To complete your online registration now, please visit the Conference website.

The conference Program Book (in PDF) and the online, searchable Program-at-a-Glance are now on the OHTN website. This year’s conference will feature more than 150 research presentations, plenary keynote speakers and panels, and ample time for networking during breaks, at lunch and during the reception. Look for two new approaches to poster presentations—guided electronic poster tours during concurrent sessions and two-minute oral posters presented during plenary sessions—and, for the first time, challenge panels where speakers and participants will discuss and debate key HIV issues. Take a look at the program and plan your conference participation.

Hon. Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, will deliver remarks during the welcome plenary session on Monday morning. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is a major funder of Ontario HIV research and a long-time funder, through the AIDS Bureau, of many community-based organizations, strategies and programs. Minister Mathews will highlight some of the past year’s important research, including community-based research, and program activities. Recently appointed Minister of Research and Innovation, Hon. Glen Murray, will help us wrap up the conference in the final Tuesday afternoon plenary. Minister Murray will provide insight into the role of the Ministry of Research and Innovation, and provide food-for-thought on how the Ministry, the OHTN and researchers can work together over the coming years to stimulate even greater innovation in HIV research.

Jeff Crowley was President Obama’s choice to lead domestic HIV/AIDS policy and disability policy in the US. We are thrilled that he will be speaking at this year’s conference. Mr Crowley led the broad-based consultative process that resulted in the National AIDS Strategy for the United States and will speak about the role of research and evidence in the Strategy and the Federal Implementation Plan. In his plenary talk, No Magic Bullet: Setting Targets for a National HIV Strategy, he will describe the ways in which research and evidence: (1) informed the goals and targets in the Strategy and Implementation Plan, (2) will contribute to achieving the targets, and (3) will be used to gauge progress and enhance accountability. Mr Crowley served as the Deputy Executive Director for Programs at the National Association of People with AIDS, overseeing the organization’s public education, community development and training activities. He holds an MPH from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and, before his appointment to the White House, he was a Senior Research Scholar at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute and a Senior Scholar at the University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. Don’t miss Mr Crowley’s plenary presentation on Tuesday, November 16 at 8:30 am.

The University of Ottawa’s HIV and HCV Prevention Research Team planned this satellite session to respond to community-identified need. Despite an increasing prevalence of crack smoking, the experiences of people who smoke crack, their understanding of risk and access to harm reduction services for prevention of HIV and HCV acquisition and transmission are not well understood. This satellite will transfer knowledge to improve understanding of the HIV- and HCV-related risks associated with smoking crack and to share interventions that have shown promise in supporting people who smoke crack to take control of their own heath. The presentations will promote the themes of reducing the disparity in access to resources among people who smoke rather than inject drugs, and enhancing the right to health among people who smoke crack. Sunday, November 14, noon to 4:30 pm. Hilton Toronto, Governor General Suite. Lunch will be provided. To register, please contact Charles Furlotte, [email protected].

The OHTN approached South Riverdale Community Health Centre’s COUNTERfit Harm Reduction Program and Central Toronto’s Community Health Centres Harm Reduction Program to partner with this year’s conference. They were incredibly receptive to the idea. As a result, these peer-driven programs will organize a harm reduction resource and demonstration room, with harm reduction information and resources, including pipe stems, sterile needles, other safer drug use equipment and condoms. Located in the Fitzgerald Room, the room will be open throughout the conference and will be staffed by trained peer outreach workers from COUNTERfit and Queen West Community Health Centre. We encourage all participants to visit the room and talk with the peer outreach workers and one another.

The Co-Chairs of the Peer Research Training Institute’s Community Advisory Committee would like to invite people living with HIV, researchers, academics and members of community-based organizations serving the HIV community to participate in a community consultation on their plans for the initiative. The Institute will train and place people living with HIV to work as peers on HIV-related studies in Ontario. The community consultation will be held at the OHTN Research Conference on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. For more information on the consultation and to register, please contact Hope Ramsay or call 416-642-6486 ext 2239.

CATIE has enlisted a group of expert rapporteurs to summarize in a concurrent session the major research findings from the conference in four areas: clinical and basic science, prevention, community-based research, and epidemiology. The session will allow participants to examine how community-based AIDS organizations can use this information in their work, and what impact research will have for people living with HIV and others in their lives and care. Part of CATIE’s annual Learning Institute, in partnership with the OHTN, The Next Step: Translating HIV Research to Community Practice, takes place as a concurrent session on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 2:30 pm in the Governor General Suite.

