In late April the Canadian Association for HIV Research (CAHR) held its annual conference. With more than 1,000 members, CAHR is the leading organization of HIV/AIDS researchers in Canada.
The theme for this year’s virtual conference was “Striving Towards Equity and Flourishing in the HIV Response”. In choosing the theme, organizers of the conference compared the decades-long fight for equitable distribution of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, and the massive disparities seen between high and low-income countries in both.
CAHR organizers emphasized how the work to address social and health disparities in HIV care within Canada, and around the world, must continue. BC-CfE researchers also highlighted this need, and their research showcased how ensuring equity, awareness of the social determinants of health, and adhering to the principles of human rights got us to where we are today – with 27.5 million able to access ART in 2020 and a 50 percent reduction in new HIV infections globally since 1997.
Here are some of the notable CAHR presentations by BC-CfE researchers:
Improvements in ART Initiation Over Time After Diagnosis Among Indigenous People Living with HIV (PLWH) in British Columbia, Canada
BC-CfE Research Coordinator Nicole Dawydiuk presented data from the STOP HIV/AIDS¨ Program Evaluation (SHAPE) Study on antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation among Indigenous PLWH in BC. The study notes access disparities and disproportionate rates of HIV among Indigenous Peoples, along with delayed initiation and uptake of ART, and how these inequities can be contextualized in the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, marginalization, and dispossession in Canada.
The BC-CfE’s Treatment as Prevention¨ strategy (TasP¨) relies on early identification and early treatment of HIV, and is a key factor behind the success our province has seen in reducing HIV case rates. By adhering to TasP¨, and by working to reduce the widespread and systemic racism against Indigenous people within BC’s health-care system, there has been significant improvements seen in ART initiation among IPLWH in BC. Dawydiuk ended her CAHR presentation by mentioning an upcoming BC-CfE study which will hold sharing circles to better characterize the unique barriers and facilitators to HIV care engagement among key populations and Indigenous Peoples.
Trends in Illicit Drug Use Among Patients Recently Treated for Hepatitis C in British Columbia, Canada
BC-CfE Research Coordinator Lauren Harrison presented on data from the Per-SVR (preservation of sustained virologic response) study and how trends of illicit drug use affect those treated for hepatitis C (HCV). The data trends show illicit drug use, particularly fentanyl, increased among study participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, which illustrates a need to further tailor harm reduction services.
Understanding and responding to trends in drug use is necessary to meet the needs of under-served clients who may be uniquely impacted by both the overdose crisis and infectious diseases, such as HIV and HCV.
Investigation of genetic integrity and longevity among HIV proviruses persisting during long-term ART
BC-CfE Research Scientist and PhD student Natalie Kinloch spoke at CAHR 2022 on genetic integrity and longevity of HIV proviruses in long-term ART. The research she presented found the majority of proviruses that persist in the HIV viral reservoir were archived closer to ART initiation.
This work shows the persistent viral reservoir of each individual is unique and diverse and how the search for an HIV cure needs to account for this finding.
Humoral responses to one, two and three COVID-19 vaccine doses in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART): a longitudinal study
Dr. Hope LaPointe, a BC-CfE Research Coordinator, presented the collaborative work of the BC-CfE Laboratory on COVID-19 vaccine response. The work, done in partnership with SFU, Providence Health Care, AIDS Vancouver, Genome BC, Michael Smith Health Research BC, the BCCDC, and the COVID Immunity Task Force, found strong humoral immune response to second and third COVID-19 immunizations among PLWH on ART with a healthy CD4 count.
The results underscore the immune benefits of third COVID-19 doses in light of Omicron waves.
Wise Women Journeys: Streams of Knowledge and Rivers of Change, Tides of the Coast Salish Sea Bringing our Indigenous Healthcare Teachings
BC-CfE Peer Indigenous Research Associate Valerie Nicholson and Research Coordinator Niloufar Aran presented at CAHR on Indigenizing HIV Research.
The two presented on the importance for care providers to take time to learn about colonization and intergenerational trauma, and to respect/support the inclusion of traditional ways of knowing/healing in someone’s healthcare journey.
Access To Care And Impacts On HIV Treatment Interruptions During The COVID-19 Pandemic Among People Living With HIV In British Columbia, Canada
Dr. David M. Moore is a Public Health Physician and Research Scientist at the BC-CfE.
