AVAC, a global advocacy organization for HIV prevention, recently released AVAC Report 2013: Research and Reality. The report urges the biomedical HIV prevention field to address gaps between the promising data from recent clinical trials and the complicated reality of implementing new options. The need for a renewed focus on the research agenda for women’s HIV prevention is also emphasized.
The report calls on funders and researchers to learn from the lessons offered by recent HIV prevention trials with better problem solving, more critical thinking and coordinated action around large-scale human trials; faster rollout of proven options; and ongoing research for new advances in HIV prevention methods that women and men will want to use.
FHI 360 plays a pivotal role in HIV prevention research. Data from FHI 360 research informed some of the report’s findings, such as those on treatment as prevention, male circumcision and microbicides. Ward Cates, MD, MPH, President Emeritus and Distinguished Scientist with FHI 360 along with other leaders in the field, was recognized for the contributions he made to the report.
Research and Reality offers four key recommendations:
- Launch complex trials to answer complex questions
- Map rollout beyond pilot projects
- Invest in innovative approaches to virologic suppression
- Align programs, models and funding to stay on track to end AIDS
Learn more about the AVAC Report 2013: Research and Reality.