EDCTP Alumni Network

The Stop TB Partnership Working Group on New TB Vaccines (WGNV) and the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)are co-hosting a workshop on the topic of Recognition and Control of Mtb Infected Cells: From Basics to the Clinic. This workshop is intended to address the need for correlates and to identify platforms that measure recognition or control of the infected cell - especially in humans - as identified in the EDCTP/AIGHD Global Roadmap for Research and Development of New TB Vaccines and the Strategic Framework for New TB Vaccines in the Stop TB Partnership Global Plan to End TB 2023 - 2030. 

The overall goals of this workshop are to: 

• elucidate the mechanisms by which the immune system recognizes the Mtb-infected cell 
• explore the degree to which such recognition can lead to control of the intracellular microbe, and 
• discuss the translational implications of these observations 

The workshop format will be largely discussion-based. Each session will have three short presentations that will provide a high-level overview of key topics within the session theme, followed by a discussion between the session chairs, speakers, and participants. 

Click here to view the programme and speakers. 

This workshop is free of charge and open to any participants interested in this topic. 

The International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID) and the Swiss Society for Infectious Diseases (SSI) are inviting applications for their joint Infectious Diseases Research Fellowship Program. The purpose of this programme is to support infectious disease physicians and scientists from under-resourced countries through multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory training at a select biomedical institution in Zurich, Switzerland. The one-year SSI/ISID Fellowship programme is open to applicants who are 40 years or younger, citizens and permanent residents of under-resourced countries or Eastern Europe. The deadline for applications is 16 June 2023. 

More information: https://na.eventscloud.com/eSites/748378/Homepage 

The MRCT Center and Medable convened a multi-stakeholder task force to address ethical and regulatory opportunities and challenges related to Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs). Join them on June 20, from 10 - 11 AM ET, for a joint webinar entitled, "Ethical Review of Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs): Tools, Resources & Best Practices."  

During the webinar, Barbara Bierer (MRCT Center), Pam Tenaerts (Medable) and Leanne Madre (Medable) will present a framework, recommendations, and tools organized around 3 DCT domains: People, Remote Data Collection, and Data Oversight. Best practices for the ethical review, approval, and conduct of DCTs will be provided.   Clinical trial stakeholders (IRB/ECs, HRPP, sites, sponsors, investigators, and others) to register for the webinar here

Many national regulatory agencies in sub-Saharan Africa, which have responsibility for drug safety, lack the expertise, critical mass and infrastructure to monitor drug safety effectively during clinical trials and after licensing. The PhArmacoVIgilance Africa (PAVIA) project, implemented during the period 2018-2022 in Eswatini, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania, set out to strengthen pharmacovigilance in the African context. PAVIA incorporated the lessons and best practices from the project into a 'Blueprint for strengthening pharmacovigilance systems in resource-limited countries', and published the project’s outputs on The Global Health Network.

Read the blueprint https://media.tghn.org/medialibrary/2023/05/Pavia_Blueprint_FINAL.pdf

Project outputs on The Global Health Network: https://globalpharmacovigilance.tghn.org/pavia/

Michelson Prizes Next Generation Grants are annual awards of $150,000, which support early-career investigators (35 years and under) who are working to significantly advance human immunology and vaccine and immunotherapy research for major global diseases. The research to be covered by the grant should aim at tackling the current roadblocks that exist in human vaccine development and expanding our limited understanding of key immune processes that are fundamental to successful vaccine and immunotherapy development. The Prizes are awarded by the Michelson Medical Research Foundation and the Human Immunome Project (formerly the Human Vaccines Project). Applications are being accepted with a deadline of 11 June 2023.

More information www.humanimmunomeproject.org/michelsonprizes

The upcoming International Society for Vaccines (ISV) Annual Congress will be held in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the SwissTech Convention Center on October 22-24, 2023. The ISV Congress The 2023 ISV Annual Congress welcomes delegates from all over the world to present and discuss the latest insights in Vaccinology.

The SwissTech Convention Center is in the Lake Geneva region, in the western part of Switzerland, close to historical Lausanne. Lausanne is easily accessible by public transport from close by Geneva airport, which has direct flight connections to Paris, London, Brussels, Berlin, and Madrid. Lausanne boasts one of the highest concentrations of research centers in Switzerland. A place of knowledge, innovation, and creativity, the city is home to several world-renowned researchers of many disciplines including vaccinology, immunotherapeutics, cancer, infectious diseases, artificial intelligence, and many more. In addition, the Lausanne region is home to leading small, medium, and large pharmaceutical enterprises.  Whether from academia, clinical research, or pharma and biotech, the comprehensive and vibrant scientific environment will provide an exciting venue to ISV attendees. The 2023 Congress is co-chaired by Xavier Saelens, Ken Ishii, Bruno Correia, and Giuseppe Pantaleo. 

Every two years, EDCTP awards four prestigious international prizes to recognise outstanding individuals and research teams from Africa and Europe who have made significant achievements in their research field. A call for nominations with a deadline of 31 May 2023 at 17:00 CEST is open for the following prizes, which will be awarded at the Eleventh EDCTP Forum: 

Dr Pascoal Mocumbi Prize

The Dr Pascoal Mocumbi Prize, named after EDCTP’s first High Representative, is awarded to senior scientists, policy-makers or advocates for health and research, from anywhere in the world.
The prize consists of a recognition trophy and a cash prize of €50,000.

“I was truly humbled to receive the 2020 Pascoal Mocumbi Prize which I attributed to the hard work of teams and collaborators across continents. Winning the most prestigious EDCTP award gave my teams and collaborators immense pleasure and pride that our work was valued. It also enhanced my teams’ international profile and respect, and boosted morale and motivation, upholding our African-led south-south and south-north R&D partnerships at the highest level. This has attracted more talent and international collaborators with a multiplier effect.” – Professor Sir Alimuddin Zumla (Zambia/UK), winner of the 2020 Dr Pascoal Mocumbi prize

Watch the prize video: https://youtu.be/MI-TbynM9Po

Outstanding Female Scientist Prize 

The Outstanding Female Scientist Prize is awarded to world-leading female scientists in sub-Saharan Africa working on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected infectious diseases.
The prize consists of a recognition trophy and a cash prize of €20,000.

“Winning this prestigious prize drew the attention of the international community and local organizations to my research and capacity-building effort. It attracted media attention in Ghana. The task forces and committees I served on made it a point to highlight the award and in recent times I have received several requests to serve on or chair a number of boards and committees. I am indeed grateful to EDCTP for the award and the exposure it has given me and to my colleagues who saw the potential in me and nominated me for the prize. I sure do feel like a star.” – Professor Margaret Gyapong, winner of the EDCTP 2020 Outstanding Female Scientist Prize

Watch the prize video: https://youtu.be/zcBCDrQGOaM

Scientific Leadership Prize 

The Scientific Leadership Prize is awarded to excellent world-class scientists in sub-Saharan Africa up to 50 years of age working on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected infectious diseases.

The prize consists of a recognition trophy and a cash prize of €10,000.

“It was a real honour to be awarded the EDCTP Scientific Leadership Prize for 2020. The prize was a recognition of the hard work and dedication of each of the members of our research group and their contributions. The prize provided me with a unique opportunity to support the ongoing work of an emerging clinician scientist within our group who is investigating the pathogenesis of severe HIV-associated TB. I strongly encourage eligible colleagues to consider applying for this award in 2023.” – Prof. Graeme Meintjes, winner of the EDCTP 2020 Scientific Leadership Prize

Watch the prize video: https://youtu.be/UfuYgKgM0xk

Outstanding Research Team Prize 

The Outstanding Research Team Prize is awarded to outstanding research teams in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe working on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected infectious diseases. 

The prize consists of a recognition trophy and a cash prize of €50,000. 

“The prize was awarded to a multinational consortium of which the members have been working together for more than 10 years. It gave recognition not only to the lead institution or investigator, but to all staff members from all participating African and European partners. Such recognition is not given often enough but is very important to motivate and acknowledge the essential and high-level work performed by staff of all levels at each site.”- Prof. Gerhard Walzl, on behalf of the AE-TBC Consortium (winners of the 2020 Outstanding Research Team Prize) 

Watch the prize video: https://youtu.be/Acm8GW4sw8M

Read the official announcement »   

The 12th Advanced Course on Diagnostics (ACDx), co-organized by the Merieux Foundation and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will take place at Les Pensières Center for Global Health, in Annecy (France) from 17 to 22 September 2023. In line with the historical resolution on “strengthening diagnostic capacities” to be adopted at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2023, the 12th edition of ACDx will emphasise the importance of providing access to effective, fast, and inexpensive diagnostic tools, especially in low-income countries. A call for applications is open with a deadline of 30 April 2023.

More information https://www.fondation-merieux.org/en/events/12th-advanced-course-on-diagnostics-acdx/

The Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) will hold a two-day meeting in Montreux, Switzerland on 28-29 November 2023 on the topic: “The ethics of health research priority setting”. The Forum prioritises the participation of colleagues from low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), and a call for applications is open with a deadline of 15 May 2023.

More information https://www.gfbr.global/news/gfbr-2023-call-for-applications-now-open/

The MRC Clinical Trials Unit (MRC CTU) offers an online MSc course in Clinical Trials and an online MSc course in Statistics for Clinical Trials. The online MSc in Clinical Trials provides an excellent grounding in the management and design of clinical trials, and will enhance the knowledge and understanding of those already working in the field. The online MSc in Statistics for Clinical trials will develop your knowledge and know-how of statistics in clinical trials. This training is relevant for future clinical trial statisticians, and as well as clinicians and other health professionals who have a strong quantitative interest in trials.

The MRC CTU has announced an education bursary to support colleagues in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) available through the MRC Clinical Trials Unit (MRC CTU) for study at UCL. The deadline for application is 17 April 2023.

Please see this document below for Terms and Conditions and the Application Form: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/clinical-trials-and-methodology/sites/clinical_trials_and_methodology/files/msc_clinical_trials_lmic_bursary_application_and_ts_and_cs_lmic_residents_final.docx

The EDCTP Forum Programme Committee invites applications for scientific symposia to be held in person at the Eleventh EDCTP Forum.

Each symposium is 90 minutes in duration. The symposium format will include discussion and exchange of views with Forum delegates, aiming to advance science, policy and community engagement through the symposium.

The Programme Committee welcomes symposia on topics in the EDCTP remit, with relevance to the Forum theme ‘Partnering for Global Health Research Innovation and Impact in Africa’. 

The content of the symposium should be a topic that is:
- Novel, important and timely
- Relevant to the Forum theme and remit of EDCTP
- Of interest to a broad group of stakeholders and Forum delegates
Symposia focusing on a single programme or institution are discouraged

For more information and the application form click here

Large volumes of health-related data are collected from various sources we use every day, including computers, smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices. Anonymised health data are also collected by medical insurance companies in the private health sector and official public health databases to design treatment and prevention strategies to address various public health issues and benefit communities. However, there is a lack of awareness among the public that this data is being collected and shared. When this data is collected from an individual it is very personal and sensitive, but once anonymised as part of large data sets, it cannot easily be linked back to the individual. How should we engage with communities, using simple non-technical language, to raise awareness that sensitive individual health and location information is being collected and shared as part of a large, anonymised data set? Research for Ethical Data Science in sub-Saharan Africa (REDSSA) is seeking ideas for strategies to help improve transparency, understanding and trust in large data-driven health research for the public good. Deadline for submission: 30 April 2023.

More information https://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/healthsciences/cmel/redssa/crowdsourcing

On Thursday 30 March, the Working Group on New TB Vaccines Early Career Researcher Network is organizing a virtual discussion session. Dr. Alan Sher (NIAID/NIH) will talk about how to start up and maintain a successful research group, including managing the complex diversity of trainees while balancing the requirements and expectations of being a group leader. The session will take place at 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 3pm CEST and SAST / 6:30pm IST.

Register

• Application deadline = 11 April 2023
• Next application deadline = 25 July 2023
• Level of funding = you should ask for the resources you need for your research programme (refer to the link for detail on allowable staff costs)
• Duration of funding = usually 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines
• Link = https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/discovery-awards  

• Application deadline = 04 April 2023
• Next application deadline = 27 July 2023
• Level of funding = you should ask for your salary (if required) and the resources you need for your research programme
• Duration of funding = usually 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines
• Link = https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/career-development-awards  

• Application deadline = 18 May 2023
• Level of funding = your salary and up to £400,000 for research expenses
• Duration of funding = usually 5 years, but may be less for some disciplines
• Link = https://wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes/early-career-awards 

The ICGEB-SAWBP Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme, in partnership with the  South African Department of Science and Innovation  and the National Research Foundation  will support South African women researchers holding a PhD degree, in Biotechnology or a related discipline, having outstanding ability, and who will perform hypothesis-driven research.

The SAWBP programme promotes the interaction and mobility of South African women Biotechnology researchers and the ICGEB community, including mobility support to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India.

The Call is open for applications until 19 May 2023, and offers:

·         Two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship at ICGEB Cape Town

·         Applying the latest techniques and methodologies to the applicant’s chosen research topic

·         Opportunities for mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and complementary skills

·         Immersion in a top class international scientific environment

For further information, eligibility, guidelines for application and contact details: https://www.icgeb.org/fellowships/icgeb-south-african-women-in-biotechnology-programme-sawbp-postdoctoral-fellowship-call/

On 23^rd March 2023 Global Health EDCTP3 will host its first 2023 Info day. The event will provide potential applicants with specific information on the Global Health EDCTP3 calls for proposals and funding opportunities under Work Programme 2023, as well as information on eligibility criteria and other relevant administrative matters. 

The event will also give further guidance to, in particular, research stakeholders based in Africa regarding participation in Global Health EDCTP3 projects and potential membership to the EDCTP Association.

Global Health EDCTP3 invites African and European researchers and innovators as well as citizens and all interested stakeholders to take part in the Info Day.

During the event, questions from the audience will be answered via Slido. Further information will be circulated shortly and posted on the interim Global Health EDCTP3 website.

A call for application is open for TDR’s newly launched Clinical Research Leadership (CRL) fellowship programme. This new fellowship programme will maximise the value of the clinical research skills obtained through the placement at a Training Partner Organisation (TPO) by focusing on research leadership, with fellows using their clinical research skills, in conjunction with competencies and capabilities to effectively communicate with, and support, members of a multidisciplinary team. The deadline for applications is 15 March 2023, 17:00 CET. 

More information https://tdr.who.int/home/our-work/strengthening-research-capacity/clinical-research-and-development-fellowship 

We appreciate your visit to the EDCTP Africa Office, Prof. Jean Nachega.
Prof. Nachega came to express his continued support for the EDCTP program and to encourage other scientists both within and outside of the alumni to collaborate in the south by submitting joint grant applications for the EDCTP and engaging in other cooperative activities.

TCIS AFRICA is a converging point for Clinical Researchers, Medical Professionals, CROs, Pharmas, Regulatory Agencies and Academia to network, exchange achievements, milestones, and challenges, as well as establish strategic direction for clinical trial management in Africa. TCIS is hosting Africa's biggest and most anticipated clinical research summit of the year on 16 & 17 March 2023 in Kenya.