At CAHR, he presented research from the SHAPE Study on the impact of COVID-19 on access to HIV care and treatment interruption. The SHAPE research found treatment interruptions weren’t more likely during COVID than before the pandemic, and many SHAPE participants reported accessing virtual health services.
Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on syndemic conditions and related effects on PrEP use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.
Momentum is a sexual health study for men in the Greater Vancouver Area. Dr. Jordan Sang presented at CAHR on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) use by participants in the Momentum Study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey participants had increased PrEP interruptions, partially due to COVID-19 in BC. However, encouraging data shared in the CAHR presentation indicated that those at most risk of HIV were less likely to interrupt treatment.
Increasing trends of depressive symptoms, which were associated with greater odds of PrEP interruption, suggest a need for additional mental health services and targeted follow-up. However, Momentum data trends show decreasing use of alcohol, polysubstance use, and levels of intimate partner violence.
Orals |
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| Nicole Dawydiuk | Improvements in ART Initiation Over Time After Diagnosis Among Indigenous People Living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada |  |
| Lauren Harrison | Trends in Illicit Drug Use Among Patients Recently Treated for Hepatitis C in British Columbia, Canada |  |
| Natalie Kinloch | Investigation of genetic integrity and longevity among HIV proviruses persisting during long-term ART |  |
| Hope Lapointe | Humoral responses to one, two and three COVID-19 vaccine doses in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART): a longitudinal study | --a-longitudinal-study.jpg) |
| Kathy Lepik | Incidence and type of adverse reactions following brand-to-generic antiretroviral product substitution in British Columbia, Canada |  |
| David Moore | Access To Care And Impacts On HIV Treatment Interruptions During The COVID-19 Pandemic Among People Living With HIV In British Columbia, Canada |  |
| Jordan Sang | Examining the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on syndemic conditions and related effects on PrEP use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada. |  |
| Clara Tam | Factors Associated with Mortality in a Cohort of People Living with HIV in British Columbia, Canada |  |
| Niloufar Aran and Valerie Nicholson | Wise Women Journeys: Streams of Knowledge and Rivers of Change, Tides of the Coast Salish Sea Bringing our Indigenous Healthcare Teachings |  |
Posters |
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| Wayne Leung | Virologic outcomes following in-patient initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a population-based program in British Columbia, Canada. |  |
| Shaughna Cooper | Preliminary Outcomes of a Low Barrier Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Testing and Linkage to Care Program Embedded within a Supervised Consumption Facility in Vancouver, BC. |  |
| Scott Emerson | Time until initiation of HIV care after an HIV+ test result recorded from 1997 to 2016 in British Columbia, Canada | N/A |
| Antonio Marante/Kathleen Inglis | BC community experts lead the way in big data HIV research | N/A |
| Brad Jones | Computational advances in molecular dating of within-host HIV systems |  |
| Angela Kaida | Impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on access to HIV and other healthcare services among women living with HIV and HIV-negative women participating in the BC CARMA-CHIWOS Collaboration (BCC3) Study: Preliminary Data | N/A |
| Alison McClean | Trends in Hospitalization by Sex among People Living with HIV from 2006 to 2020 in the Canadian Healthcare Use Study (CHESS) | N/A |
| Angela McLaughlin | Drug Resistance and Phylogenetic Clustering Among Previous Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Users Who Seroconverted |  |
| Saira Mohammed | Doxycycline as an Intervention for Bacterial Sexually transmitted infection ChemOprophylaxis (DISCO) study: Design of a national, multicentre randomized-controlled trial |  |
| David Moore | The cascade of care for hepatitis C virus among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. | N/A |
| Tatiana Pakhomova | “It’s just all about building relationships”: Care Provider Perspectives on Supporting Care Engagement for People Living with HIV Experiencing HIV Treatment Interruptions | N/A |
| Aniqa Shahid | HIV genetic diversity and compartmentalization in lung and blood of individuals on long-term cART | N/A |
| Kiana Yazdani | Characterizing uptake of opioid agonist therapy among people living with HIV in British Columbia | N/A |
| Kiana Yazdani | Knowledge of hepatitis C and awareness of reinfection risk among people who successfully completed direct acting antiviral therapy | N/A |
| Amanda Yonkman | Examining Healthcare Service Utilization Patterns of People Living with HIV in Rural British Columbia, Canada | N/A |
| Hesham Ali (Thrive) | How’s the care out there: A preliminary exploration of the home and community care needs of older adults living with HIV in British Columbia’s Fraser Health region |  |