessions on new antiretroviral therapies and regimens, outcomes of existing antiretroviral therapy regimens, and ART toxicities.

2. Paediatric and Adolescents

This track includes sessions on the prevention and management of HIV and related conditions in paediatric and adolescent populations, to include PMTCT, neonatal treatment, outcomes and complications of ART, treatment failure, adolescent-specific challenges and retention in care.

3. Monitoring and Evaluation

This track includes sessions on relevant laboratory and diagnostic issues, and monitoring strategies.

4. Primary Health Care  and Nursing

This track will include sessions to enhance the clinical skills of primary care practitioners working in the field of HIV. Emphasis will be on the challenges and strategies to managing HIV and other conditions in an outpatient setting.

5. Basic Science

This track includes HIV evolution and phylodynamics (intra- and inter-host); basic retrovirology; innate and adaptive immune responses; HIV pathogenesis/immune function and dysfunction; HIV/SIV Latency and Viral Reservoirs (Human and Animal Models); Host Genetics and Systems Biology; Transmission and Early Infection; Novel Treatment, Cure Strategies; Vaccine Development.

6. Opportunistic Infections (excluding TB) and Malignancies

This track includes prevention, diagnosis, treatment and complications of opportunistic infections. New strategies in prevention, new diagnostic tools, rapid point of care platforms for diagnosis.

7. HIV treatment failure and drug Resistance

This track includes sessions on HIV and TB drug resistance. Different strategies to detect HIV treatment failure and point of care viral load testing. Prevention, detection and management of drug resistance. Different platforms for genotypic resistance testing.

8. Operations Research

This track includes interventions at the facility or programmatic level that improve HIV prevention, care and treatment. Strategies to maintain retention in care.

9. Prevention

This track includes biomedical HIV prevention methods, treatment as prevention and structural and behavioural interventions to reduce HIV transmission.

10. TB

This track will cover all aspects of TB as it relates to HIV, including integration, co-management, complications and M/XDR TB.

11. Women

This track includes sessions specific to women at risk of or living with HIV including fertility, HIV in pregnancy, long-term impacts of ART in women and cervical cancer.

12. Clinical Skills Building

This track includes interactive, case-based sessions and practical skills-based sessions. Clinical cases submitted should comprise of clinical scenarios that highlight valuable lessons and or key teaching points for the clinician at the coal face. Unusual or complex presentations that highlight the intricacies of HIV clinical decision-making are welcome. Cases should encompass HIV and related opportunistic conditions. Accepted cases will be presented to an expert panel for discussion.

 

Awards:

1. The conference scientific committee will select the top 10 data-driven abstracts, which will be featured in a "best abstracts" session during the conference and published in the June 2016 issue of the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine. The winner will be sponsored to attend the IAS 2016 conference in Durban. 

2.The scientific committee will also recognise the top 3 clinical case presentations. These cases will be presented to an expert panel during the conference, and the top case will be published in the June 2016 issue of the Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine. The winner will be sponsored to attend the IAS 2016 conference in Durban. 

 

For assistance or more information on abstract submission please contact:

Stephanie de Boer
Scatterlings Conference & Events

Email: stephanie@soafrica.com
Tel: +27 (0) 11 463 5085