By Karine Dubé and Joseph D. Tucker
The ‘Towards an HIV Cure’ initiative of International AIDS Society (IAS) has released its 2016 global scientific strategy towards an HIV cure. This second edition of the strategy updates the initial strategy released in 2012. The document was developed by a multi-disciplinary and collaborative group of stakeholders, including basic scientists, clinical researchers, social scientists, bioethicists and community members. The strategy is synergistic with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR) strategic priorities (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-137.html) to promote HIV cure research.
The ‘Towards an HIV Cure’ initiative was developed in 2010 to guide the global scientific strategy towards a cure. The scientific strategy helps with setting the global research agenda and advocate for new research support around the world. The initiative includes three working groups: 1) industry collaboration, 2) psychosocial studies; and 3) cost-effectiveness.
For the first time, the Global Scientific Strategy has included social sciences and health systems research.
The main scientific priorities in the social sciences and health systems research include:
1. Promotion of patient-centered research to understand the perceptions, attitudes and beliefs of people with HIV, their partners and communities
2. Measurement and promotion of stakeholder engagement in HIV cure research
3. Use of decision analysis and modeling strategies to optimize clinical trials, enhance HIV cure strategies and demonstrate economic impact
4. Determination of optimal health systems and policy strategies to promote HIV cure research
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