Find more information and the agenda  here

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) is organising a series of initiatives for the UN Day of Women and Girls in Science. On 10 February 2023, ICGEB Cape Town group leader Lara Donaldson will be hosting a seminar by Prof. Jennifer A. Thomson, President of OWSD (Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World) from South Africa. OWSD is a programme unit of UNESCO aiming to unite eminent women scientists from the developing and developed worlds with the objective of strengthening their role in the development process and promoting their representation in scientific and technological leadership. OWSD provides research training, career development and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages in their careers.

The seminar will start at 11:00 (South Africa time) and can be accessed through Zoom after registration.

Register for the seminar by sending an email to capetown@icgeb.org

More information about the activities https://www.icgeb.org/our-initiatives-for-the-un-day-of-women-and-girls-in-science/

The World Health Organization (WHO) prepared the document “Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021−2030” (“the road map”) through an extensive global consultation pursuant to decision EB146(9) of the Executive Board at its 146th session, which culminated in the endorsement of the document by the Seventy-third World Health Assembly in 2020. The road map sets global targets and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate 20 diseases and disease groups as well as cross-cutting targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. These include overarching, cross-cutting and disease-specific targets the achievement of which requires considerable work by countries and stakeholders.

The WHO Secretariat is leading the follow-up assessment of four of the eleven dimensions of the heat map by using a gap assessment tool (GAT), a qualitative, participatory device for tracking progress towards the 2030 targets of the road map. This public consultation seeks your perceptions on the status of progress along these four dimensions for all 20 NTDs. Your inputs will be consolidated for consideration by disease-specific focus groups whose deliberations will identify current gaps that pose a persistent risk to the attainment of the road map targets. This will provide qualitative evidence on corrective measures needed to address these gaps and inform reporting on global progress against NTDs to the Seventy-sixth World Health Assembly in 2024.

WHO is inviting you to participate in this second public consultation by completing the online questionnaire in this phase of web consultation. It is also available in from the questionnaire itself in Arabic, French, Spanish and Portuguese. You will be able to select the diseases and dimensions for which you would like to provide response.

Click here for more information

Clinical Data Management is one of the critical processes in the conduct of clinical trials. The process starts very early in the clinical trial and goes all the way to database closure and data archival. The importance of a compliant data management process could not be overemphasized since data quality denes success in clinical trials. Moreover, all good practices are meant to ensure credible data and the safety of participants. However, data management process is not getting the attention it deserves in LMICs, Sub-Saharan Africa included. In this webinar, we discuss commonly recurring data management issues in LMICs which are detrimental to clinical trial success. The main themes of the webinar include optimal planning in data management, early procedures with an impact on data quality, quality aspects in data management, and other related aspects.

Gavi is currently recruiting three consultant positions to support Gavi’s next Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS). The VIS is Gavi’s evidence-informed process that takes place every 5 years to evaluate the full value of new vaccines (or underused ones) in support of Gavi’s Board investment decisions. Selected vaccines would then be included into Gavi’s portfolio at the next strategic period (2026-2030). The consultant roles are one-year roles with possibility of extension. Candidates are sought with experience in public health, epidemiology, health economics, impact modelling or closely related field and with strong quantitative and qualitative analysis skills. In particular, the consultant positions are a great opportunity for researchers with an interest in policy analysis and investment case development to get exposure to how policy and investment decisions are made, including engagement with numerous stakeholders.

The following consultants are being recruited:

1 x Senior manager (L4)

• Website: https://www.gavi.org/news/document-library/consultancy-senior-manager-vaccine-policy-and-investment-vaccine-investment
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3362304047/

2 x Data analyst (L2)

• Website: https://www.gavi.org/news/document-library/consultancy-senior-analyst-vaccine-policy-and-investment-vaccine-investment
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3362315296/

The Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER) of the International AIDS Society launched a new round of research grants on 3 October 2022. If you are an early-stage investigator working on paediatric and adolescent HIV, you can apply to the CIPHER Grant Programme and become the principal investigator on a research project with a grant of up to US$150,000 over two years.

The new round of grants will focus primarily on HIV research in paediatric, adolescent and mental health. CIPHER aims to support research projects that could inform HIV policies and programmes, thus accelerating the HIV response in Grantees’ countries. There is now an opportunity to learn from, adapt and enhance the innovative approaches to paediatric and adolescent HIV that have been developed during the COVID-19 response.

Application to the CIPHER Grant Programme is a two-stage process. 

Letter of Intent deadline = 31 October 2022

Full Proposal deadline for shortlisted candidates = 27 January 2023

Link:CIPHER Grant Programme 2022/2023

Also remember to submit your applications to the Pre-Award Office for budget review before submission to the funder.

The seminar will be exciting and informative for both Research Ethics Committee members and researchers. National and international speakers will discuss current and pertinent topics related to Data Science and Ethics. Delegates are responsible for their own flight and accommodation arrangements. Please note that accommodation in Cape Town is limited during October 2022 due to multiple concurrent events, so please book early.

More information: http://blogs.sun.ac.za/aresa/

Programme: https://blogs.sun.ac.za/aresa/files/2022/09/Research-Ethics-seminar-flyer-26-28-October-2022-updatedpdf.pdf

This is a joint initiative between TDR, the UNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, who have a mutual interest in strengthening the capacity for health research in developing countries. The aim of this call is to facilitate and strengthen public health-oriented implementation research.

The focus of this call is on the following priorities: 

1. Health systems strengthening through implementation research 

2. Addressing complex public health issues through implementation research 

3. Implementation research for One Health and emerging diseases. 

For more information and to apply visit: Grants and other funding activities

Deadline for submissions: 26 October 2022

Gavi has launched a call for expressions of interest to identify members for the Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS) Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will be convened to provide expert advice, strategic guidance, and oversight to the next VIS. This is Gavi’s evidence-driven process for identifying new and under-used vaccines of the highest importance to Gavi-supported countries and inform on options for future investments. The VIS takes place every 5 years. The next VIS will kick off later this year, with multiple decision steps culminating in final investment case decisions taken by the Gavi Board in June 2024.

The deadline to receive expressions of interest is 28 September 2022.

More information and applying: https://www.gavi.org/news/media-room/gavi-vaccine-investment-strategy-steering-committee-now-open-applications

The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) & ESSENCE on Health Research published a good practice document entitled ‘Four Approaches to Supporting Equitable Research Partnerships’. This guidance document lays out four interconnected approaches to supporting equitable research partnerships:

• Support the research partnership ecosystem
• Strengthen research relationships and research systems
• Budget for partnership building
• Implement processes and procedures that sustain partnerships

In the guidance document, the EDCTP-funded African coaLition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training (ALERRT) and Pan-African Network for Rapid Research, Response, Relief and Preparedness for Infectious Disease Epidemics (PANDORA-ID-NET) networks are highlighted as best examples of research consortia to build equitable decision-making.

Join UKCDR & ESSENCE at the virtual event ‘The role of funders in enabling equitable research partnerships for development’ for a dynamic discussion with global funders and to learn more about the new guidance on approaches to supporting equitable partnerships. The event will be held at the Science Summit at United Nations General Assembly 77 (UNGA77) on 26 September 2022 at 9:00 EDT/10:00 CEST/14:00 BST.

More information https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/news-article/new-guidance-promotes-equity-and-restoring-balance-to-transform-the-global-research-partnership-ecosystem/

The Working Group on New TB Vaccines invites you to join their Coffee Corner - an informal discussion amongst Early Career Researchers to connect with each other and discuss topics that are important to them.

Date and time:  29 September 2022, 9:00am EDT/ 3:00pm CEST & SAST/ 6:30pm IST

For registration click here 

IRESSEF is key member of the EU-Africa PerMed initiative - aimed at contributing to successful implementation of Personalized Medicine in Africa.

The initiative is organizing a series of 60-minute webinars to introduce Africa to this topic and is targeted at active members of national ethical and regulatory committees.

The first webinar  will be held on Wednesday 28 September 11:00 to 12:00 UTC.

The URL link to register and log in will be shared as soon as available

The Royal Society Africa Prize 2022 was awarded to Professor Novel Njweipi Chegou for his work in the fields of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis, and his innovative project proposal. Prof. Chegou is an EDCTP Senior Fellow researching new biomarker-based approaches for improving the diagnosis of childhood tuberculous meningitis at Stellenbosch University.

The Royal Society Africa Prize is to recognise research scientists based in Africa who are making an innovative contribution to the sciences. The medal is of bronze, awarded annually and is accompanied by a gift of £2,000. The prize was previously the Royal Society Pfizer Award which was last awarded in 2016.

At a time of information overload when misinformation and disinformation abound, reliable evidence is more important than ever. An evidence-informed approach to healthcare is about making personal and professional decisions focused on the effective use of scarce resources, avoiding harm and maximising good.

The Cochrane SA Virtual National Symposium will explore the state of evidence in the post-truth/COVID-19 world - from primary research, clinical trial transparency, systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, guidelines development and policy implementation, all the way to public understanding of scientific evidence and individual decision-making.

This online event is for researchers, policymakers/ decision-makers, media, health science students, and community representatives in South Africa. Registration is free.

The call for abstracts is currently open and closes on 30 September 2022. More information: click here

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is requesting information on approaches to promote greater equity in global health research, particularly research that engages scientists in low and middle-income countries. This request for information (RFI) is intended to improve NIH’s understanding of potential research funding, priority setting, and administrative practices and strategies that could encourage or facilitate equitable global health research.
 
NIH is actively seeking input from all interested stakeholders including members of the scientific community, trainees, academic institutions, the private sector, health professionals, professional societies, advocacy groups, as well as other interested members of the public. You are invited to read the complete RFI and respond via the online comment form by 1 August 2022. 

On 3 June 2022, Charani et al called on funders to take a more active role in tackling inequities in global health research in their article Funders: The missing link in equitable global health research? on PLOS Global Public Health. In a guest blog on PLOS GPH, Dr Pauline Beattie (EDCTP Operations Manager), Prof. Catherine Hankins (Chairperson of EDCTP’s Scientific Advisory Committee) and Dr Michael Makanga (EDCTP Executive Director) describe how EDCTP has been successfully supporting equitable European-African research collaborations to develop new and improved interventions against infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa for almost two decades. We invite you to read the blog, and to join the conversation on equity in global health research.

Read the blog on PLOS GPH

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to announce plans to host the 2^nd International Post-tuberculosis Symposium in Stellenbosch in the first quarter of 2023.

We are hoping to increase diversity of the leadership team for this Symposium, and would like to invite interested persons to complete the form below if they would like to be part of the organizing team. Anybody with an interest in post-tuberculosis consequence is welcome (not just researchers / clinicians). The Symposium hopes to address all aspects of life after TB, not only post-TB lung disease.

We are looking for people to be involved in either of the:

1. Steering (Organising) Committee – responsible for the structure and running of the Symposium
2. Academic Committee – responsible for content and outputs of various aspects of the Symposium.

If you would like to be considered for either of these roles, please complete the attached form by 15 July 2022 and return to: mariekevdzalm@sun.ac.za

Please note:

1. These are unfunded roles,
2. People on the team will be expected to be fully involved in the organization and contribute to the success of the Symposium.
3. Estimated Minimum Weekly Time Commitment: initially 1-2 hours per week, increasing to half a day per week in the months preceding the Symposium

Please feel free to share this email within your all post-TB networks, as we are wanting to be as inclusive as possible.

Brian Allwood & Marieke vd Zalm

Associate Professor (Pulmonologist)
Division of Pulmonology | Department of Medicine|Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences |South Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking experts to serve as members of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases. This “Call for Experts” notice provides information about the advisory group in question, the expert profiles being sought, the process to express interest, and the process of selection.

Background

The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases (STAG-NTD) is the main advisory body to World Health Organization in this field.

NTDs are a diverse set of bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal and noncommunicable diseases and disease groups that disproportionately affect populations living in poverty, predominantly in tropical and subtropical areas. Twenty diseases and disease groups are currently included in the NTD portfolio, and currently more than one billion people are affected.

STAG-NTD advises and makes policy and strategic recommendations to WHO, based on independent reviews of progress made and challenges faced by programmes and partners, with the aim of facilitating the achievement of the targets and milestones set by the NTD road map 2021–2030. 

Functions of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the STAG-NTD shall have the following functions:

1. To provide to WHO independent evaluation of the adequacy of progress towards the targets and milestones of the NTD road map 2021–2030;
2. To review, and make recommendations to WHO for overcoming, challenges to achieving the targets and milestones of the NTD road map 2021–2030;
3. To review, and make recommendations to WHO on increasing, the adoption of the three fundamental shifts in approach to tackling NTDs specified in the NTD road map 2021–2030

Operations of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Neglected Tropical Diseases

The STAG-NTD will normally meet in person once a year at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, usually for 2-3 days.   Depending on the issues at stake, additional interim meetings may be organized in the course of the year.  The working language of the STAG-NTD will be English.

Who can express interest?

The STAG-NTD will be multidisciplinary, with members having a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to NTDs and of the challenges faced by programmes and partners within the context of health systems in NTD-endemic countries.  Up to approximately 20 members may be selected.

WHO welcomes expressions of interest from individuals with knowledge, skills and experience in:

• Health systems and programme delivery
• Health policy
• Social science
• One health
• Vector control
• Water and sanitation
• Health economics
• Pricing, procurement, needs estimation and/or regulation of medicines;
• Country-level planning and implementation of cross-cutting activities.

Submitting your expression of interest

To register your interest in being considered for the [name of the advisory group], please submit the following documents by 24:00h (midnight) Geneva time on 16 July 2022 to aimel@who.int using the subject line “Expression of interest for the STAG-NTD”.

• A cover letter, indicating your motivation to apply and outlining how you satisfy the selection criteria. Please note that, if selected, membership will be in a personal capacity. Therefore do not use the letterhead or other identification of your employer);
• Your curriculum vitae; and
• A signed and completed Declaration of Interests (DOI) form for WHO Experts, available at https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest.

After submission, your expression of interest will be reviewed by WHO.  Due to an expected high volume of interest, only selected individuals will be informed.

Important information about the selection processes and conditions of appointment

Members of WHO advisory groups (AGs) must be free of any real, potential or apparent conflicts of interest. To this end, applicants are required to complete the WHO Declaration of Interests for WHO Experts, and the selection as a member of an AG is, amongst other things, dependent on WHO determining that there is no conflict of interest or that any identified conflicts could be appropriately managed (in addition to WHO’s evaluation of an applicant’s experience, expertise and motivation and other criteria).

All AG members will serve in their individual expert capacity and shall not represent any governments, any commercial industries or entities, any research, academic or civil society organizations, or any other bodies, entities, institutions or organizations. They are expected to fully comply with the Code of Conduct for WHO Experts (https://www.who.int/about/ethics/declarations-of-interest). AG members will be expected to sign and return a completed confidentiality undertaking prior to the beginning of the first meeting.

