CFAR Scientific Symposium

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. Prevention of HIV-infection with pre-exposure prophylaxis, male circumcision and through antiretroviral therapy-mediated HIV RNA suppression of infected individuals has been shown to be efficacious and, in particular for pregnant women or serodiscordant partnerships, dramatic.

The emergence of efficacious interventions for treatment and prevention of HIV has brought a new generation of scientific challenges into clear focus: how do we optimally implement these tools in the complex, resource-limited, and sometimes chaotic real-world settings? Implementation science seeks to respond to this critical challenge by quantifying the gaps between evidence and practice and identifying strategies to close these gaps. To do so, the leading edge of the field must understand and influence individual, community, organizational, and systems behaviors. Incorporating insights from psychology, sociology, business administration, economics and other fields is critical for progress.

The Symposium goal is to promote conversation, cross pollination, collaboration, and create momentum for implementation science research at UCSF.