Title

On the road to HIV cure gene therapy: Who can learn from whom?

Code

GVSY05

Session Type

Global Village session: Meet the experts

Format

Hybrid

CME accreditation

ROOM/CHANNEL

Global village channel/room 1

Date Time

30 July 13:15 - 14:15

This session will highlight the potential for HIV cure gene therapies (GTs) and opportunities for communities to engage in the development of potentially life-changing treatment options and prepare their constituencies for it. The session will consist of a meet the expert-type panel. It will include short interventions from subject matter experts on their work to support HIV cure GTs and facilitated discussions with Global Village attendees. Panellists will be encouraged to ask the audience questions to prompt reflections on HIV cure progress and how, regardless of where you are based and what part of the cure space you work in, you can learn from others. There will be time for an open Q&A. Organizers hope that the session will result in better understanding of HIV cure progress among community participants, as well as highlight shared opportunities to engage and promote engagement with communities and particularly the next generation of HIV leaders (young people who are most likely to benefit from an eventual HIV cure).

Presentations
Rapporteur Summary

13:15 2 min	Introduction Dominic KEMPS, HCAAP, United Kingdom

13:17 6 min	Building the plane while flying it: The promise of HIV cure gene therapies Jennifer ADAIR, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States

13:23 5 min	Presentation 2 Michael LOUELLA, DARE CAB, United States

13:28 5 min	It’s not a question of capacity, but priority: Delivering gene therapy clinical trials at the JCRC Cissy KITYO MUTULUUZA, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Uganda

13:33 5 min	Dispelling myths and creating demand for HIV cure: Uganda experiences with HIV cure research community education Moses Supercharger NSUBUGA, JABASA, Uganda

13:38 30 min	Discussion – Q&A with audience Dominic KEMPS, HCAAP, United Kingdom Cissy KITYO MUTULUUZA, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Uganda Jennifer ADAIR, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, United States Michael LOUELLA, DARE CAB, United States Moses Supercharger NSUBUGA, JABASA, Uganda

14:08 7 min	Closing remarks Dominic KEMPS, HCAAP, United Kingdom

AUTHOR

Elie Ballan

SUMMARY

This session focused on community involvement in development of HIV cure gene therapies and its importance in clinical trials. Community engagement needs to be inclusive, diverse, well-funded and sustainable. Scientific knowledge needs to be shared and tailored by local scientists to meet community needs, especially in Africa.

HIGHLIGHTS

The current gene therapy method which helped cure 5 people globally of HIV is a high-risk complicated process which is only advised for critically ill cancer patients however it has paved the way to unpack the science needed to create a cure. Approximately 40 HIV cure clinical trials are currently taking place, with none in Africa. The first HIV cure clinical trial in Uganda is set to start in 2024. For gene therapy cure to work in Africa, research and manufacturing needs to be accessible domestically to provide ownership and ensure genetic diversity for the continent, home of over 70% of all people living with HIV globally. The presenters Dominic Kemps, Jennifer Adair, Michael Louella, Cissy Kityo Mutuluuza and Moses Supercharger highlighted that community engagement is key for research and it requires funding, empowerment and sustainability beyond research grants to ensure they are effective and the knowledge acquired is retained within communities in all their diversities. For long-term HIV survivors, the cure is their only option; the longer they live, the more significant the toll of ARVs becomes on their health. The US and Uganda have different systems for authorizing trials, which shows how politics affect life-saving solutions development.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

HIV cure research needs to be universal and it has to mirror the needs of the local communities it aims to cure. The lack of HIV cure clinical trials in Africa raises a major concern considering that the continent is home to 70% of all people living with HIV. Communities need to be engaged by researchers in a comprehensive and committed manner to ensure the cure knowledge is shared, the trials are community-based, and the ownership national. Scientists need to work closely with community members while also engaging policy makers to ensure an efficient collaboration to cure HIV.