At any point during the selection process, telephone interviews may be scheduled between an applicant and the WHO Secretariat to enable WHO to ask questions relating to the applicant’s experience and expertise and/or to assess whether the applicant meets the criteria for membership in the relevant AG.

The selection of members of the AG will be made by WHO in its sole discretion, taking into account  the following (non-exclusive) criteria: relevant technical expertise; experience in international and country policy work; communication skills; and ability to work constructively with people from different cultural backgrounds and orientations .The selection of AG members will also take account of the need for diverse perspectives from different regions, especially from low and middle-income countries, and for gender balance.

If selected by WHO, proposed members will be sent an invitation letter and a Memorandum of Agreement. Appointment as a member of an AG will be subject to the proposed member returning to WHO the countersigned copy of these two documents.

WHO reserves the right to accept or reject any expression of interest, to annul the open call process and reject all expressions of interest at any time without incurring any liability to the affected applicant or applicants and without any obligation to inform the affected applicant or applicants of the grounds for WHO's action. WHO may also decide, at any time, not to proceed with the establishment of the AG, disband an existing AG or modify the work of the AG.

WHO shall not in any way be obliged to reveal, or discuss with any applicant, how an expression of interest was assessed, or to provide any other information relating to the evaluation/selection process or to state the reasons for not choosing a member.

WHO may publish the names and a short biography of the selected individuals on the WHO internet.

AG members will not be remunerated for their services in relation to the AG or otherwise. Travel and accommodation expenses of AG members to participate in AG meetings will be covered by WHO in accordance with its applicable policies, rules and procedures.

The appointment will be limited in time as indicated in the letter of appointment.

If you have any questions about this “Call for experts”, please write to aimel@who.int well before the applicable deadline.

ARCH – Communicating Science to Facilitate the Uptake of Research Findings into Policy and Practice 

21 June 2022, 28 June & 5 July | 13:00 (BST) 

Different stakeholders within the research uptake cycle, such as researchers, journalists, policy makers, and advocacy organisations, are groups that shape how scientific results are communicated, interpreted, and taken up into policy and practice. In this three-part workshop series inspiring experts will share their skills and experiences in communicating scientific information. 

Part 1: How to Talk to the Public About Controversial Topics in Science 

Chair: Dr Ezequiel García-Elorrio, Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Argentina 

Speaker: Dr Luisa Massarani, Brazilian Institute of Public Communication of Science and Technology, Brazil 

Part 2: How to Write a Policy Brief  

Chair: Dr Kondwani Chidziwisano, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Malawi 

Speaker: Dr Sohana Shafique, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh 

Part 3: How to Communicate with Journalists 

Chair: Kelvin Ngugi Gichia, Technical Officer, Communications, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

Speaker: Lindiwe Bandazi-Mafuleka, Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW), Malawi 

A certificate of attendance is issued to those that attend at least 80% of the workshop and complete the feedback evaluation.   

Register for Communicating Science to Facilitate the Uptake of Research Findings into Policy and Practice 

Global Brain Health Clinical Exchange Platform – Updates on neuro critical care 

24 June | 14:00 (BST) 

This interactive session will cover critical care of the neurologic system with insights into practice in different settings through knowledge exchange with fellow participants. 

Chair: Dr Sherry H-Y Chou, Northwestern Medicine, USA 

Speaker: Dr Ayush Batra, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA 

A certificate of attendance is issued to those that attend at least 80% of the workshop and complete the feedback evaluation.   

Register for Global Brain Health Clinical Exchange Platform – Critical Care of the Neurologic System in COVID-19 

Epidemic Ethics – Indigenous communities, ‘vulnerability’, and the COVID-19 pandemic 

20 June 2022 | 13:00 (BST), 12:00 (GMT) 

Indigenous populations experience both social and economic marginalization, and as a result are at disproportionate risk during public health emergencies. This webinar will explore ethical challenges experienced by Indigenous populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, how 'vulnerabilities' are portrayed and experienced in this context, and the role that traditional knowledge and practices have played as a source of resiliency. 

Register for Indigenous communities, ‘vulnerability’, and the COVID-19 pandemic 

Global Research Nurses – Introduction to Research for Nurses and Midwives 

23 June 2022 | 12:00 (BST), 11:00 (GMT) 

Global Research Nurses mission is to empower nurses and midwives to get involved in research, no matter where they work or the role they undertake. This webinar will inspire you to get started in research. We will explore how to choose the research methodology most suitable for your research topic and our panel will walk us through their journeys into research, sharing those tips that they wish to have known when they started. 

This session aims to inspire nurses and midwives to get involved in research and find a path to get started in research. 

Speakers: 

Jennifer Maclellan, University of Oxford, UK 

Mary Ani-Amponsah, College of Health Sciences, Ghana 

Lydia Boampong Owusu, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana 

Faith Nawagi, Makerere University, Uganda 

Joby George, Medanta the Medicity, India 

Register for Introduction to Research for nurses and midwives 

Registration Now Open for The Global Health Network Conference 2022 

24 – 25 November 2022 | University of Cape Town 

This conference will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from researchers working across different disease areas, geographies and disciplines. The aim of this conference is to present research findings, and also methods and processes, so we can learn from these to better enable research in every healthcare setting. 

Call for abstracts – The Global Health Network Conference 2022 

Abstract submissions on research studies that demonstrate excellence in equity, appropriate design or embedded approaches such as developing the team or community engagement are encouraged. TGHN is looking for examples of methods, processes, schemes and systems that enable research and taking evidence into practice and policy. There is no fee for submitting an abstract.

Submit an abstract  

Deadline: 20 June 2022 

Awards are available for successful applicants from LMICs to cover the cost of their travel, accommodation and single-entry visa.

Meeting summary: 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in global health research but frameworks, policy and best practice for the ethical review and oversight of AI-enabled studies is currently lacking. The Forum will discuss how traditional research ethics regulatory frameworks have responded to the rapid advances in AI technology, and what changes are required, including to the role and responsibility of research ethics committees (RECs). It will explore the ethical challenges such as bias, privacy, data provenance and ownership, along with the need for transparency, accountability and engagement during the design and use of AI in global health research. To date, these discussions have predominantly taken place in high-income countries, and low- and middle-income country (LMIC) perspectives have been underrepresented. The Forum will consider the LMIC context where AI has the potential to address critical skills shortages and improve access to care, but where the ethical challenges are made harder due to existing disparities in infrastructure, knowledge and capacity. The Forum will take a multidisciplinary approach to explore how AI technology is being designed and used in health research, reflecting the range of actors involved in this space and the importance of computer scientists and technologists who apply AI for health to understand research ethics frameworks and considerations.

As part of the upcoming meeting, the GFBR is seeking case studies that bring attention to key ethical issues that have emerged regarding the use of AI in health research in LMIC settings and proposals to participate in a session on governance issues. The GFBR is also seeking participants to attend the meeting, with places awarded on a competitive basis.    

Full details on how to apply are available on the GFBR website and the background paper provides further details on the meeting theme.   

The deadline for applications is 17.00 CET on 17 June 2022.  

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) is organising its first face-to-face forum for research and innovation (R&I) management professionals from Southern Africa and beyond. SARIMA brings together research and innovation management practitioners to strengthen these disciplines and institutional capabilities in the SADC region.

Several workshops, keynote presentations, oral and poster presentation sessions, panel discussions, and chat sessions have been announced. More information about the programme will follow.

Early registration closes 15 June 2022. Find more information here https://conference.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/2022-sarima-conference/sarima2022  

"Formation virtuelle sur les outils AVAREF pour l'évaluation des protocoles de recherche clinique" (French only)   

5, 6 & 8 April 2022 | 10:00 - 13:00 GMT https://tinyurl.com/jtfvdnx2

22 - 25 March 2022 | 10:00 - 14:00 GMT Virtual

The webinar will include the fundamentals of the GBD compare software, developed by the University of Washington, that will be used to retrieve and visualize sex-disaggregated data related to health research.

Register by 5 March 2022.

For registration and more information in English click here, French click here

The EDCTP grant “Strengthening Bioethics Committees in Lusophone African Region” will be conducting a free Ethics course in Health Research for Lusophone countries on March 14 - 18 2022. The course will bring together presidents and members of ethics/bioethics committees from various countries of the PALOP and Portugal. Additional details are available at https://www.lusoafro-bioethics.org .

EDCTP has become a member of Europe PMC (PubMed Central), an open science platform that maintains a worldwide collection of scientific articles and research outputs. Joining Europe PMC enables EDCTP-funded researchers to share their publications via one central location. Sharing publications by EuropePMC ensures that they will also satisfy the requirements for EDCTP-funded research projects: making publications openly accessible as soon as possible. EDCTP invites all EDCTP grantees to attend a training webinar on 16 March at 09:00 UTC. This webinar will introduce the EDCTP open access policy and provide step-by-step guidance on how to comply with the policy and deposit research manuscripts using the Europe PMC plus submission system for inclusion in Europe PMC and PMC USA.

Click here for more information.

Partnering for the development of sustainable clinical research infrastructures and a skilled workforce in Africa

When: 16 February 2022, 9:00-11:00 CET
Where: Virtual

This session on Partnering for the development of sustainable clinical research infrastructures and a skilled workforce in Africa, co-chaired by EDCTP and the European Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN), brings together key global health actors to collectively discuss the next steps towards the comprehensive mobilisation of all the stakeholders necessary for building sustainable clinical research infrastructure, skills development, and strengthening of institutions for the development and uptake of safe and effective R&I products in Africa. A set of recommendations on clinical trial infrastructure and capacity building in Africa arising from a session hosted by ECRIN and EDCTP on 17 June 2021 at the Africa-Europe Science and Innovation Summit will also be further discussed.

More information and agenda »

Registration »

The Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR) is a regional register of clinical trials conducted in Africa. The registry is an African initiative serving the needs of Africans. It provides an open-access platform where clinical trials can be registered free of charge. The PACTR aims to increase clinical trial registration in Africa by developing awareness of the need to register trials and supporting trialists during registration. The PACTR has made a few enhancements to improve access and functionality of the registry:

1. A new PACTR registry URL has been created : https://pactr.samrc.ac.za
2.  New filters to allow researchers easily track the status of their trials : “submitted”; “in progress”; “approved”; “denied” or “incomplete” have been added. Researchers can use the filters to only search and view the specific status of their trials.

The Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU) has opened a call for expression of interest for the selection of the members of its Scientific Committee. The committee will be composed of fifteen to eighteen members, ensuring a balanced representation of experts within the scope of the activities of the Joint Undertaking, including with respect to gender and geographical balance. Collectively, the members of the Scientific Committee will have the necessary competences and expertise covering the technical domain in order to make science-based recommendations to the Joint Undertaking.

More information: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/research_and_innovation/research_by_area/documents/ec_rtd_edctp3-call-eoi-members.pdf

Factors that influence parents’ views and practices regarding routine childhood vaccination

Findings from an EPOC qualitative evidence synthesis

22 February 2022 Time: 2pm SAST (UTC +2)

In this webinar, Sara Cooper from Cochrane South Africa at the South African Medical Research Council will present the findings of a new EPOC qualitative evidence synthesis. This review, available in the Cochrane Library here, is highly relevant to both routine childhood vaccination and vaccination in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To join the webinar, please register here

Cochrane SA is inviting you to voluntarily participate in a survey about your current and future training needs, to inform the training events offered by Cochrane SA. This is part of a broader project by Cochrane SA that aims to evaluate the training offered by Cochrane SA.

More information about this project is available here

To complete the survey click here

The survey will be open until 28 February 2022

WHO is hosting the 3^rd COVID- 19 Global research and innovation forum, 24-25 February 2022 between 13:00 - 18:00 (on both days) Central European Time (CET).

This virtual event will bring together diverse COVID-19 research scientists, regulatory experts, funders, Member States policy makers and other experts.  The goals of the Forum are:

Goal 1: To continue to accelerate research that can contribute end the current pandemic and facilitate that those affected receive optimal care; while integrating innovation fully within each research area.

Goal 2: To support research priorities in a way that contributes to the development of global research platforms and research priorities and leads to better preparation for future pandemics.

 Discussions will focus on the future of COVID-19 research.  The forum will include scientific presentations and discussions that will focus on different areas of research.  Moreover, there will be keynote presentations and panel discussions on how research can help to end this pandemic and prepare for future pandemics.

The R&D Blueprint webpage https://www.who.int/teams/blueprint/covid-19 has  a variety of resources from expert consultations, as well as other research tools.

Registration: https://who-e.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Xm1Gm3SHS86qSpMHCbHkjQ

Are you an African researcher or a clinician working on HIV vaccine research and development? Are you interested in being a mentee or mentor?

Join the IAS Mentorship Programme by applying here!

When asked: “What is your main area of interest/work in HIV?” choose “HIV vaccines”

Application deadline is 07 February 2022.

TDR, ESSENCE, SARIMA and CEDEIM are organising the free webinar ‘Five keys to optimizing the costing and pricing of research in low and middle-income countries’ in Spanish (‘Cinco claves para optimizar el cálculo de costos y estableciemento de precios de investigación en países de bajos y medios ingresos’). Registration: https://forms.office.com/r/JiMkYLyD5U

In this webinar organised by WHO, speakers will talk about the need, the barriers, and the potential solutions to the diagnostic issues that are facing us.

Date: 28 October 2021
Time: 14:00–15:30 CET
Registration now: https://who.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KkLVLSesTpObi_lgM5yvwQ

ASLM wants you to be part of our upcoming virtual conference: Responding to Outbreaks through Resilient Laboratory Systems: Lessons Learnt from the COVID-19 Pandemic, 15-18 November 2021.   If you are a student or professional in a low- or middle- income country, you may qualify for the ASLM2021 Scholarship Programme. The scholarship covers the cost of registration and unlocks access to plenaries, symposia, roundtables and more. Speakers will cover hot topics such as the threat of emerging pathogens; the need to strengthen diagnostics services for routine care and emergencies; strategies for diagnostic network optimisation and integration; and pathogen genomics. The conference offers the opportunity to hear from world renown experts on infectious disease control, public health and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected laboratories in Africa and across the globe.

Scholarship applicants must complete the online application by 1 November 2021. Applicants must describe what they hope to gain by attending ASLM2021 and justify their scholarship need. Awards will be made no later than 8 November 2021.

For more information about ASLM2021, please visit the ASLM2021 website.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had a devastating toll on the health care systems and communities in low- and middle-income countries. To address and discuss the various challenges that these countries face daily, we invite you to join us for this virtual workshop on Approaches to Combat COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) scheduled on Tuesday, 23 November 2021 at 15:00 CET.
Explore challenges and prevention\treatment strategies uniquely suited to the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries, considering regional differences in access to medications, health system capacity, and public measures.

Registration fees are waived for healthcare professionals,* NGO representatives, advocates, community representatives, and policymakers/government representatives.
*Healthcare professionals are defined as professionals that provide any type of health care service related to COVID-19 or other diseases.