On November 1, 2010, Ann Burchell joined the OHTN as Scientist, Director and Co-Principal Investigator of the OHTN Cohort Study (OCS). This new leadership position is an exciting opportunity that will strengthen the scope and impact of the OCS’s population health and health services agenda. Ann holds an MSc in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto and a PhD from McGill University, where she is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Oncology, Division of Cancer Epidemiology. She has many years of experience conducting epidemiological research on HIV and the dynamics of sexually transmitted infections both locally and abroad. The OCS is a database of health and treatment information gathered since the 1990s from people with HIV in Ontario who have agreed to participate in the study. Ann will use her expertise and experience to ensure that the OCS continues to produce a relevant competitive research agenda to improve the health and quality of life for people living with HIV and those most affected.

Shamara Baidoobonso is a PhD candidate studying population epidemiology at the University of Western Ontario—and was a 2009 Universities Without Walls Fellow. Shamara was recently awarded a $10,000 Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (OGSST). Shamara’s work explores markers of social status and position and vulnerability to exposure to HIV in African, Caribbean and other Black (ACB) communities. Her community-based research project in London, Ontario, combines epidemiology with social justice, public health, political science, and feminist perspectives. In addition to findings that will be relevant in designing HIV prevention programs, her research will produce methodological papers that can inform the design of population health research projects for ACB communities. Shamara plans to build on her UWW training by continuing to conduct HIV/AIDS CBR. She envisions herself as a researcher mentoring students and trainees at a research university or a research institute. Selection for the OGSST is based primarily on overall academic excellence.

The Manitoba Court of Appeal recently cited the OHTN-funded report, HIV Non-Disclosure and the Criminal Law: Establishing Policy Options for Ontario, in its reasons for decision in the Mabior case. The report was central to the Appeal Court's consideration of the key issue in the case: Under what circumstances does sexual intercourse carry a significant risk of HIV transmission such that non-disclosure of HIV status is a crime? The Court’s decision in the case has moved the law in the direction of a more evidence-informed interpretation of the significant risk test. The Court cited the report when pointing to the trial judge's misunderstanding of the reduction in transmission risk associated with condom use, the impact of viral load on HIV transmission, and her opinion that disclosure is required where there is effectively any risk of HIV transmission. As a result of the successful appeal, Mabior was acquitted on four criminal charges—where the evidence showed that he carefully used a condom or his viral load was undetectable at the time of unprotected intercourse. The trial judge had wrongly decided that, in order to be acquitted of a charge of aggravated sexual assault, Mabior had to show that he used a condom and his viral load was undetectable. The case may yet be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada. To learn more, read the Mabior decision or a summary of the decision prepared by the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

The Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University, is inviting abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations at the Promoting Health Equity: Action on the Social Determinants of Health conference to be held in Toronto, February 11-12, 2011. This conference aims to bring together community and agency partners, undergraduate and graduate students, health and social service professionals/workers, researchers, academics, government and policy and decision makers to share/exchange knowledge and to generate the creation of new partnerships in research, education, and practice that focus on health equity and action on the social determinants of health across diverse communities. Please visit the Ryerson University website to submit an abstract. The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2010.

The Canadian Harm Reduction Network would like to announce that the 2011 National Conference on Harm Reduction, Revisioning – Reconstructing – Refocusing, will be held in Ottawa on February 23-25, 2011. While the Conference is open to any and all relevant, interesting or challenging ideas, requests for proposals (RFPs) focused on harm reduction in shelters, housing outreach and housing support, among sex work/workers, trauma-informed work, and harm reduction therapy are encouraged. All stakeholders and interested people from across all sectors are welcome to apply, including harm reduction practitioners, front line workers, service users, policy and program developers, academics and researchers, students of all relevant disciplines, police, probation, parole and correctional officers. The deadline to submit proposals is November 22, 2010. For more information, see the Conference website.

The HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic (Ontario)’s Public Legal Education Program provides free workshops on a variety of legal topics. Upcoming workshops include: November 18, 2010, Powers of Attorney, Wills and Living Wills; November 25, 2010, Ontario Disability Support Program and You; December 2, 2010, Introduction to Family Law and Family Law Legal Services; and December 7, 2010, HIV and Private Insurance Issues. Workshops will be held in the HALCO Boardroom at 65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 207, Toronto. The workshops are open to anyone who is interested, but space is limited so advanced registration is required. For more information and to register, please see the workshop series poster. (HALCO will also provide workshops for specific groups or organizations, in Toronto or other locations, upon request.)

