Virtual CROI 2022

February 16, 2023
 
Dear Advocate,

The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), kicks off February 19 and runs through February 22 in Seattle, Washington. This will be the first in-person CROI since 2019, but will also include the virtual component honed during COVID, with 3,000+ individuals registered to participate in-person and 500+ online. 

Since CROI began 30 years ago, it has served as the go-to forum for the latest research on HIV, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, COVID-19 and, more recently, monkeypox (mpox). Years of advocacy from AVAC and partners have made its research more accessible to non-research audiences, and ensured the voices and perspectives of affected communities are represented within the program, and ultimately the research. 

For those attending or not, this email shares other ways to follow along and join in the discussion and debate.

Follow Along

Conference coverage is available via aidsmap, AVAC on Twitter at @hivpxresearch and the conference hashtag #CROI2023.
 
Preview CROI

The Choice Agenda hosted the webinar, Ready, Set, CROI 2023 - Prepare for the 30th Year of CROI on February 13. Researchers previewed the program, veteran CROI advocates offered tips for navigating the conference, and researcher, Victoria Walker-Sperling broke down key features for lay audiences on understanding scientific presentations. Watch the full recording here. 
 

Participate in Daily Research Updates at the Margarita Breakfast Club (CROI registration not required)

AVAC, the CROI Community Liaison Subcommittees, European AIDS Treatment Group, and other partners will host virtual Margarita Breakfast Clubs (MBCs) open to all. Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 7:00–8:00 AM PT (time converter), researchers and community advocates will discuss the hottest #CROI2023 presentations. 


 
Tuesday, February 21, 7:00 AM PST – 8:00 AM PST
Moving Forward: Upcoming Strategies on STI Prevention
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/movingforwardsti

Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 AM PST – 8:00 AM PST
The Data Gap: Filling in the Missing Perspectives on Women and Children in HIV Research
Zoom registration link: https://tinyurl.com/datagap 

Community Networking Zone (for registered participants)

This year, for the first time, CROI will offer a Community Networking Zone in the poster area. Watch AVAC’s page on CROI 2023 for more details.

CROI 2023 Roadmap 

Check out the sessions we’re most excited about below and review the full CROI program here. 
 
Saturday, February 18, 9 AM to 4 PM PT
Pre-CROI Community HIV Cure Research Workshop 
At the Crowne Plaza Seattle - Downtown, with a streaming option available. More information and registration for the workshop can be found here. 
 
Sunday, February 19, 5:00 PM PT - 7:20 PM PT
Opening Session, including:

• Martin Delaney Presentation: Community and Advocates Are Equal Partners in Research and Development, from Yvette Raphael
• CROI: A 30-YEAR Chronicle of HIV/AIDS Research Progress, from Anthony Fauci

The opening session will be live streamed from the CROI website; no registration required.
 
Monday, February 20

• Plenary: 20 Years of PEPFAR: Looking Back, Striding Forward, from Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong; Time: 8:30 AM PT - 9:30 PM PT
• Oral Abstract Session 3: HIV and STI Prevention: New Tools and Approaches; Time: 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT
• Oral Abstract Session 4: Insights Into Prevention and Treatment of HIV in Women and Children; Time: 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT
• Themed Discussion 1: HIV and the Microbiome: New Themes; Time: 1:30 PM PT - 2:30 PM PT
• Themed Discussion 5: New Insights Through Recency Testing; Time: 1:30 PM PT - 2:30 PM PT
• Symposium Session 3: Delivering on the Success of Injectable PrEP; Time: 4:00 PM PT - 5:30 PM PT

Tuesday, February 21

• Plenary 2: HIV Reservoirs: Obstacles to a Cure from Janet Siliciano; Time: 8:30 AM PT - 9:30 AM PT
• Oral Abstract Session 8: All Modes Lead to PrEP; Time: 10:00 AM PT -12:00 PM PT
• Oral Abstract Session 9: Late-breaking Clinical Studies on COVID-19 and MPOX; Time: 10:00 AM PT - 12:00 PM PT
• Themed Discussion 9: Advances in PrEP Delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa; Time: 1:30 PM PT - 2:30 PM PT
• Symposium 6: Getting PrEPped (AND PEPped) For Sex: From HIV to STIs to Monkeypox; Time: 4:00 PM PT - 5:30 PM PT
• Special Session–1 Results from the Mosaico HIV Vaccine Trial and Future Directions for HIV Vaccines; Time: 5:40 PM PT - 6:00 PM PT

Wednesday, February 22

• Themed Discussion 10: Cellular Immune Control of HIV; Time: 1:30 PM PT - 2:30 PM PT
• Themed Discussion 13: Preclinical Studies of New Prevention Interventions; Time: 1:30 PM PT - 2:30 PM PT
• Symposium 9: Science Communication in the Age of Miscommunication; Time: 4:00 PM PT - 5:30 PM PT

 
Looking forward to seeing you at the daily Margarita Breakfast Club sessions!
 
Best,
AVAC