Please contact the Conference Secretariat for more information at Lara@amededu.com or visit our website https://academicmedicaleducation.com/meeting/approaches-combat-covid-19-LMIC-workshop

In less than a month, on 12-14 October 2021, INTEREST 2021 will take place as a virtual conference! We are delighted to say that the final programme is ready and filled with key experts presenting the latest data throughout a series of exciting sessions. In addition to this, we will have capacity-building sessions available for all young career researchers registered for the conference.
To see the programme overview visit http://interestworkshop.org/program-2021/

Practical Information:
Young Investigators
The registration fee is waived for all young investigators. An application form needs to be completed by a supervisor and received by the Conference Secretariat at magda.sevlidou@amededu.com
Resource-Limited Settings
In addition, we are pleased to provide a discounted registration fee for all healthcare professionals, NGO/GO representatives, and advocates from resource-limited settings. This will be available upon completing registration.

Only 1 week left until the abstract deadline for the HIV Prevention Summit 2021. Make sure to submit your findings today to become part of this remarkable program packed with international experts.

Abstract Topics
• PrEP and PEP
• Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibodies Research
• Social Structural Determinants of PEP and PrEP Implementation and Use
We accept two kinds of abstracts:
Research Abstracts: Present the latest results from your study and discuss your findings with an expert audience.
“Lessons Learned” Abstracts: What worked and what did not work? Share your experiences and exchange ideas with international experts.

Visit our website for more information about the abstracts - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/hiv-prevention-summit-2021

Day 3 of INTEREST 2021 is dedicated to the late Prof. Charles Boucher, who sadly passed away in February of this year.

Alongside the late Dr. Joep Lange, Charles founded the INTEREST conference in 2007 to bring together a multidisciplinary team of experts who could share knowledge and establish partnerships with the ultimate aim of improving the life quality of people living with HIV across the African continent.

The third day of this year's conference will feature memorial lectures focusing on HIV epidemiological trends, the evolution of HIV treatment to date and changes in how HIV healthcare services are being delivered in the region. Delegates can expect to take part in interactive sessions exploring the management of drug resistance, virological failure and the future of PrEP in Africa.
 
Charles' love for teaching, particularly in regards to educating young researchers, was well known. This final day of INTEREST 2021 features a mentorship session, with the day specifically targeted towards young investigators.
 
We invite you to join us in honouring Charles' memory at INTEREST 2021 and contributing to the cross-disciplinary discussion on HIV treatment, pathogenesis and prevention throughout Africa.The third day of this year's conference will feature memorial lectures focusing on HIV epidemiological trends, the evolution of HIV treatment to date and changes in how HIV healthcare services are being delivered in the region. Delegates can expect to take part in interactive sessions exploring the management of drug resistance, virological failure and the future of PrEP in Africa.
 
Charles' love for teaching, particularly in regards to educating young researchers, was well known. This final day of INTEREST 2021 features a mentorship session, with the day specifically targeted towards young investigators.
 
We invite you to join us in honouring Charles' memory at INTEREST 2021 and contributing to the cross-disciplinary discussion on HIV treatment, pathogenesis and prevention throughout Africa.

To register visit https://virology.eventsair.com/interest-2021/registration/Site/Register

The International Workshop on HIV & Adolescence 2021 will take place as a virtual program over four days: 29-30 September & 6-7 October.
We invite you to register now to be part of this engaging, interactive, and diverse learning experience with multidisciplinary experts and young advocates from around the world working to achieve a sustainable response to HIV.

For more information or to register visit https://virology.eventsair.com/international-workshop-on-hiv-adolescence-2021/registration/Site/Register

Registration for the virtual WSPID 2022 is now open!

Be part of this global pediatric infectious diseases event where you will advance your career, connect with like-minded people, and contribute to decreasing the burden of pediatric infectious diseases worldwide.
The congress will begin with two Pre-Congress days, on 20 & 21 February, which will include industry sessions and the Research workshop. These days are included in the registration fee.
Moreover, Spanish subtitles or voice-over will be available during the sessions.

Register early by 30 November 2021 and pay as low as $150. Special fees are available to trainees, students, fellows and nurses.

REGISTER EARLY visit https://wspid2022.com/registration/

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect worldwide and presents unique challenges to healthcare providers, particularly those working in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).
Often, in LMICs, disease burden is more significant, outcomes are poorer, and demographic characteristics necessitate region-specific approaches to healthcare organization.
Following severe COVID-19 outbreaks, healthcare systems become overwhelmed and struggle to provide essential levels of care to patients.
To respond effectively to COVID-19 in LMICs, we need to develop new contextualized and locally relevant approaches.

The appropriate diagnosis and clinical management of patients are of utmost importance, and inappropriate treatments should be avoided. Global inequities in vaccine distribution have the potential to worsen the pandemic in LMICs. In many countries, there is no established platform for vaccinating an entire adult population.
Delivering vaccines to essential and front-line workers is achievable, but how do we address accessing vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations?
How can these regional differences in access to medications, health care infrastructure, and public health measures be addressed to combat COVID-19 in LMICs?
To address these challenges and provide a platform for exchanging knowledge, we are pleased to announce our new program, Approaches to Combat COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
This exciting workshop will focus on the specific regional challenges for LMICs in the clinical management of COVID-19. Topics of discussion will include how to handle surges, public health, prevention strategies, and focus on vaccines rollout.

Join us virtually on 23 November!
Registration fees are waived for healthcare professionals. For more information on the program and to register for the virtual workshop, please visit our website - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/meeting/approaches-combat-covid-19-LMIC-workshop

Applications are now open for the 2021 GACD Implementation Science School!

The School will take place online over seven days between 29 November and 10 December 2021.
This unique opportunity is perfect for early-career researchers working in NCD prevention and management – particularly those based in low- and middle-income countries – to build their knowledge, skills, and confidence in the field of implementation science.

Through expert-led lectures, small group sessions, facilitated group work, and panel discussions, participants will learn how to study and implement research findings into policy and practice, select and apply theories, models, and frameworks, and create a professional network for future collaborations.

Apply here: https://gacd.org/research/implementation-science-capacity-building/2021-gacd-implementation-science-school-online
Applications are open until 30 September 2021.

We have good news to share regarding the much-awaited 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health which will take place virtually between 19-22 October 2021. Given the current circumstances due to COVID-19, we have extended registration with the early rates till Wednesday, September 15.

Our registration fees have something for everyone and reflect the inclusive nature we hope to promote in the upcoming conference. In this spirit, we have segmented our pricing with attractive rates for delegates from all over the world, including from Low and Low-Middle Income Countries (LIC & LMICs) as well as for students and nurses.

To register visit https://union2021.urevent.fr/

For any further registration-related queries, please email: registration-theunion@urevent.fr

The Call for Abstracts for the 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines is now open. Researchers, product developers, advocates, community representatives, and others interested and engaged in TB vaccine R&D are encouraged to submit abstracts to share new approaches, data, and results in TB vaccine R&D, policy, and access. Submitted abstracts will be considered for oral or poster presentation, and in-person and virtual presentation opportunities will be available. A limited amount of support will be available for in-person (where possible based on restrictions at the time) and virtual participation. More information about travel support and how to apply will be provided shortly.

Abstracts will be accepted through 15 October 2021

For more information 

Open Science is core to PLOS’ mission, but it’s you, and the whole research community, who define what Openness really means. Starting September 13th, join us for Scientists for Open Science, our first week-long virtual program bringing together researchers and stakeholders from around the globe to share perspectives on Open Science.

Whether you have 5 minutes, or an hour a day, we would love for you to be involved. We’re assembling experts, gathering together resources, and starting a conversation we hope will continue over the coming months. We’ll explore the drivers behind Open Science, emerging trends, obstacles and experiences—all with the aim of increasing awareness and support, and developing better solutions.  

Participate in our week long virtual conversation to:

•  learn from peers
• take self-assessment quizzes
• contribute your perspectives
•  vote on crucial issues

For more information visit https://plos.org/register-for-open/

There is a week left to submit your abstract and be a game changer in the field of pediatric infectious diseases. Contribute to the future of child care and to the WSPID 2022 program!

We have already received submissions in topics such as:
• Antibiotic Stewardship and Infection Control
• Other bacterial infections
• Global Child Health
• Influenza infection and respiratory virus infections

Send us your work and make sure your research theme is part of this important world congress.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 8 September 2021

For more information visit https://wspid2022.com/abstract-submission/

VIEW EVENT LIVE HERE ON SEPT. 13: https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/09-13-2021/overcoming-barriers-to-diversifying-clinical-trials-third-public-workshop

On Monday, September 13, 2021, join the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for a virtual event to inform our consensus study report, Improving the Representation of Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Clinical Trials and Research. Clinical trials and clinical research often does not represent the demographic diversity of the populations that these novel drugs and interventions aim to serve. This workshop will include a discussion with journal editors on the role of medical journals in promoting more diverse trials; an exploration of the role of institutional review boards in promoting clinical trial equity and diversity; and a conversation about ongoing efforts that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are undertaking to promote health equity and diversity. The workshop panels and discussions will inform the ongoing work of the National Academies Committee on Improving the Representation of Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Clinical Trials and Research.

The report is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The audience will have an opportunity to engage through moderated Q&A throughout the agenda. Please contact jveras@nas.edu for event inquiries.

VIEW STUDY INFORMATION:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/improving-the-representation-of-women-and-underrepresented-minorities-in-clinical-trials-and-research

On behalf of the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC) and Community Partners (CP), we invite you to attend the How to Critically (and Quickly) Read a Protocol Webinar.
Understanding a protocol is important for community members interested in engaging in clinical research. One of the challenges for community members participating in protocol development is learning how to critically review a protocol from a community perspective. CP, a group of community representatives working across the five National Institutes of Health (NIH) HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks, is honored to feature the following panelists to discuss this topic: Neetha Morar, Jan Kosmyna, and Jeffrey Schouten.

Panelists will review and highlight how to critically and quickly review the following components of a protocol as outlined in the updated How to Critically (and Quickly) Read a Protocol document, which will soon be published and distributed widely:
• Cover Sheet and Protocol Team Membership
• Study Objectives
• Protocol Summary
• Study Design
• Study Population
• Informed Consent Template
• Other: Barriers to Participation, Review for Stigmatizing Language, Resources

This webinar is open to anyone interested in learning more about this topic and corresponding document. We hope that you will join this engaging and enlightening discussion.

Date: 8 September 2021

Time: 11 am - Noon PDT / 2 pm EDT / 8 pm SAST / 9 pm EAT

For more information visit https://www.hanc.info/

The 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines will take place from 22-24 February 2022 in Toulouse, France, under the high patronage of Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and under the patronage of Mr. Olivier Véran, Minister for Solidarity and Health. The theme of the 6th Global Forum is "New horizons for TB vaccines".

The 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines is currently planned to be a hybrid conference, with options for in-person and online participation. The Organizing Partners are carefully monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential impact on the in-person component of the 6th Global Forum. Information will be posted as it becomes available.

Abstracts and Registrations                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Global Forum Organizers and Organizing Committee invite abstracts for potential oral or poster (on-site or virtual) presentation at the 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines. The abstract submission platform will be open from 1 September-15 October 2021. Learn more.
Registration for the 6th Global Forum will open in October 2021.

The Global Forum on TB Vaccines is the world’s largest gathering of stakeholders striving to develop new vaccines to prevent TB. It provides an important and unique opportunity to review the state of the field, share the latest research findings, and identify new and innovative approaches to TB vaccine R&D, with the end goal of developing and deploying new TB vaccines as quickly as possible.

For information about the 6th Global Forum on TB Vaccines, visit https://toulouse.tbvaccinesforum.org/

Submissions Open for Late-Breaker Sessions on TB, COVID-19 and Lung Health
The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health is pleased to announce that submissions for Late-Breaker Sessions are open from 15 July-12 August 2021. Submit now.
In keeping with the spirit of a late-breaker session, we ask that only new, innovative and significant findings of broad interest that have occurred after 12 May, or for which information has just become available, be submitted for the late-breaker sessions. 

The following three late-breaker sessions are slated for the Conference that will take place from 19-22 October 2021:
THE UNION LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON COVID-19 
All aspects of SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19-related lung health are welcomed for presentation during the late-breaker session, from basic science in immunology and vaccines, clinical trials for vaccines or therapeutics, to operational research in adults and children.  
This session will consist of up to seven pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each, followed by live Q&A with the online audience.  

THE UNION/CDC LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON TB 
The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are pleased to announce a late-breaker session related to tuberculosis (TB). 
This late-breaker session includes all aspects of TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment research (including basic and clinical science, epidemiology, social, behavioural, and health care delivery). Given the global COVID-19 pandemic, we will also consider select presentations that explore the intersection of COVID-19 and TB prevention and programmatic implementation. It will consist of 7 pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each and live Q&A at the end of the session. The session is scheduled on 22 October 2021.  

THE UNION STUDENT LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON LUNG HEALTH 
The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health is pleased to announce the Union student late-breaker session focusing on lung health and sponsored by the Research Institute of Tuberculosis of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (RIT/JATA). 
All aspects of lung health are welcomed for presentation during the late-breaker session, from basic science in immunology and vaccines, to operational research in tuberculosis (TB), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and other lung health issues in adults and children. This session will consist of up to seven pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each, followed by live Q&A with online audience.  

Individuals submitting an abstract must be currently enrolled as a student in a university programme at undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral level either full- or part-time. 
DETAILS
All abstracts must follow the abstract submission guidelines 
For more information and details on sponsorship for late-breaker sessions: https://theunion.org/late-breaker-sessions
For any further queries, email scientific@theunion.org
Submit now!

Abstract submission for the 12th World Congress of the World Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases is now open! We invite you to contribute to the outstanding scientific program by submitting your latest research in the field, in any of these topics.
Your work will gain unrivaled exposure amongst international medical and scientific professionals. We are excited to learn from your research and knowledge and impact the future of pediatric infectious diseases together.

Abstract submission deadline is 8 September 2021.

For more information visit https://wspid2022.com/abstract-submission/

The 13th African Rotavirus Symposium (ARS), organised under the auspices of the African Rotavirus Network (AfrRN), will be a virtual event. The symposium is hosted by the University of Nairobi in partnership with WHO African Regional Office (WHO AFRO), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
The 13th ARS will be held on the 3rd and 4th November 2021 and the format will be one 3-hour session on each day.

The theme of the symposium is “Maintaining momentum for rotavirus immunization during the COVID-19 era”

The session topics are:
Update on Rotavirus Vaccines and Immunization in the context of COVID-19 pandemic
New Research Updates

• Host interactions with rotavirus (immune/microbiome/etc.)
• Rapid fire updates from the field

For more information visit http://afr-rn.samrc.ac.za/ars2021/abstracts.html

The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health is pleased to announce that submissions for Late-Breaker Sessions are open from 15 July-12 August 2021. Submit now!
In keeping with the spirit of a late-breaker session, we ask that only new, innovative and significant findings of broad interest that have occurred after 12 May, or for which information has just become available, be submitted for the late-breaker sessions. 

