CFAR Scientific Symposium

This year's symposium focused on new developments in basic biological research regarding the immunology of HIV infection.

This day-long seminar provided HIV investigators with information regarding reproductive biology, with special attention to under-recognized aspects relevant to HIV research. The seminar also fostered and facilitated novel, multidisciplinary research collaborations.

This two-day symposium examined antiretroviral therapy (ART) from the research clinician's perspective, including novel applications of ART in patient settings, new data on early infection and transmission of resistance, and chemokine receptor biology in the context of patient therapy. The symposium also sought to foster and facilitate novel, multidisciplinary research collaborations between basic science investigators and clinicians.

Presentations

Welcome: Paul A. Volberding, MD and Diane Havlir, MD

This two-day symposium focused on current and planned research being conducted by the next generation of HIV investigators with the University of California, San Francisco, the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, the Blood Systems Research Institute, SF Department of Public Health (HIV Research Section), and other partner institutes. Research presentations spanned basic, clinical, epidemiologic, prevention, and translational science.

Presented in collaboration with UCSF's Center for AIDS Prevention Studies and the UCSF AIDS Research Institute, the 2009 symposium highlighted the most promising areas of biomedical HIV/AIDS prevention, with presentations spanning the spectrum of basic, clinical, translational, behavioral and international HIV/AIDS prevention research.

Agenda

The Intersection of HIV and Aging

• Development and Reversion of Immunosenescence in HIV-1 Infection
  Victor Appay, PhD
• The Role of HIV-Associated Inflammation in Aging
  Russell P. Tracy, PhD
• Polarized Immune Responses Regulate Cancer Development
  Lisa Coussens, PhD
• How Might HIV Infection and Therapy Drive Aging and Age-Related Disease?
  Judith Campisi, PhD
• The HIV Tat Protein Regulates Immune Activation via SIRT1

Conference Report

The 2011 Sub-Saharan Africa CFAR Conference took place on May 26-27, 2011 in Kampala, Uganda. This inaugural meeting was conceptualized and planned through a joint U.S.-African Steering Committee, in conjunction with all 21 CFARs.

Keynote Address

Welcome

• UC San Francisco Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann;
• UC San Francisco-Gladstone Institute CFAR Co-Directors; Paul Volberding and Warner Greene

Keynote

• Seeking an End to HIV/AIDS: From Basic Research to Public Health Implementation

Program

Integrating HIV Latency

• Anthony S. Fauci, MD
  An HIV Cure: Obstacles and Opportunities
• Robert F. Siliciano, MD, PhD
  Measuring and Clearing the Latent Reservoir for HIV

Immunological/Molecular Basis of Persistence

• Nicolas Chomont, PhD
  The Role Of T Cell Homeostasis In HIV Persistence
• James I. Mullins, PhD
  Host Cell Provirus Integration Sites And Maintenance Of HIV Reservoirs

Early ART

• Katherine F. Ruiz de Luzuriaga, MD

For the first time in the global response to HIV/AIDS, consensus is emerging that turning the tide against the global pandemic is possible. Treatment of HIV infection has evolved from toxic, complex and relatively brittle to well tolerated, simple and potent. HIV-infection persons, especially if treated early in the course of disease, can expect normal lifespans.