2008 Calendarall Deadlines Are Final

2008 Calendarall deadlines are final

Conference Goal

Adherence to medical treatment for HIV/AIDS is an essential determinant of treatment success or failure. Yet, we still have much to learn about measurement, determinants, and interventions for HIV treatment adherence — these are complex challenges that require multidisciplinary cooperation among providers, researchers, government agencies, and patients.

The goal of this conference is to provide an international forum for the presentation and discussion of state-of-the-science HIV treatment adherence research, as well as current behavioral and clinical perspectives in practicum. Our ultimate hope is that this dialogue translates into evidence-based implementation of approaches for real world clinical and community settings.

Objectives

After attending this conference, participants will be able to:

• Identify successes and challenges in HIV treatment adherence in various settings and populations worldwide
• Understand behavioral and clinical aspects of adherence that reflect a variety of HIV treatment team perspectives (e.g., patients, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, mental health professionals, adherence specialists)
• Describe the relationships between adherence, pharmacokinetics, viral suppression, and resistance
• Understand the implications of adherence for HIV prevention and public health
• Identify adherence assessment tools and interventions that can be integrated into patient care, including in resource-limited settings

Abstract Submissions

All abstracts will be submitted online at (a direct link can also be found on IAPAC’s website at All submitted abstracts will be considered for oral and poster presentations. Late-breaker abstracts will be considered for poster presentations only. All submitted abstracts should report information not previously published, or intended to be published, prior to March 17, 2008.

Oral abstract and poster presenters at the conference must pay their own travel and accommodation expenses, as well as the applicable registration fees. A discounted registration rate is available until November 30, 2007.

Please note that ONLY THE ABSTRACTS OF THE REGISTERED PRESENTERS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS BOOK – no exceptions will be made. Presenting authors must therefore register for the conference no later than February 28,2008.

It is the responsibility of the presenting author to ensure accuracy of content, spelling, and presentation. Abstracts will be published as submitted, subject to reformatting that may be required by the Conference Organizers.

Call for Abstracts

Abstract Submission Themes:

In recognition of the conference’s multidisciplinary and international focus, this Call for Abstracts invites submissions across a wide range of topics surrounding adherence to HIV treatment, and including, but not limited to:

• Linkage to care and patient retention in care
• Preparing patients to initiate antiretroviral therapy
• Pharmacodynamics (viral load, resistance, immune function)
• Pharmacokinetics and drug monitoring/sequencing
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Adherence measurement and data analysis
• Adherence in pediatric/child/adolescent populations
• Adherence research in international settings (industrialized and resource-limited countries)
• Adherence in the context of co-morbid conditions (TB, HCV, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness)
• Cultural, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic issues in treatment adherence and initiation
• Intersections between treatment adherence and HIV prevention
• Adherence interventions (pharmacy-based, clinic-based, community-based, etc.)
• Enabling technologies (text messaging, drug packaging, electronic monitoring, web-based, etc.)
• Case studies highlighting adherence challenges and solutions

General Guidelines:

• The abstract must NOT contain more than 300 words.
• Acceptable abstracts shall contain a concise statement of the research, define the precise subject of the presentation, and always be related to the main theme or a sub-theme of the conference.
• Tables, figures, literature references, and acknowledgements should not form any part of the abstract’s content.
• The author is responsible for all grammatical and factual details. No revisions will be accepted after the initial submission.
• All abstracts must be submitted in English. If you are not fluent in English, please attempt to have your abstract reviewed by a fluent English speaker.
• The interdisciplinary nature of the conference delegates should be kept in mind when writing the abstract, and sub-specialty jargon should be avoided.
• Define all abbreviations and concepts in your abstract at first use.
• For therapeutic agents, only generic names may be used (trade names are not permitted).

Abstract Format:

• Please follow one of two structured formats (A or B), indicating in bold the four parts of your abstract:

Format A: Data-driven abstracts

Background: a concise statement of the issues evaluated;

Methods: the investigational model used;

Results: specific findings; and

Conclusions: summary of findings, supported by results.

Format B: Program descriptions and case studies

Introduction: a concise statement of the issues addressed;

Description: a description of the project, case study, experience, or intervention;

Lessons Learned: project results, implementation issues, and/or case study solutions; and

Recommendations: further recommendations or next steps.

Submission and Acceptance:

• All abstracts must be submitted online no later than November 2, 2007. Registration on the site is required in order to submit an abstract. All submissions will be acknowledged upon successful submission via the site. Faxed or posted abstracts will not be considered.
• Late-breaker abstract submissions are highly competitive and must reflect novel research findings that were not available for the November 2, 2007, deadline. Late-breaker submission deadline is January 18, 2008.
• The Program Committee will review all abstracts for the quality and originality of their research, scientific content, and presentation. A notice of acceptance or rejection will be sent via e-mail no later than November 16, 2007 (or February 8, 2008, for late-breaker abstract submissions).
• Accepted abstracts will be in one of two categories: oral presentation and poster presentation.
• Abstracts are considered official communication to the conference. Authors agree to register for and attend the conference, presenting abstracts as scheduled. Accepted abstracts will be published in the conference proceedings. Submission of an abstract implies permission to publish, if accepted.