The following three late-breaker sessions are slated for the Conference that will take place from 19-22 October 2021:
THE UNION LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON COVID-19 
All aspects of SARS-CoV-2 and Covid-19-related lung health are welcomed for presentation during the late-breaker session, from basic science in immunology and vaccines, clinical trials for vaccines or therapeutics, to operational research in adults and children.  
This session will consist of up to seven pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each, followed by live Q&A with the online audience.  
THE UNION/CDC LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON TB 
The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are pleased to announce a late-breaker session related to tuberculosis (TB). 
This late-breaker session includes all aspects of TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment research (including basic and clinical science, epidemiology, social, behavioural, and health care delivery). Given the global COVID-19 pandemic, we will also consider select presentations that explore the intersection of COVID-19 and TB prevention and programmatic implementation. It will consist of 7 pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each and live Q&A at the end of the session. The session is scheduled on 22 October 2021.  
THE UNION STUDENT LATE-BREAKER SESSION ON LUNG HEALTH 
The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health is pleased to announce the Union student late-breaker session focusing on lung health and sponsored by the Research Institute of Tuberculosis of the Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (RIT/JATA). 
All aspects of lung health are welcomed for presentation during the late-breaker session, from basic science in immunology and vaccines, to operational research in tuberculosis (TB), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia, and other lung health issues in adults and children. This session will consist of up to seven pre-recorded oral presentations of 8 minutes each, followed by live Q&A with online audience.  
Individuals submitting an abstract must be currently enrolled as a student in a university programme at undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral level either full- or part-time. 

DETAILS
All abstracts must follow the abstract submission guidelines 
For more information and details on sponsorship for late-breaker sessions: https://theunion.org/late-breaker-sessions
For any further queries, email scientific@theunion.org

This project was coordinated by the ICGEB and implemented in partnership with reference testing laboratories in Africa. ICGEB Member States, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria, have taken part in a pilot study to assess the efficacy of a novel diagnostic tool in diverse settings. Dr Joseph Fokam (TMA2015CDF1027) was the local PI in Cameroon.

This pilot study, performed during the period September 2020-May 2021, contributed to the accuracy in detecting SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. It evaluated the diagnostic performance of RT-LAMP in terms of intrinsic (sensitivity, specificity) and extrinsic (positive and negative predictive values) characteristics according to SARS-CoV-2 viral load estimates provided by the conventional RT-qPCR in four LMICs of Sub-Saharan Africa. Results from the study show that RT-LAMP represents a formidable alternative to RT-qPCR.  New England BioLabs freely contributed its LAMP technology to the study, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded the project (INV – 022816).

To learn more about this exciting project visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-xSlulkN-4

THEME FOR ICASA 2021 - "Africa’s AIDS response: The race to 2030 – Evidence. Scale Up. Accelerate"

OBJECTIVES FOR ICASA 2021 -

• To strengthen health systems to integrate high impact interventions on comorbidities, emerging infections and NCDs.
• To build, strengthen and invest in Africa’s scientific capacity and manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
• To Identify in Africa, resource tailored interventions for populations most affected including women, children, adolescents, men and Key Populations.
• To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the HIV/AIDS response and share lessons learned in overcoming barriers in maintaining continuity of care for people living with and at risk for HIV infection.
• To amplify national, regional, continental and global integration to reach epidemic control in Africa: Contributions from Africans in the Diaspora.

Regular Registration for ICASA2021, Durban-South Africa is still open.
Register from today till 31st August 2021 and save 100USD.

For more information visit http://icasa2021.saafrica.org/

Another CEPI partner, Clover Biopharmaceuticals, has become the latest vaccine developer to sign an advance purchase agreement with COVAX to make their COVID-19 vaccine available to populations worldwide.
Under the new agreement between Clover and our COVAX partner, Gavi, up to 414 million doses are set to be made available to participating countries in 2021 and 2022. CEPI’s significant early investments have been critical to the development of Clover’s vaccine candidate, and were directly linked to access commitments which enabled this deal.

Since late Spring, 2020, CEPI has provided up to $328 million to support preclinical and clinical testing of the candidate vaccine, in addition to scaling-up the biotech’s in-house manufacturing capacity. Clover yesterday announced that its pivotal global Phase 2/3 clinical trial—funded by CEPI—is now fully enrolled, and that interim efficacy data is expected in Q3.
COVAX has now distributed over 100 million vaccines since its launch in February this year. Supply of Clover’s vaccine is anticipated to start in the last quarter of the year, pending Emergency Use Licensure from the World Health Organization (WHO).

To learn more visit https://cepi.net/news_cepi/from-lab-to-potential-jab-clovers-covid-19-vaccine-story/

Dr Jane Wanyama, a senior public health specialist based at the Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences at Makerere University passed away on 18 June 2021.
Her death was announced by United Christian Centre, a Pentecostal church based in Makerere-Kikoni in Kampala, where Wanyama was a member of the congregation.
Wanyama attended Makerere University for her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Health, and thereafter attended the University of Antwerp in Belgium to obtain a doctorate in Medical Sciences in 2017. She had over 15 years of experience in designing, coordinating, supervising, and implementing research and evaluations on Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH).
Wanyama was a current European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) Career Development Fellowship grantee conducting research in adolescent health. 
EDCTP extends their sincere condolences to all her loved ones.

EDCTP invites submission of abstracts highlighting original contributions on strategic EDCTP research topics and on research capacity strengthening, linked to the Forum theme. Investigators involved in EDCTP-funded projects are encouraged to use this opportunity to share new developments and results from their projects. The deadline for abstracts is 28 June 2021.

Format and eligibility:
Abstracts must be submitted in English and should not exceed 300 words
Abstracts should follow the format: Background; Methods; Results; Conclusions
Abstracts must not have been published or submitted for presentation to any other national or international meeting.Submission: Abstracts must be submitted via the online system by 28 June 2021. Only abstracts submitted online by the deadline will be considered. Detailed instructions are available in the online submission system - https://edctpforum.eventsair.com/edctp-forum-2021/abstract-submission.  For questions regarding abstracts, please contact the EDCTP Forum Team (forum@edctp.org).

Evaluation procedure:
All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Forum scientific programme committee and external experts, in collaboration with EDCTP secretariat members. Selection of abstracts will be based on the following criteria: Abstract quality; Relevance to the Forum theme and to EDCTP; Significance of the reported results
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review by 14 July 2021.

Please note that the final decision on whether the abstract is accepted and, if so, whether it will be for a poster or oral presentation will be made by EDCTP and the Forum Programme Committee.
Presenting authors whose abstracts have been accepted will receive further instructions for presenting their abstract. All presenters will be required to pre-record their presentations.

Vaccination plays an important role in the management of infectious diseases. Lessons from HIV on preparedness, hesitancy and ethics play a crucial role in preparing a population for vaccination. The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines provides a fascinating example.
This webinar will explore some of the experiences of vaccine programmes for both HIV and COVID-19 and the ethical issues around vulnerability, equity of access, hesitancy and field experiences with vaccine initiatives. This is a highly topical issue with learnings from the HIV pandemic.

The programme presents four perspectives from world-leading experts with expertise in both HIV and COVID-19. We are privileged to have the current head of the International AIDS Society examine ethical issues and a wide range of perspectives from Prof. Gray (South Africa), Dr. Ward (France), Prof. Kamarulzaman (Malaysia) and Dr. Bonner (United States).

The 2nd webinar on "Vaccines and Vulnerabilities - HIV COVID and Back" is set to take place on Thursday, 1 July 2021 at 15:00 BST / 16:00 CEST. Complimentary registration is provided by AIDSImpact https://virology.eventsair.com/aidsim2021ws/registrationjuly/Site/Register

This year’s edition of INTEREST will be held as a virtual meeting from 12 – 14 October. Dr. Andrew Kambugu, a member of the International Conference Committee (ICC), shares his thoughts on why you should join this important meeting.

Young Investigators
The registration fee is waived for all Young Investigators. To be eligible as a young investigator, one should be:
- 35 years of age or younger; and
- a current Master/PhD student OR have obtained an MD/PharmD/PhD degree in the last five years.
An application form needs to be completed by a supervisor and received by the Conference Secretariat at Lara.daSilvaMiguel@amededu.com.

Resource-Limited Settings
In addition, we are pleased to provide a discounted registration fee for all healthcare professionals, NGO/GO representatives, and advocates from resource-limited settings. This is available when completing the registration

For more information visit http://interestconference.org/

EDCTP invites submission of abstracts highlighting original contributions on strategic EDCTP research topics and on research capacity strengthening, linked to the Forum theme. Investigators involved in EDCTP-funded projects are encouraged to use this opportunity to share new developments and results from their projects. The deadline for abstracts is 28 June 2021.

Format and eligibility:
Abstracts must be submitted in English and should not exceed 300 words
Abstracts should follow the format: Background; Methods; Results; Conclusions
Abstracts must not have been published or submitted for presentation to any other national or international meeting.Submission:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Abstracts must be submitted via the online system by 28 June 2021. Only abstracts submitted online by the deadline will be considered. Detailed instructions are available in the online submission system https://edctpforum.eventsair.com/edctp-forum-2021/abstract-submission. For questions regarding abstracts, please contact the EDCTP Forum Team (forum@edctp.org).

Evaluation procedure:
All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Forum scientific programme committee and external experts, in collaboration with EDCTP secretariat members. Selection of abstracts will be based on the following criteria: Abstract quality; Relevance to the Forum theme and to EDCTP; Significance of the reported results
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review by 14 July 2021.

Please note that the final decision on whether the abstract is accepted and, if so, whether it will be for a poster or oral presentation will be made by EDCTP and the Forum Programme Committee.
Presenting authors whose abstracts have been accepted will receive further instructions for presenting their abstract. All presenters will be required to pre-record their presentations.

UKCDR will be co-hosting a webinar on the 10th of June on Equitable Partnerships, in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the Research Fairness Initiative: Equitable partnerships for global research webinar │ACU. 

To register visit https://www.acu.ac.uk/acu-events/equitable-partnerships-for-global-research-webinar/

The event includes speakers from a range of locations, and UKCDR’s Executive Director, Marta Tufet, will be presenting on the importance of equitable research partnerships, as well as highlighting the recently launched resource hub and equitable partnerships project.

EDCTP invites submission of abstracts highlighting original contributions on strategic EDCTP research topics and on research capacity strengthening, linked to the Forum theme. Investigators involved in EDCTP-funded projects are encouraged to use this opportunity to share new developments and results from their projects. The deadline for abstracts is 10 June 2021.

Format and eligibility:
Abstracts must be submitted in English and should not exceed 300 words
Abstracts should follow the format: Background; Methods; Results; Conclusions
Abstracts must not have been published or submitted for presentation to any other national or international meeting.

Submission:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Abstracts must be submitted via the online system by 10 June 2021. Only abstracts submitted online by the deadline will be considered. Detailed instructions are available in the online submission system https://edctpforum.eventsair.com/edctp-forum-2021/abstract-submission. For questions regarding abstracts, please contact the EDCTP Forum Team (forum@edctp.org).

Evaluation procedure:
All submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the Forum scientific programme committee and external experts, in collaboration with EDCTP secretariat members. Selection of abstracts will be based on the following criteria: Abstract quality; Relevance to the Forum theme and to EDCTP; Significance of the reported results
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review by 14 July 2021.

Please note that the final decision on whether the abstract is accepted and, if so, whether it will be for a poster or oral presentation will be made by EDCTP and the Forum Programme Committee.

Presenting authors whose abstracts have been accepted will receive further instructions for presenting their abstract. All presenters will be required to pre-record their presentations.

The HIV Prevention Program is happening on June 2 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT. This program will start with a state-of-the-art update on HIV vaccines by Dr. Larry Corey, followed by an in-depth look at a variety of PrEP strategies, including daily oral and 2-1-1 PrEP, long-acting injectable cabotegravir, and newer agents entering the testing pipeline. You’ll hear from some of the world’s leading researchers on HIV PrEP, and we’ll close with a roundtable discussion, in which we’ll take questions from the audience to discuss the future of HIV prevention. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the current state of PrEP and what the future holds for HIV prevention.

Registration fees are waived for healthcare professionals. We welcome everyone involved in HIV prevention to join this important program.

Program Overview
• 09:00 AM PDT: Plenary Talk: HIV Vaccine Landscape
• 09:25 AM PDT: Session 1: Oral PrEP Today – Where Do We Stand?
• 10.00 AM PDT: Session 2: Long-Acting Injectable PrEP
• 11.20 AM PDT: Roundtable Discussion: Where is HIV Prevention Going?

To register visit https://virology.eventsair.com/hivpre2021/registration/Site/Register

To maximize knowledge sharing across the globe and to combine forces in the COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome anyone with an interest but lacking the resources to attend this important workshop to contact us for scholarship and discount opportunities.

Early Career Researchers and Academics from Resource-Limited-Settings
We invite young professionals working in the field of COVID-19 care and research as well as academics from Resource-Limited-Settings to join the discussion and apply for a scholarship that will fully cover the workshop registration fee.
Additional Discounts
We also provide a 50% discount on the academia registration fee to NGO representatives, government representatives (i.e. CDC, FDA, NIH, FDA), and advocates.
For more details, visit our website (https://academicmedicaleducation.com/covid-19-vaccine-development-implementation-2021/june-edition) or contact the Organizing Secretariat.

Scholarship Deadline: 22 June 2021 at 23:59 CEST

Innovative Biotech - Bringing International Vaccine Manufacturing Expertise to Nigeria/Africa

Chair: Charles Kamau, Co-Chair AVMI Communications Working Group

Speaker: Dr Simon Agwale, CEO of Innovative Biotech, Nigeria and Innovative Biotech, USA Inc

Please find below the Zoom link to register your attendance for the upcoming webinar this week.  

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R8XQvK9oShu1GJiGbcePfQ 

Date: Thursday, 27th May 2021

Time: 15h00 SAST | 13h00 GMT (60min)

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our monthly COVID-19 Clinical Forum program has disseminated the latest emerging data on pathology, therapeutic options, diagnostics, public health strategies, vaccines, and beyond. This year alone, more than 900 participants from 93 countries across all continents have participated in the webinars. Healthcare providers involved in the care of SARS-CoV2 infected patients, infectious disease clinicians, clinical virologists, primary care physicians, intensivists, microbiologists, and specialized nurses are all invited to take part in this webinar series and join the next edition.

Registrations are already open for the June Edition of the COVID-19 Clinical Forum which will take place on 1 June at 20:00 CEST / 14:00 EDT.

Registration fees are waived for healthcare professionals. For more information on the program and to register for the webinar, please visit https://academicmedicaleducation.com/covid-19-clinical-forum-2021

Forty years since the first AIDS cases were reported and just weeks before the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, the United Nations Secretary-General has released a new report with recommendations and targets to get the world on track to end AIDS

NEW YORK, 30 April 2021—The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has warned that despite intensive action and progress made against HIV in some places and population groups, HIV epidemics continue to expand in others and issued a set of 10 key recommendations.* If followed by all countries, this will end the AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. In a new report, Addressing inequalities and getting back on track to end AIDS by 2030, the United Nations Secretary-General urges the world to address the inequalities that are slowing progress.