The International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation of the University of Toronto and the Centre for International Health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health invite you to register for a free two-part workshop on New Prevention Technologies for HIV on November 18 and 19, 2010, in Toronto. The workshop will be led by the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development. This interactive and informative workshop will provide students from various disciplines with an introduction to New Prevention Technologies (NPTs), including microbicides, vaccines and pre-exposure prophylaxis. It will also explore potential areas for student engagement. Topics covered in the workshop include NPTs as part of a comprehensive response to HIV, gender and HIV prevention, understanding the research process and trial results, access to NPTs, ethics of NPT research, the role of student advocacy in HIV and health research, and planning related activities on campus. Admission is free but registration is required. For more details, please see the workshop poster.

CATIE will be recognizing its 20th anniversary with a reception on the evening of November 28, 2010, at the 519 Community Centre, and its national Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 29, 2010, at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. Both events are in Toronto. Registration for CATIE’s 20th Anniversary and 2010 Annual General Meeting is free. If you wish to attend, please complete the online registration form. For more information, please visit the CATIE website or contact Joseph van Veen at 1-800-263-1638, ext. 254.

Oxfam Canada, the Canadian Treatment Action Council, the Blueprint for Action on Women and Girls and HIV/AIDS, and the North Toronto Business and Professional Women's Club are pleased to announce the 7th Annual World AIDS Day Breakfast on December 1, 2010, in Toronto. For more information and to purchase tickets please email Leah Stephenson or call (416) 422-0114. Proceeds will support organizations that support women living with HIV and that fight to stem the tide of HIV among women, young women and girls.

The Canadian AIDS Society (CAS) is a national coalition of community-based AIDS organizations from across Canada. CAS is dedicated to strengthening the response to HIV/AIDS across all sectors of society, and to enriching the lives of people and communities living with HIV/AIDS through promoting education and awareness, mobilizing communities, advocating at the federal public policy level, and providing information and resources. CAS is currently seeking a full-time Communications Consultant for a one-year contract to contribute to increasing and strengthening CAS’s profile among its members, national partners, federal elected officials, the Canadian public and the media. The deadline to apply for this position is 5 pm EST on November 12, 2010. For more details, please see the job posting.

Africans in Partnership against AIDS (APAA) is a volunteer-driven, charitable, non-profit, community-based organization. APAA’s mission is to reduce the spread of HIV infection in Toronto’s African and Black communities, and to enhance the quality of life of African people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. APAA is currently seeking a Research Coordinator to coordinate the iSpeak research study on Understanding the HIV-related needs and priorities of Straight Black Men in Ontario. The successful applicant will work with researchers from APAA, the African and Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS in Ontario, the AIDS Committee of Toronto and the AIDS Bureau of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care. The deadline to apply for this position is 5 pm EST on November 19, 2010. For more info, please see the job posting

The Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) is a national, charitable, multi-sector, multi-disciplinary organization that addresses issues of disability and rehabilitation in the context of HIV. CWGHR works across Canada and internationally to improve the lives of people living with HIV and related disabilities, through rehabilitation research, education, policy and improved access to care, support and services. CWGHR is seeking a dynamic, experienced and energetic professional to fulfill the role of Project Coordinator of the Episodic Disability Initiatives. The person will work in consultation with relevant committees, other CWGHR staff and stakeholders in achieving the overall goals of CWGHR, and in particular, the goals of the Employment Access for All project. The deadline for applications is 5 pm EST on November 19, 2010. For more details, please see the job posting.

The Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) is a community-based, non-profit, charitable organization committed to providing health promotion, support, education and advocacy in a non-discriminatory manner for those who identify as South Asian living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. ASAAP requires an Executive Director to lead the organization in further developing its programs and services, building ties in our communities and successfully executing its current strategic plan. To achieve this, the Executive Director will work closely with the board of directors, full-time and part-time staff, clients, volunteers, funders, community partners and other key stakeholders. Applications are due on November 22, 2010. For more info, please see the job posting.