Awards for Outstanding Posters

All posters presented at the conference will be eligible for an Outstanding Poster Award competition. Awards will be offered in multiple categories. The Program Committee will review all abstracts, and the award winners will be announced at a special conference forum. Criteria for selecting the award-winning posters will include innovation, clarity of presentation, and the significance of the results for adherence research and clinical care.

Conference Scholarships

Two types of competitive Travel Scholarships are available to facilitate attendance at the 3rd International Conference on HIV Treatment Adherence by meritorious applicants.

1) International Travel Scholarships for Researchers and Community-Based Providers.

These travel scholarships will be offered to researchers and community-based providers who are conducting HIV treatment adherence research and/or providing patients/clients with adherence support in countries other than the United States. “Researchers” refers to individuals who either conduct, help to conduct, or intend to conduct HIV adherence research, including students currently enrolled in graduate school, post-doctoral fellowships, or other higher education programs. “Community-based providers” refers to those who provide patients/clients with HIV/AIDS treatment, adherence interventions, and/or other treatment-related support services, including case management and substance abuse treatment.

The International travel scholarships will cover the cost of economy roundtrip airfare (via a U.S. air carrier), two nights lodging, and waived registration fee. Those individuals approved for funding will receive instructions for how to register for the conference and make travel plans. (Note: Air travel will be arranged and directly paid for by the conference organizers.)

To be eligible for an International Travel Scholarship, you must be:

• A citizen or national of a country other than the United States

• If you are a Community-Based Provider, you must also:
• Submit a summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) with the following components:

(1) A header identifying your name, title/occupation, organization/institution, contact information,

and current country of residence.

(2) A brief narrative describing:

- Your work in HIV treatment, particularly in relationship to adherence issues;

- What you specifically hope to gain from participation in the conference; and

- The session(s) of the conference in which you are most interested.

[Note: The conference program can be found at

• If you are a Researcher, you must also:
• Submit a summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) with the following components:

(1) A header identifying your name, title/occupation, organization/institution, contact information,

and current country of residence.

(2) A brief narrative describing:

- Your current involvement in (and/or plans for) HIV treatment adherence research;

- What you specifically hope to gain from conference participation; and

- The session(s) of the conference in which you are most interested.

[Note: The conference program can be found at

International Travel Scholarship applications will be reviewed by the Program Committee. In selecting scholarship recipients, priority will be given to:

• Individuals who are involved in the conduct of HIV adherence research (or who demonstrate a clear intention to conduct HIV adherence research).

• Providers likely to implement adherence interventions in their HIV treatment work, and/or who plan to communicate knowledge gained at the conference to their colleagues.

• Researchers/providers who are working in resource-limited countries and/or settings.

• Individuals who have submitted abstracts to the conference (as lead-authors or co-authors).

Submit your International Travel Scholarship application via email to no later than November 2, 2007. Applicants will be notified of a decision by November 16, 2007. Those individuals approved for funding will receive instructions about how to register for the conference and make travel plans.

2) U.S. Travel Scholarships for Ethnic Minority Researchers and Community-Based Providers.

These travel scholarships will be offered to U.S.-based researchers and community-based providers of racial/ethnic origins that are often underrepresented in the HIV/AIDS clinical and scientific community. “Researchers” refers to individuals who either conduct, help to conduct, or intend to conduct HIV adherence research, including students currently enrolled in graduate school, post-doctoral fellowships, or other higher education programs. “Community-based providers” refers to those who provide patients/clients with HIV/AIDS treatment, adherence interventions, and/or other treatment-related support services, including case management and substance abuse treatment.

The U.S travel scholarships offer up to $750 each to defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including economy roundtrip airfare (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation, lodging costs, and registration. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

To be eligible for a U.S. Travel Scholarship, you must be:

• A U.S. citizen or Resident Alien with a Green Card
• One of the following racial/ethnic origins:

• Hispanic/Latino
• Black/African American
• American Indian/ Native Alaskan
• Asian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian

• If you are a Community-Based provider, you must also:
• Submit a summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) with the following components:

(1) A header identifying your name, title/occupation, organization/institution, contact information,

and minority status.

(2) A brief narrative describing:

- Your work in HIV treatment, particularly with relationship to adherence issues;

- What you specifically hope to gain from participation in the conference; and

- The session(s) of the conference in which you are most interested.

[Note: The conference program can be found at

• If you are a Researcher, you must also:
• Submit a summary (no more than one page, single-spaced) with the following components:

(1) A header identifying your name, title/occupation, organization/institution, contact information,

and minority status.

(2) A brief narrative describing:

- Your current involvement in (and/or plans for) HIV treatment adherence research;

- What you specifically hope to gain from conference participation; and

- The session(s) of the conference in which you are most interested.

[Note: The conference program can be found at

U.S. Travel Scholarship applications will be reviewed by the Program Committee. In selecting scholarship recipients, priority will be given to:

• Individuals who are involved in the conduct of HIV adherence research (or who demonstrate a clear intention to conduct HIV adherence research).

• Providers likely to implement adherence interventions in their HIV treatment work, and/or who plan to communicate knowledge gained at the conference to their colleagues.

• Individuals who have submitted abstracts to the conference (as lead-authors or co-authors).

Submit your U.S. Travel Scholarship application via email to no later than November 2, 2007. Applicants will be notified of a decision by November 16, 2007. Those individuals approved for funding will receive instructions about how to register for the conference and make travel plans.