“It is imperative to break out of an increasingly costly and unsustainable cycle of achieving some progress against HIV but ultimately not enough to bring about an end to the pandemic,” said Mr Guterres in the report. “Inequalities are the key reason why the 2020 global targets were missed. By ending inequalities, transformative outcomes can be achieved for people living with HIV, communities and countries.”

The global targets set out in the General Assembly’s 2016 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS were missed by a long way, allowing the AIDS pandemic to grow in many regions and countries. The staggering 1.7 million new HIV infections that occurred in 2019 are more than three times higher than the 2020 target of less than 500 000 new infections. In addition, the 690 000 AIDS-related deaths in 2019 far exceed the 2020 target of reducing deaths to fewer than 500 000 a year.

“Ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is still within reach—many countries are showing that rapid progress against HIV is possible when evidence-informed strategies and human rights-based approaches are adopted,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “But it requires bold political leadership to challenge and address the social injustices and inequalities that continue to make certain groups of people and entire communities highly vulnerable to HIV infection.”

The report notes that COVID-19 has caused additional setbacks. The United Nations Secretary-General warned that COVID-19 is not an excuse for missing AIDS targets, but rather a stark warning to the countries that they can no longer afford to underinvest in pandemic preparedness and responses.
At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the many spill-over benefits of HIV investments in health and development. Community-led service delivery pioneered by the HIV response is helping to overcome the extraordinary impediments created by COVID-19.

The set of 10 recommendations to get the world back on track include: addressing inequalities and reaching all people living with or at risk of HIV infection to reduce the annual new HIV infections to under 370 000 and annual AIDS-related deaths to under 250 000 by 2025; prioritizing HIV prevention to ensure that 95% of people at risk of HIV infection have access to effective HIV prevention options by 2025; and eliminating new HIV infections among children.

The report underscores that addressing social and structural factors that perpetuate inequalities is key. It highlights, for example, how gender inequality, underpinned by harmful gender norms, restricts women’s use of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services by perpetuating gender-based violence and limiting decision-making power, including the ability of women and girls to refuse unwanted sex, negotiate safer sex and mitigate HIV risk. It also shows how vulnerable, marginalized and criminalized communities, such as gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers, transgender people, prisoners and migrants, also remain at higher risk of HIV infection than the general population because they are not receiving essential information and HIV treatment, prevention and care services. The United Nations Secretary-General describes how communities of people living with, at risk of and affected by HIV are the backbone of the HIV response. Initiatives led by people living with HIV, women, key populations, young people and other affected communities have identified and addressed key inequalities and service gaps, advocated for the rights of their constituents and expanded the reach, scale and quality of health services. In the report, Mr Guterres applauds UNAIDS’ recently adopted Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026: End Inequalities, End AIDS.

“The lessons from the countries, cities and communities that successfully fast-tracked their HIV responses over the last five years are at the heart of the UNAIDS Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026,” said Mr Guterres. “The global AIDS community and UNAIDS have used an inequalities lens to develop the strategy, with new targets that are ambitious, granular and tailored to reach the furthest behind first.”

The report comes 25 years after the creation of UNAIDS and describes how COVID-19 has exposed social inequalities and health system weaknesses. The United Nations Secretary-General says that the world should leverage the experience from responding to the AIDS pandemic to strengthen health systems across the world and improve pandemic preparedness. He also calls for enhanced global solidarity to close the HIV resource gap and increase annual HIV investments in low- and middle-income countries to US$ 29 billion by 2025.

For more information and the full report visit https://hlm2021aids.unaids.org/sg-report/

Are you a healthcare professional looking to improve your knowledge and optimize treatment for PLWH in the COVID-19 era? Then join the top European experts at the upcoming European Meeting on HIV and Hepatitis – Treatment Strategies and Antiviral Drug Resistance 2021 for the latest updates.

This meeting aims to:
- Gather professionals in the fields of HIV and hepatitis clinical care and research in an interactive workshop setting
- Provide a platform for presentation and discussion of the latest developments in the field of antiviral drug development
- Map important current studies and results
- Translate new data into treatment guidelines
- Educate clinicians on how to best implement current and new drugs in clinical practice

An application has been made to the UEMS EACCME® for the CME accreditation of this event.

For more information visit https://academicmedicaleducation.com/european-hiv-hepatitis-2021

The 10th EDCTP Forum will be held as a virtual meeting hosted from the Joaquin Chissano International Conference Centre in Maputo from 17 – 20 October 2021.
The Forum theme – Equity in research for health – is at the core of the EDCTP mission. The second EDCTP programme, EDCTP2, has seen increasing participation from across Africa and Europe in our projects. Nevertheless, gender and geographical disparities remain. We welcome your engagement and your input in discussions at the Forum about successes and challenges in achieving equity in research, and how best to ensure that research processes and outputs address health inequities.

The Forum objectives reflect the need for global research cooperation in preparedness and response to disease outbreaks, in public health emergencies, and in strengthening health systems. Awareness of this need has never been greater than it is now.

The hybrid format of the Forum (virtual and live from Maputo) presents a platform to take stock of the activities and achievements of currently operational Europe-Africa research and capacity building partnerships, including their contribution to strengthening the clinical research environment in African countries and progress towards sustainable development goals.

EDCTP is proud of its record in supporting the career development of African scientists, with more than 240 postgraduate students and 196 fellows supported under EDCTP2, many of whom will attend the Forum and contribute to its programme. We welcome participation from all stakeholders working in the remit of EDCTP2.

The call for abstracts (oral and poster presentations) is now open - Deadline: 12 June 2021. Visit https://www.edctp.org/news-resources/events/edctp-forums/

Our host partners, the Ministry of Health of Mozambique, through the National Institute of Health and the Manhiça Health Research Centre promise an exciting and interactive meeting experience. We look forward to your participation.

There is only one week left to share your research and participate to the 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health, to be held virtually on 19-22 October. Submissions will close on 4 May at 23.59 CEST.

We welcome submissions on issues including tuberculosis (TB) and TB co-infections, tobacco control, lung health and air pollution, as well as civil society initiatives, community engagement, human rights and other related topics, like COVID-19. Check out the full list of tracks here https://theunion.org/our-work/conferences/52nd-union-world-conference-on-lung-health/list-of-tracks

The types of proposals open for submissions are abstracts, symposia, workshops and post-graduate courses. Satellite sessions can be submitted until 30 June.

By presenting your research at the Union World Conference, you contribute to lung health discussions on a global stage. We look forward to ensuring that this year's conference is the most interactive and innovative edition to date, and that the information presented reaches broader and new audiences.
Note: abstract submissions for TBScience will open in June 2021.

Read the abstract and session guidelines and submit your proposal now https://wclh2021.abstractserver.com/submission. Registration to the conference will open in June.
For any queries, please contact scientific@theunion.org.

The HIV & Adolescence workshop is a highlight in my calendar every year. Unique because of its wholesale involvement of young people, state of the art keynote lectures, and engaging conversations involving young and older, clinician and non-clinicians, scientists, and advocates. It provides cutting-edge reviews of the latest innovation, science, and issues challenging young people in a world that is facing its 4th decade of battling HIV. If you need a dose of information, activism, hope, and education all in one workshop please join!

The International Workshop on HIV & Adolescence strongly believes in the engagement and inclusion of young people in the workshop.
We are pleased to waive the registration fee for all delegates that are 25 years of age and below.
Additionally, we offer a 50% discount on the registration fee for all delegates that are 30 years of age and below.
If you are eligible for this discount, please click the button below to submit your application.

For more information visit https://virology.eventsair.com/international-workshop-on-hiv-adolescence-2021/registration/Site/Register

The University of the Western Cape, South Africa and SPaRCS partners invite all interested to this interactive webinar which seeks to sensitise a broader health systems and public health audience to pharmacoviligance (PV) and clinical trials oversight of medicines and vaccines. We will also be sharing information about the SPaRCS project and commence conversations for networking & collaboration within sub-Saharan African countries.

Keynote speaker: Dr Helen Ndagije (Director: Product Safety, National Drug Authority, Uganda)

*SPaRCS aims to strengthen pharmacovigilance (PV) systems and clinical trials oversight of National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

Date and Time: Wednesday, 12 May 2021, 14:00-15:30 South African Standard Time

Registration: https://uwc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMuc--hpj8sHdUCzMsh5fy_LZ6fKFw_DKg7

Further information: tpetersen@uwc.ac.za, Tamlin Petersen, School of Public Health, UWC

On World Malaria Day 2021, EDCTP joins all partners in the ‘Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria’ campaign towards the goal of malaria elimination. Towards malaria research & development, EDCTP has invested more than €150 million to support a portfolio of 64 research projects conducted by African-European consortia and research fellows in Africa.

These projects support the development of innovative products – diagnostics, drugs and vaccines – needed to manage, control and eliminate malaria. EDCTP funding progressed the development of the R21 vaccine that recently demonstrated greater than 75% protection in a recent phase II trial. The EDCTP malaria portfolio also includes studies on implementation of interventions and activities to strengthen health systems, essential to ensure successful roll-out of new and existing products, and to contribute to the malaria eradication agenda.

“We must not waver in our efforts to control and steadily move towards malaria eradication, despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges. The recent exciting results from the clinical development of the R21 malaria vaccine in Burkina Faso bring us a step closer to a highly effective malaria vaccine. We remain committed to support the development of new and improved products for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment, as well as product-focused implementation research to ensure that these products reach the populations that need them most.”
Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director

For more about EDCTP funded malaria projects visit https://www.edctp.org/news/world-malaria-day-2021/

Safety, Efficacy, Uptake and Equitable Access

Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for use and a global vaccination effort is underway.

To receive an update on the latest vaccine developments and the implementation of vaccination strategies, join the second edition of our virtual series on COVID-19 vaccines with topics to include vaccine efficacy and safety concerning real-world data. World experts will discuss new diagnostic tools to detect emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants and measure protection against infection and its durability.

Interactive lectures will dive into the prospects of vaccine development, including novel vaccine targets, and tackling vaccine hesitance in vulnerable populations, among other burning questions.

For more information visit https://virology.eventsair.com/covid-19-vaccineworkshop/registration/Site/Register

We are pleased to announce that the International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics 2021 will offer virtual scholarships to help offset the cost of registration and/or internet connection for delegates who would otherwise be unable to attend. Applications will be reviewed by a dedicated review committee.

Available scholarships include:
• Registration only
• Data bundle only
• Registration & data bundle

To be eligible applicants must:
• Be actively involved in the field of HIV Pediatrics
• Be able to show benefits to their patients / research / community from attending the workshop
• Be willing and able to share information learned at the workshop with a larger community

Apply for your scholarship now and join HIV Pediatrics 2021! Scholarship Application Deadline: 30 April 2021 at 23:59 CEST https://virology.eventsair.com/hiv-pediatrics-2021/scholarships/Site/Register

We are pleased to inform you that abstract submission is open for the Microbiome & HIV Workshop 2021. Researchers are invited to present their latest studies or share their experiences in the microbiome and HIV field until 5 September 2021.

Abstracts can be submitted under the following categories:
• Comorbidities
• Microbicides / Vaccines
• Pathogenesis
• Technologies & Methodologies
• Transmission & Prevention
• Treatment & Cure

Young Investigators and Academia from Resource-Limited Settings with accepted abstracts will be provided with a registration waiver fee to join the workshop.
Visit our website for further information on abstract submission and available discounts for submitters - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/microbiome-hiv-2021

EDCTP and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) are pleased to invite you to a Special Session that we are jointly organising at the Virtual Global Forum on TB Vaccines to launch a Global TB Vaccine R&D Roadmap on 20 April 2021 at 18:00-19:30 CEST. Please find the agenda for this event enclosed for your information.

EDCTP has commissioned AIGHD to develop a Global TB Vaccine R&D Roadmap to identify priorities for coordinating global action to accelerate the development and implementation of new TB vaccines. It has been developed through an iterative global consultative process designed to identify the key barriers to TB vaccine R&D and implementation, and potential ways in which they might be overcome. It is intended to provide a shared set of priorities to guide the activities of all stakeholders with an interest in TB vaccine development and use.

More information can be found on the EDCTP website: https://www.edctp.org/event/edctp-aighd-special-session-at-the-virtual-global-forum-on-tb-vaccines/ 

To register please follow this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pbpKgGpRR6ejZN1B-i0bxQ

We hope that you will be able to join us and please do kindly help with disseminating this information amongst your relevant contacts.

AIDSImpact is an international behavioral and psychosocial science conference that addresses issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care, focusing both globally and on specific communities and countries hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Join the 1st webinar on "The Nexus Between HIV and COVID-19." This webinar will take place on Thursday, 22 April 2021. Registration is provided complimentary by AIDSImpact.

For more information visit https://virology.eventsair.com/aidsim2021ws/registrationapril/Site/Register

Advances in the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, coupled with improved access to an increasing variety of regimens, have positively affected longevity. People are now living longer with HIV than ever before. This increased life expectancy, alongside long-term adherence to antiretroviral prophylaxis, brings new factors to address. Clinical characteristics commonly observed in aging, such as an increased number of chronic conditions and the use of multiple medications, need to be taken into consideration. Concurrently, monitoring for potential toxicity for those on long-term antiretroviral medication remains significant. With this increase in treatment length, examination of the effects of long-term prophylaxis concerning quality of life and emotional status is vital.

Join our session on Healthy Living with HIV at the European HIV Clinical Forum 2021, where Dr. Carmina Fumez will share her insights surrounding the impact of mental health on the quality of life of people living with HIV.

To register visit https://academicmedicaleducation.com/hiv-clinical-forum/european-2021

Join us for presentations and a Q&A on managing HIV and tuberculosis in children in the midst of a global pandemic.

Speakers:
Dr Usa Thisyakorn (Thailand): Professor of Pediatrics & Executive Director, Tropical Medicine Cluster, Chulalongkorn University
Dr Marieke van der Zalm (South Africa): Paediatrician and clinical researcher, Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
Dr Harsha Lochan (South Africa): Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Frere Hospital

Programme:
1. Frontline experience of managing children with HIV and tuberculosis infections in a pandemic (Harsha Lochan)
2. The prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV: gains and losses over 25 years (Usa Thisyakorn)
3. Diagnosing childhood TB in the face of COVID-19 (Marieke van der Zalm)

Date: Wednesday 21 April 2021
Time: 9.00-10.30 CEST (Amsterdam) | 14.00-15.30 GMT+7 (Bangkok)

To register visit https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9116177086177/WN_YJpnuZW4Sxy4YdAZE2L5hA?mkt_tok=MzA1LVFVSy01MTkAAAF8c9bb8GIk7mh3x0t7lwhqpNVsU8qN_Nm9ThC6yuyEhBUmLX7lu14XXqmQcdcs1D42oUPxkXClyRPoAbgDt-yy8W5uoH4ITuWEyOFFJVJzfcnp

Share your research, case study or best practice by submitting a proposal for presentation at the 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health. We welcome abstract and session proposals on issues including tuberculosis (TB) and TB co-infections, tobacco control, lung health and air pollution, as well as civil society initiatives, community engagement, human rights and other related topics.

