IAS 2015: A New Era of HIV Treatment and Prevention [VIDEO]

Nearly 20 years after the last major AIDS conference in Vancouver ushered in the era of life-saving antiretroviral therapy, we are now embarking on a new era of HIV treatment and prevention. "Vancouver is going to make history again -- treatment as prevention will be definitively established as the new standard of care," said conference co-chair Julio Montaner, kicking off the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2015).

[Michel Sidibéand Julio Montaner, IAS 2015, July 19, 2015]

Prior to his opening address Sunday evening, Montaner, from the British Columbia Center for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, gave an overview for the media. Accompanying him were UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, other opening session speakers, and musician Ryan Lewis and his mother Julie Lewis talking about their 30/30 Project to build HIV clinics in 30 low-income countries.

There are now 15 million people on antiretroviral therapy worldwide, and treatment scale-up has been able to avert 30 million new infections and 8 million deaths during the last 15 years. "15 years ago it was a conspiracy of silence, but now we have 15 million success stories," said Sidibé.

7/19/15

8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention. Vancouver, July 19-22, 2015.