In addition to abstract driven sessions, the conference will offer invited speaker sessions which will address a variety of current viewpoints and issues. The format and focus of these sessions will vary.

Plenary Sessions

The daily plenary sessions feature some of the world’s most distinguished HIV scientists, policy specialists and community leaders. Plenary sessions bring all conference delegates together at the first session of every morning.

Special Sessions

Special sessions feature presentations by some of the world’s key research leaders, high-level international AIDS Ambassadors and policy specialists. These sessions, which are 60-minutes long and held at lunch time, are highly engaging for all delegates.

Bridging Sessions

Bridging Sessions connect the three programme components (Science, Community and Leadership) and provide an opportunity for multi-disciplinary, multi-perspective dialogues on topics of common interest. Through interactive formats, speakers share knowledge and perspectives on the issue in question. Additionally, speakers highlight linkages and synergies between different areas of expertise. Bridging sessions are 90-minutes in duration.

Symposia Sessions

Symposia sessions address critical issues that defy simple solutions. Focusing on a single, clearly defined topic or issue, speakers and delegates will share experiences, contribute relevant research findings and brainstorm ideas to identify possible ways forward. Sessions will also report on new results and announce forthcoming research and new initiatives.

Rapporteur Summary Session

A rapporteur summary session will be held immediately before the closing session. The summary session will synthesize the highlights of the week, focusing on important results presented and key recommendations put forward. In addition, rapporteur teams will publish daily reports and session summaries on the conference website and in the online programme.

 

The abstract driven component of the conference programme offers the highest caliber of state-of-the-art knowledge and peer-reviewed research. Abstract driven sessions are either specific to one of the five tracks (A-E), or composed of abstracts from different tracks that focus on one theme.

Submitted abstracts go through a blind peer-review process, carried out by a panel of international reviewers who are selected by members of the scientific programme committee. Abstracts will be presented by scientists, activists, policy makers, people living with HIV and others working in the field.

All abstracts selected for oral presentation will be published as a supplement of the Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS) which will be indexed in Pubmed, Medline and Google scholar amongst others.

The JIAS is an open access journal that creates a platform for the dissemination of essential and innovative HIV/AIDS research. With an impact factor of 5.090*, it ranks at the Top10 of infectious diseases journals and at the Top25 of immunology journals. Its content is free for anybody to access online, to read and download, as well as to copy and disseminate for educational purposes.

*2014 Journal Citations Reports® Science Edition - a Thomson Reuters product.

Session Types

• Oral Abstract Sessions are organized into themes which address new developments in each of the five scientific tracks, or focused on a topic which crosses various tracks. Oral abstract sessions are 90-minute sessions that consist of five 10-minute oral presentations, each followed by a five-minute question and answer session. An interactive moderated discussion, facilitated by the co-chairs, is held at the end of the session.
   
• Poster Discussion Sessions, held daily from 13:00 – 14:00, are 60-minute sessions that consist of four to six five-minute oral presentations. An interactive moderated discussion, facilitated by the co-chairs, is held at the end of the session. Abstracts discussed at these sessions are on display for the duration of the conference next to the room in which the poster was presented.
   
• The Poster Exhibition includes approximately 1,000 posters; it is organized by track and covers a wide variety of topics. Each poster is displayed for one day and presenters stand by their posters at scheduled times to answer questions and provide further information on their study results.

 

Satellite symposia take place in the conference centre, but are fully organized and coordinated by the organization hosting the satellite. Conference organizers make satellite slots available for a fee, based on the room capacity and the time slot, and allocate slots based on the overall conference programme.

Submit a satellite symposium