The Union World Conference, taking place virtually from 19 - 22 October 2021, will focus on the theme Lung Health for All: Solutions for a New Era, by exploring the challenges facing global health. With the world still in the grip of a lung health pandemic, it is also confronting questions about systemic race relations and how the same vulnerable communities that bear the brunt of TB and HIV have now been hit the hardest by COVID-19.

Please carefully read the guidelines for abstract, Symposia, Post-graduate courses, Workshops and Satellite sessions before you begin. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, 4 May 2021, with the exception of satellite sessions for which the deadline is Wednesday, 30 June. Abstract submissions for TBScience will open in June 2021.

Submit now to be part of the conference programme and, in this time of pandemic, benefit from the global platform that will be offered to make your voice heard.

Are you a novel researcher?
The Union’s Abstract Mentor Programme aims to provide an opportunity for individuals with limited experience writing and submitting abstracts to work with a volunteer mentor, someone with notable experience. Mentors review and provide feedback on the writing and content of an abstract.
If you have any questions about the Abstract Mentoring Programme and/or want to participate as a mentee, please follow the steps on the website and contact us at mentoring@theunion.org if you have any questions or if you are a senior researcher willing to participate as a mentor.

For more information visit https://theunion.org/our-work/conferences/52nd-union-world-conference-on-lung-health/abstract-submission-guidelines

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) represented by its President; Prof. John Idoko, hereby invites African countries wishing to host the 22nd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa in 2023 (ICASA 2023) to send in their application bid document to the SAA Secretariat in Accra- Ghana. The closing date for submission of the Application is 30th July 2021.
ICASA 2023 will be the 22nd edition of the International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa to be organized by the Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA).

Any African country is eligible to be considered to host ICASA. However, certain criteria must be fulfilled to qualify for selection.

For more information contact ICASA2023bid@saafrica.org or visit https://saafrica.org/new/invitational-bid-to-host-the-22nd-international-conference-on-aids-and-stis-in-africa-icasa-2023/

As the African continent is fast-tracking strategies and plans to roll out immunisation programs, there is a need to engage in continuous public deliberations with healthcare professionals, citizens, civil society organisations, community leaders, the media, policy makers, public health experts, and researchers.

Join a webinar on a Fair, Equitable and Timely Allocation of Covid-19 Vaccines in Africa.

Date and Time:
Wednesday, 14 April 2021
13h00 – 16h00 PM East Africa Time
12h00 – 15h00 PM Central Africa Time

Register in advance for the webinar:
https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mFgVhzRJQiWMU9c86bhUrQ

CONTACT FOR INQUIRIES
Safia Mahomed (South Africa National Bioethics Committee): mahoms1@unisa.ac.za

Phinith Chanthalangsy (UNESCO): p.chanthalangsy@unesco.org

The Global TB Vaccine R&D Roadmap was commissioned by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) to the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) to identify priorities to coordinate global action to accelerate the development and implementation of new TB vaccines. The Roadmap has been developed through an iterative global consultative process designed to identify the key barriers to TB vaccine R&D and implementation, and potential ways in which they might be overcome. It is intended to provide a shared set of priorities to guide the activities of all stakeholders with an interest in TB vaccine development and use.AIGHD and EDCTP are pleased to invite the global TB vaccine community and interested stakeholders to attend the official launch of the Roadmap. The session opens with an introduction to the Roadmap, followed by an overview of current challenges and opportunities for TB vaccine R&D, and the perspective from a community representative. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion with a diverse group of stakeholders, each sharing their comments on the Roadmap, their views on how they are planning to use it, and how they consider it can guide the future development of TB vaccines.

When: 20 April 2021, 18:00-19:30 CEST

Where: Virtual (Zoom)

REGISTER NOW: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pbpKgGpRR6ejZN1B-i0bxQ

The Minister of Health, South Africa, Dr Zweli Mkhize and and Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa invite you to webinar on World Health Day.

Overall objective: Generate awareness about the health inequities and strengthen efforts towards more inclusive approach for Universal Health Coverage and health security in South Africa
• Impact of COVID-19 on health inequities - Professor John Ataguba
• Access to quality essential health services for all – Professor Lydia Caircncross
• Building resilient health systems – Dr Flavia Senkubuge
• National Health Insurance- the greatest social equaliser - Professor Rob van Niekerk

Date: 7 April 2021

Time: 10.00am (SA time)

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PDCSaoh6S5mpEb2MunTiFA

The event is supported by Fogarty, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), UK Medical Research Council (MRC), and Wellcome Trust, and will serve as a pilot to help determine if there is sufficient interest in a recurring event in the future.

The event will bring researchers and humanitarian organizations together to share experiences and promote collaboration around health research in humanitarian settings, modelled after the Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (which Fogarty also supports). The target audience is early- to mid-career researchers from LMICs and countries affected by humanitarian crises, though the applications are open to all interested parties.

Applications are invited for case study presenters and general participants, with a submission deadline of May 28, 2021.

The following themes for case studies for the upcoming Global Forum on Humanitarian Health Research may be of interest (announcement below). Case studies to be presented at GFH2R should relate specifically to the theme of “Research in the Context of Concurrent Crises.” Questions that could be explored in the case studies include, but are not limited to:
• What are the key ethical considerations for researchers working in the context of multiple humanitarian crises? What are some specific ethical dilemmas in these settings?
• How can researchers better engage with communities living in humanitarian crises?
• How can research provide an opportunity for inclusion and nurture leadership of local actors in problem solving in such contexts?
• What are specific experiences and good practices related to the study of specific subpopulations (e.g. vulnerable populations, women, children, etc.)?

For more information visit https://www.fic.nih.gov/About/center-global-health-studies/Pages/health-research-humanitarian-crises-global-forum.aspx

What is mathematical epidemiology and how has it traditionally been used? What can epidemiological trends tell us and what is the importance of genomic surveillance? How can mathematical modelling support planning of COVID-19 interventions? Join us to review the history of mathematical epidemiology and modelling, its world-wide prominence over the last 12 months, and why we are discussing the science behind COVID-19 modelling and epidemiology data today. We will look at monitoring of genetic variants, communication beyond the science to decision makers, COVID-19 vaccine and intervention modelling, and how to interpret scenarios (not forecasts) for decision making.

Preliminary Programme
12:00 Setting the Scene and Interpreting Epidemiologicial Trends, Melissa Penny and Nakul Chitnis, Swiss TPH
12:25 Genomic Surveillance and Epidemiological Trends, Sarah Nadeau, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich)
12:50 Understanding Intervention Scenarios, Andrew Shattock, Swiss TPH
13:15 Q&A
13:30 End of Session

For more information and to register visit - https://www.swisstph.ch/en/about/events/ves/

The program will focus on the discussion of protective immunity, vaccine effectivity, the impact of vaccine variants, and the global rollout of vaccination campaigns, all based on the latest scientific data. We hope to promote understanding and stimulate further discussion and research among virologists, infection diseases specialists, the community, and policymakers. This will be done in the truly global context of the COVID-19 pandemic, considering regional differences in access to medications, health system capacity, and public measures.

Registration for the workshop is now open. Make sure to sign up before 28 April to benefit from the Early Fee.
Scholarships and registration waivers are available for young professionals and/or academia from resource-limited settings.

Visit our website for more information on registration fees - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/covid-19-vaccine-development-implementation-2021/june-edition?tab=2&utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

We are pleased to feature Dr. Catherine Hankins, the Scientific Chair of the INTEREST Conferences from 2014-2020, in the Online Meeting Highlights edition on HIV in Africa. Dr. Hankins draws from her rich expertise and summarizes how prevention remains an important pillar in bringing the HIV epidemic to an end in Sub-Saharan Africa, and what steps need to be taken in the coming years.

Ending AIDS as a Public Health Threat
The ambitious target of having achieved viral suppression in 73% of all people living with HIV by 2020, as set by the United Nations General Assembly in the Sustainable Development goals, has not yet been reached though a progressive increase can be observed globally. In Sub-Saharan Africa, gender and regional inequity remains with respect to prevalence, testing, mortality, and new infections.

Key Scientific Advances in HIV Prevention
Looking into the HIV treatment and prevention toolkit, data from recent and ongoing clinical trials show promising results for vaginal rings, oral PrEP, long-acting injectables, monoclonal antibodies, and preventive HIV vaccines.

What Is Needed Now
To bend the epidemic's trajectory further in Africa, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV treatment and prevention services have to be addressed, as well as stigma which is an important impediment to rolling out programs and for people to come forward and participate. Finally, learn what is necessary to initiate comprehensive prevention programs that address the social determinants of HIV risk.

For more information on the module visit - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/online-meeting-highlights/2020-12?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=OMH2403&utm_campaign=website&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email

A critical aspect of the management of the COVID-19 pandemic in many African countries is whether there are districts or regions that are either entirely un-administered by the authorities or are under-administered, for a variety of reasons. Regions that fall entirely outside the ambit of governments’ abilities to respond to the virus largely embrace those that fall under the control of separatist groups or rebels. Regions that are under-serviced fall into three, sometimes interlinked, categories:

1. those which are difficult to reach because of their remoteness or arid/rugged terrain;
2. poor rural areas which under-resourced governments battle to serve, even under normal conditions; and
3. those from which state services including healthcare are deliberately withheld or restricted because their populations are viewed as hostile to the central state.

The lack of access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by millions of Africans as a result of living in ungoverned, under-serviced, rebel-controlled, or poorly-supported alternatively-administered regions raises a unique set of problems for governments, donor agencies, and healthcare professionals combating the novel Coronavirus. Accountability International believes that the sheer scale and persistence of this problem has caused many decision-makers at country and international levels to turn a blind eye to it – with the unfortunate result being the avoidance of the duty of care in this troublesome third of the continent. However, under numerous human rights, humanitarian, and healthcare conventions to which Africa’s governments are signatory – and to which alternate administrations and some though far from all rebel groups claim adherence – the people living in these zones deserve equitable access to universal healthcare including adequate COVID-19 testing, treatment, and care.

Date and Time:
Thursday 1st April 2021
11AM (East African Time)
10AM (Central African Time)
9AM (West African Time)

To register please email rsvp@accountability.international 

The UKCDR and ESSENCE launched a new resource hub to support equity in research partnerships - https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/news-article/equitable-partnerships-resource-hub-launch/.

This hub brings together guidance, tools and principles on equitable partnerships from across the world, including the TRUST consortium and COHRED.
The aim is to support all those involved in the research process (research funders, researchers, research managers) to develop or embed policies and practices which support equity in international research partnerships – with a focus on research partnerships between those in the Global North and Global South.

To view the tools please visit: https://www.ukcdr.org.uk/guidance/equitable-partnerships-hub/

The overarching theme of this digital conference will be the changing landscape of the Global Health in the 21st century. By this conference, we want to present and celebrate results and achievements in global health research in the last decades, while looking into the next decade. What will be the main challenges in the years to come? How can the future research agenda build upon what has been done and achieved, still focusing on the unfinished agenda and the unmet needs of the LMICs, while seeing the opportunities of new technologies and a greater understanding of the necessity of working across sectors, boundaries and research disciplines in the future?

Please visit our website for more information and registration - https://www.globvac2021.com/

The Globvac 2021 Conference will be hosted virtually, free of charge and will be open to everyone.

World TB Day puts the spotlight on tuberculosis (TB), a poverty-related infectious disease of epidemic proportions. Currently, it causes more deaths than any other infectious disease, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Every year, an estimated 10 million people fall ill; in 2019, 1.4 million people died from TB. All members of the United Nations committed to ending TB as an epidemic by 2030. However, the 2020 WHO progress report concluded that the world is not on schedule to achieve the 2022 targets. The COVID-19 pandemic even threatens to reverse recent progress towards global TB targets. Chronic global underfunding of TB research means that cheap, accessible point-of-care tests, better vaccines and simple, short treatment regimens are lacking. Ending TB depends on the development and rapid uptake of new tools and innovation.

“Our steady commitment to fight TB has led to a growing R&D portfolio of grants on novel diagnostics, more patient-friendly treatments, and experimental vaccines for pre-and post-exposure use – especially targeting vulnerable populations. Moreover, we have invested in international coordination of TB vaccine R&D, and preparation of ground for a new global TB vaccine roadmap. EDCTP is convinced a concerted global R&D effort will end TB.”
Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director

Visit https://www.edctp.org/news/world-tb-day-promise-ending-tb-epidemic/ to learn more about EDCTPs efforts to end TB.

This Webinar is organized by Pharmacovigilance Africa (PAVIA), a project funded by EDCTP aimed at improving pharmacovigilance for poverty-related diseases in four African countries through strengthening links between regulatory authorities and public health programmes.

Time: Apr 19, 2021 02:00 PM in Amsterdam

Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sA_f64HFQ0KYnO4XWio2sA

The South African Medical Research Council participates in the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, a collaboration of major international research funding agencies that support joint funding calls and research capacity building activities to address chronic, non-communicable diseases. The alliance focuses on implementation research in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) and in vulnerable and indigenous populations in high-income countries (HICs).

The GACD have announced the launch of the Implementation Science e-Hub. The e-Hub is a free, virtual platform for knowledge and skill development in implementation research. It is intended for researchers, students, policymakers and practitioners at any stage in their career, from anywhere in the world, interested in improving their knowledge of implementation research, especially its application for the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases in low-resource settings.

For more information visit https://implementationscience-gacd.org/

We are pleased to introduce two new members of the Organizing Committee for the International Workshop on HIV & Adolescence.
Allison Agwu and Nadia Sam-Agudu both have extensive experience in the field of HIV & Adolescence and we are excited to collaborate with them on this year's distinguished program.

We are passionate about providing a platform for young people to share their voices and experiences in this workshop.
To better enable young people to attend, we are pleased to waive the registration fee for all delegates that are 25 years of age and below. Additionally, we offer a 50% discount on the registration fee for all delegates that are 30 years of age and below.

Abstract submission will open on 1 April. We will accept two types of abstracts:
• Research Abstracts: Present the latest results from your study or research and discuss your findings with an expert audience.
• “Lessons Learned” Abstracts: What worked and what did not work? Share your experiences and exchange ideas with a multidisciplinary audience.

To receive this discount, please apply here: https://virology.eventsair.com/international-workshop-on-hiv-adolescence-2021/youthapplication
Visit our website for more information about registration and discounts: https://academicmedicaleducation.com/hiv-adolescence-2021

The Michelson Prizes are annual awards of $150,000, which support young investigators under the age of 35 who are using disruptive concepts and inventive processes to significantly advance human immunology and vaccine and immunotherapy discovery research for major global diseases. The Prizes are funded by the Michelson Medical Research Foundation and overseen by the Human Vaccines Project -- the application window for the 2021 Prizes will run from April 1 – June 18, 2021.