Fife House is an AIDS service organization providing supportive housing and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS. The organization is seeking a dedicated individual to fill the full-time, management position of Director of Community Programs. The Director of Community Programs is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of high quality programs and services to meet the needs of clients and residents of Fife House in a manner consistent with the vision, mission and values of Fife House and to manage those services and programs in context of the agency’s strategic priorities. The deadline to apply is 5 pm EST on November 26, 2010. For more details on this position and how to apply, see the job posting.

HIV/AIDS is an ongoing concern in First Nations and Inuit communities and new knowledge is needed to further develop targeted and culturally appropriate programs and policies for HIV-related prevention, education, care, treatment and support. Community-based research is an ideal mechanism for First Nations and Inuit communities to generate their own new knowledge to ensure their communities’ needs are met. Health Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and in collaboration with the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, the Assembly of First Nations, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and the OHTN, will be hosting a two-day skills-building workshop on January 18-19, 2010, in Ottawa. The workshop will build the capacity of First Nations and Inuit community-based representatives/researchers to conduct HIV/AIDS-related community-based research to benefit First Nations on-reserve or Inuit communities south of the 60th degree parallel. To support participants from across the country, Health Canada will provide funds to successful applicants through a travel award competition. The Travel Award Application deadline is November 15, 2010. For more details and to apply, visit the CIHR website or see the Application Form in English and French.

L’été dernier, six consultations ont été menées auprès d’intervenants dans le cadre de ce projet. Les questions du sondage s’appuient sur les commentaires recueillis. Nous tentons ainsi d’élaborer, par un processus mixte (consultations et sondage en ligne), une feuille de route de la recherche qui nous aidera à orienter les investissements en matière de recherche et d’échanges des connaissances dans la province de l’Ontario au cours des 3 à 5 prochaines années. À cette étape-ci du processus, nous souhaitons recueillir vos commentaires sur les besoins les plus pressants en matière de recherche et sur ce qui, selon vous, constituent les principales priorités en matière de recherche et d’échange de connaissances dans les domaines de la santé mentale, de l’utilisation et de l’abus de substances, du jeu problématique et des dépendances comportementales. Il vous faudra environ 15 minutes pour répondre au sondage. Date limite pour répondre à ce sondage, en français comme en anglais, est le 15 novembre 2010. Pour répondre au sondage, veuillez suivre le lien ici. Pour tout renseignement concernant ce sondage, veuillez communiquer avec Heather Bullock.

The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) is seeking the views and opinions of its research community as part of an important consultation process that will contribute to the 2011 International Review of CIHR. The review will be conducted by a prestigious panel of international experts and various sources of evidence will inform the International Review Panel deliberations, including internal assessments, interviews with key stakeholders, and open and targeted surveys. CIHR is pleased to invite you to take part in a comprehensive survey to assess its core business practices. The survey will take approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete. Surveys should be completed online by November 24, 2010. Information about the review process can be found on the CIHR website.

The Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network (CAAN) is conducting a needs assessment to gather input from as many stakeholders as possible from both the Aboriginal community and from our colleagues and organizations engaged in the response to HIV and AIDS and related issues. We will use the findings from the needs assessment to help us design tools and resources as we engage in research activities and capacity building. Through this survey, we hope to identify some of the existing barriers our member organizations and colleagues currently face when thinking about or engaging in research. We hope to be able to work together to find solutions to any issues or barriers so that we can continue to build on the research capacity that already exists regarding Aboriginal HIV/AIDS community-based research. Please take a few moments to complete the French or English version of our survey and share this with other relevant stakeholders.

In a recent, groundbreaking court decision, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down significant parts of the Criminal Code provisions that make prostitution-related activities illegal in Canada. While this case will certainly be appealed by the federal government and may take years to be finally resolved, sex workers and their advocates are thinking ahead to a time when sex work may no longer be criminal—what then? Will other levels of government step in and try to regulate sex work and sex workers? Will municipalities try to mandate that sex workers undergo testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as a condition of working? What does research say about mandatory testing for sex workers? To find out, check out the OHTN’s most recent Rapid Response Fact Sheet, Mandatory testing of Sex Workers for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, November 2010, requested by Maggie’s: The Toronto Sex Workers Action Project. If you are a staff member at an Ontario AIDS service organization and need access to research findings that will help inform your programs, services or advocacy efforts, send an email request to the OHTN’s Rapid Response Service. See the Rapid Response guidelines for more information.