RTI International experts to present latest research at 2014 International AIDS Conference

MELBOURNE, Australia — RTI International experts will present recent research related to HIV/AIDS prevention, intervention and treatment at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25. 

The conference is the largest gathering of professionals in the field of HIV, including scientists, advocates, and community and government leaders from more than 200 countries. Held every two years, the conference examines global, regional and national trends of HIV/AIDS, evaluates recent scientific developments, and discusses issues facing the global response to HIV and AIDS. 

Seven RTI leading researchers in the field of HIV/AIDS will present at two RTI-sponsored symposiums, 11 poster sessions and two oral sessions during the six-day conference. RTI staff will also be featured as co-authors on six additional oral and poster presentations. The presentations will highlight RTI's expertise in a variety of topics including HIV interventions for most at-risk populations, stigma research and prevention, and capacity building activities for HIV prevention programs.

A few of the RTI presentations during the conference include: 

• Sunday, July 20, the RTI Global Gender Center, led by Wendee Wechsberg, Ph.D., will present a satellite session titled "Intersecting risks, strategies and barriers for key affected populations to prevent and treat HIV: How to step up the global gender pace." RTI's William Zule, DrPh, senior research health analyst, and Jacqueline Ndirangu, public health analyst, will also present as part of the session.
• Monday, July 21, Laura Nyblade, Ph.D., senior technical advisor at RTI, will lead an oral session titled "Creating stigma-free health facilities: Lack of HIV care policies, protocols, materials, exacerbate health workers fear of HIV transmission and stigmatizing avoidance behaviors, evidence from six countries"
• Wednesday, July 23, RTI will present a satellite session titled "Stigma research and prevention 2.0: Stepping up the pace for evidence-based stigma-reduction interventions for HIV prevention, treatment and care." The session will be co-chaired by Felicity Young, senior director of Asia Programs in RTI's International Development Group, and include a presentation by Nyblade. 
• Wednesday, July 23, Zule will lead an oral session titled "Results of a brief intervention for reducing alcohol use among HIV positive women in Cape Town, South Africa." 

Since 1984, RTI has been at the forefront in both international and domestic HIV-related research and interventions. RTI's research encompasses both HIV prevention and care for those in low-resource settings and for people considered most at risk for HIV.