The 2021 Michelson Prizes will be looking for research proposals in two areas:
• Human Immunology and Vaccine Research: The committee will be looking for research aimed at tackling the current roadblocks that exist in human vaccine development and expanding our limited understanding of key immune processes that are fundamental to successful vaccine and immunotherapy development.
• Climate Change and Human Immunology: The committee is looking for research that expands our understanding of the potential effects of climate change on immune function with a particular interest in research that will directly translate into vaccine and immunotherapy development to mitigate its impact.

The selection committee will be looking to support research that is both highly innovative and has the potential for high impact. Specifically, projects should propose innovative ideas and approaches that can be applied across many disease areas and states. Projects should have the potential to significantly expand our understanding of the human immune system and accelerate the development of vaccines and immunotherapies.

While the Michelson Prizes are focused on research in the fields of immunology, vaccine and immunotherapy discovery, applicants from the full spectrum of related disciplines, including clinical research, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence/machine learning, biophysics, environmental health, nanotechnology, etc., are encouraged to apply.

Additional info can be found at https://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/michelsonprizes/

The 52nd Union World Conference on Lung Health is now accepting submissions to the conference programme. We welcome submissions on issues including tuberculosis (TB) and TB co-infections, tobacco control, lung health and air pollution, as well as civil society initiatives, community engagement, human rights and other related topics.

The Union World Conference, taking place virtually from 19 - 22 October 2021, will focus on the theme Lung Health for All: Solutions for a New Era, by exploring the challenges facing global health. With the world still in the grip of a lung health pandemic, it is also confronting questions about systemic race relations and how the same vulnerable communities that bear the brunt of TB and HIV have now been hit the hardest by COVID-19.

Submit now to be part of the conference programme. The following types of submissions are open:
• Abstracts
• Symposia
• Satellite sessions
• Post-graduate courses
• Workshops

Please read the guidelines for abstract and session submissions carefully before you begin. The deadline to submit is Tuesday, 4 May, with the exception of satellite sessions for which the deadline is Wednesday, 30 June. Abstract submissions for TBScience will open in June 2021.

Visit https://theunion.org/

As of March 2021, EDCTP is supporting 26 collaborative research projects under its COVID-19 Emergency Funding Mechanism, activated in April 2020. One year on from the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, many research questions have been answered, many others are still under investigation and new questions are emerging.We invite you to join us in this live webinar where we will share experiences and study findings among the EDCTP-supported COVID-19 research consortia, discuss new emerging questions and current public health priorities in sub-Saharan Africa, and inform the global research community and stakeholders about EDCTP-funded COVID-19 research in sub-Saharan Africa.

When: 18-19 March 2021, 13:00-17:00 CETWhere: Virtual (Zoom)

Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cHhn2t0SQvuNJYemkJesBg

The virtual conference will be held in the evenings from 16:00 – 20:00 over 2 days. We will invite renown local, regional and international speakers from the HIV community to discuss and debate the impact COVID-19 has had on the South African and regional HIV epidemic. The speakers will reflect on progress made in the HIV response in the context of COVID-19, the impact the pandemic has had on people living with HIV and on HIV/TB service delivery. We will also touch on COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV.

SA AIDS in-person Conference 2022
The in-person conference will be postponed to 2022 when we hope we will be able to host the conference in Durban.

For more information visit http://saaids.co.za/

The LiberHetica and BERC-Luso consortia will meet on the 26th March 2021 to discuss about Biomedical Ethics and Regulatory Capacity Building in Sub-Saharan African countries.
The BERC-Luso and LiberHetica are two projects funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) aimed at strenghting ethics and regulatory capacities for clinical trials by partnerships between African and European countries, and involving 5 Sub-Saharan African countries (Liberia, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique and Cape-Verde) and 2 European countries (U.K. and Portugal).

For more information visit https://www.liberhetica.org/2021/03/09/biomedical-ethics-and-regulatory-capacity-building-international-dialogues/

This meeting will bring together global research funders, including those who are funding research on COVID-19 within low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), with the community of researchers who are actively undertaking this research across LMICs.

Topics of discussion will include:
• Clinical research
• Health systems & indirect impacts of COVID-19
• Transmission
• One Health

Registration details and full programme to follow.
Ahead of the “COVID-19 Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries” meeting, we are keen to understand researcher perspectives on the barriers to, and enablers of, effective research in COVID-19 research in and for LMICs. To provide your inputs, please complete this short survey (3 mins) - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5PLMP2C
The findings will be used to identify lessons learnt to inform future research responses to epidemics and pandemics in LMICs

To register visit https://zoom.us/webinar/register/5516147671296/WN_wz4_fyLWSQOn3B6E0Iy3pw

With over 80 COVID-19 vaccine candidates now in phase 1, 2 or 3 clinical trials, social, ethical and political questions continue to emerge. Whilst vaccine trials adhere to bioethics, their everyday ethics are negotiated in the field by frontline workers engaging with communities in specific local contexts. This is especially so when research elicits local concerns that are expressed through rumours, gossip, conspiracy theories and alternative explanatory models. Building good relations between researchers and communities requires engaging with these rumours, as they articulate local interpretations of medical research ethics.

In this webinar, the second in a series on social science research related to vaccine trials, attendees will hear from social science and community engagement experts who will draw on their experiences from clinical trials during COVID-19 and past epidemics. Speakers will share and discuss issues related to everyday ethical and practical challenges in community engagement work.

MODERATOR: Prof. Shelley Lees | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

SPEAKERS:
• Mr Mahmood H. Bangura | University of Makeni & EBOVAC-Salone, Sierra Leone
• Ms Noni Mumba | KEMRI - Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya
• Dr Malina Osman | Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
• Mr Benjamin Shukuru Kasiwa | World Vision & Université Libre des Pays des Grands Lacs, Democratic Republic of the Congo

For more information visit: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/3216057251193/WN_aTL854nuT9-jd2ADNO9YcQ

Module Overview
Director of the African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. John Nkengasong, brings to you top-level insights and remarkable achievements that have been accomplished in HIV medicine on the African continent. The substantial scale-up of HIV testing services has contributed to tremendous progress in the fight against HIV. However, despite this, approx. 20% of people with HIV remain unaware of their status. To reduce this gap in diagnosis, increases in the efficiency and effectiveness of services are needed.

In this eLearning module, Dr. Nkengasong will discuss the pivotal role of HIV diagnostics, review developments that have occurred in the area of diagnostics, and outline the remaining barriers and opportunities.

For more information visit: https://academicmedicaleducation.com/

On 10 April 2020, the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched a 5 million EUR call for proposals. The call aims to establish an African cohort of epidemiologists by supporting institutions in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe that develop such cadres through Master’s degree training in epidemiology and biostatistics.

Africa faces many challenges with its public health response to outbreaks - epidemiological data is often unavailable or severely limited; there is a shortage of skilled personnel and systems to collect and analyze available data, and efficiently translate this to inform policy and practice. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the severe shortages of the health research workforce, infrastructure and capacity for conducting research, as well as the capacity to develop drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tests and laboratory supplies in the African region.

The 10 successful projects (out of 45 applicants) will result in the training of a cohort of 150 epidemiologists recruited from across sub-Saharan Africa.
A network of 51 organisations are involved in the 10 successful projects - 42 organisations in West, East, Central and Southern regions of sub-Saharan Africa, 9 organisations in Europe. These 51 organisations include 24 leading universities in Europe and Africa, working in partnership with NPHIs, Ministries of Health, as well as other research and not for profit organisations.

https://www.edctp.org/news/edctp-africa-cdc-partner-train-highly-skilled-epidemiologists-biostatisticians-africa/

EDCTP activated its Emergency Funding Mechanism in April 2020 to support collaborative clinical research studies in sub-Saharan Africa to manage and/or prevent the spread of the current COVID-19 outbreak. Twenty-six projects have been supported in 22 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. One year on from the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, many research questions have been answered, many others are still under investigation and new questions are emerging.

Speakers & Participants
Speakers will primarily include representatives of the EDCTP-funded COVID-19 Emergency Projects. Selected speakers will share preliminary findings (where available) and/or lessons learnt so far. The meeting will be open to researchers and all other interested stakeholders.

Agenda
The programme includes presentations and panel discussions on the following topics:
- Surveillance and response
- Focus on special populations (pediatric, pregnant women)
- COVID-19 and other major infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa (HIV, TB, Malaria)
- New emerging research questions and knowledge gaps specific to sub-Saharan Africa

When and How to join?
The meeting will be held in 2 separate afternoons via Zoom on 18-19 March 2021, each day from 1 to 5PM Central European Time (CET). Registration is required (one link for both days).
Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cHhn2t0SQvuNJYemkJesBg

How can we tackle the global threat of COVID-19 without neglecting the fight against malaria? This Keystone e-Symposium will shed light on how to effectively combat the dual challenges of a malaria-endemic world, along-side new complications posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We must tackle these global health challenges together, as a united community, so as not to lose ground against either of these formidable diseases.

Presenters will share recent progress and innovation in malaria research, from targeted public health interventions to new applications of decision-making science in global health. The program will also stimulate debate on how the malaria community is navigating shifting boundaries in open access publishing, data sharing, and competing priorities for research funding.

Looking to future challenges and future generations of malaria research, participants will discuss the dynamic nature of a career in the malaria field with experts from diverse career paths, from leading research in endemic countries, to forging start-up enterprises, to guiding global level policy making. In addition, we will address how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those in early stages of their careers, and strategies to overcome these new hurdles to achieve your career goals.

For more information visit https://virtual.keystonesymposia.org/ks/live/807/page/8052

Join us for presentations and a Q&A on the changing epidemiology of respiratory viral infections in the COVID-19 pandemic, with special guest Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty (Australia).
Programme:

Is SARS-COV-2 really a respiratory infection in children? - Helena Rabie & Andrew Redfern (South Africa)
Where have all the other respiratory viruses gone? - Sheena Sullivan (Australia)
What have we learned about RSV epidemiology and prevention? - Juan-Pablo Torres (Chile)

Date: 1 March 2021 EST & CET | 2 March 2021 AEDT
Time: 15.00-16.30 EST | 21.00-22.30 CET | 7.00-8.30 AEDT (2 March 2021)

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA), the custodian and organizer of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) would like to inform beloved delegates and distinguished key stakeholders that ICASA 2021 will be organized either virtual, in-person or hybrid and all adequate dispositions is being taken to give opportunity once again, to our continent to address challenges to end HIV and strengthen our health system in the era where access to COVID-19 Vaccine is our priority.

The revised Key Dates for the 21st edition of the International Conference on AIDS & STIs in Africa (ICASA 2021) from 6th – 11th December 2021:

ABSTRACTS open 1 March 2021

EARLY REGISTRATION opens 1 March 2021

REGULAR REGISTRATION opens 18 May 2021

SCHOLARSHIP APPLCATIONS open 2 July 2021

For more information visit https://saafrica.org/

Following the successful webinar on data management and data sharing, EDCTP and TGHN invite you to join in a new live webinar focusing on the tools and guidance available in the Protocol Development Toolkit on the EDCTP Knowledge Hub, to support the development of high-quality health research protocols. This webinar will take place on 25 February from 12.30-14.00 CET.
We encourage all EDCTP grantees to join us for this webinar, which is an open event and will be particularly relevant to researchers involved in clinical trials in low-resource settings from both the public and private sector, data managers, development partners, other funders, and public health experts.

More information, the agenda and registration details can be found on the EDCTP website: https://www.edctp.org/event/webinar-produce-high-quality-health-research-protocol/

Registration can be done directly via the following link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/9016122698721/WN_nedbD11tQ4ydNijKnA8irQ

Registration for IAS 2021 – the 11th IAS Conference on HIV Science – is now open. Register today and join thousands of HIV professionals at the world’s most influential virtual meeting on HIV research from 18-21 July 2021.

Early registration closes 31 March 2021 - https://ias2021.org/registration/

Bring your science to IAS 2021 to present your new ideas, concepts and research on a global virtual platform. Abstracts will be accepted until 15 February 2021 - https://www.ias2021.org/abstracts/

The International Scholarship Programme is open to everyone around the world working or volunteering in the field of HIV. Take part and apply before 26 February 2021 - https://www.ias2021.org/scholarships/

The Global Forum on TB Vaccines is the world’s largest gathering of stakeholders striving to develop new vaccines to prevent TB. It provides an important and unique opportunity to review the state of the field, share the latest research findings, and identify new and innovative approaches to TB vaccine R&D, with the end goal of developing and deploying new TB vaccines as quickly as possible. The Global Forum program addresses the full spectrum of issues relevant to TB vaccine research and development (R&D), from basic research to clinical trials, manufacturing, regulatory, access, and advocacy.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a Virtual Global Forum on TB Vaccines will be convened from 20 - 22 April 2021. It will provide an overview of the state of the field and recent progress in TB vaccine R&D against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic; and convene researchers, developers, funders and other stakeholders remotely to discuss opportunities and challenges for TB vaccine R&D in these unprecedented times.

To register visit https://tbvaccinesforum.org/register/

What happens when two pandemics run into each other? And what should you consider when treating COVID-19 in people living with HIV? Find the answers to these questions and more in tomorrow's COVID-19 Clinical Forum webinar. This webinar is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME®). More information is available below.
Join us tomorrow if you are interested to hear what emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants mean in the light of virus transmission and vaccine-provided protection.
The webinar will also highlight the latest clinical data about the use of convalescent plasma in elderly people, and which patients could most benefit from a combination of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs.
Registration is complimentary for non-industry representatives. Check our website for fees and conditions - https://academicmedicaleducation.com/covid-19-clinical-forum-2021

The remarkably rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine has fueled enthusiasm about ending the pandemic. Yet, many questions remain elusive. Keep pace with this evolving area and join the COVID-19 Vaccine Development & Implementation Workshop 2021 from 16 - 17 February. You will hear about the current understanding of vaccine-provided protection, how emerging variants should be monitored, and which approach to take in order to get the maximum public health benefit out of the current vaccination programs.

Registration is open and complimentary for non-industry participants - https://virology.eventsair.com/covid-vaccine-feb-2021/registration/Site/Register

With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the role of science, technology and innovation is unprecedentedly and explicitly recognised as a vital driver of sustainability. The EU and the African Union equally recognise that a sustainable transition to knowledge-based economies needs to rely on science, research and innovation as cornerstones of their strategies.
In light of this, Friends of Europe is delighted to support, the EU and the African Union in the launch of the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) Pilot Programme, a novel pan-African instrument to support scientific excellence with a European support of €25 million from the EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument. The pilot programme aims to enhance the conditions in which African knowledge is created and disseminated, and to make the African research ecosystem less vulnerable to brain drain.
As some 375 million young people are expected to reach working age in Africa within the next 15 years, investing in people, in particular in youth, is one of the cornerstones of the Africa-Europe partnership.

Incase you missed it visit https://www.friendsofeurope.org/events/virtual-launch-of-the-african-research-initiative-for-scientific-excellence-arise-pilot-programme/