INTEREST Conference 2018 Summary

The INTEREST Story

Known as the “African CROI”, the annual INTEREST Conference brings together scientists involved in HIV treatment, pathogenesis, and prevention research in resource- limited settings from around the world. The INTEREST Conference provides a platform to share pivotal fi ndings, promote collaboration, and transfer experiences across several fi elds and continents.

The fi rst INTEREST Conference was Health and Development (AIGHD) Health Diane Gashumba. Conference held in 2007 in and it is held and Professor Charles Boucher co-chairs Professor Cate Hankins, in an African country each year. The of Erasmus University. AIGHD, and Dr. Elly Katabira, conference brings together world- Professor of Medicine in the School renowned HIV experts and young INTEREST 2018 of Medicine, Makerere University African researchers with an overall College of Health Sciences, Uganda goal of building the next generation The 2018 INTEREST Conference was worked closely with the 2018 local of African scientists and facilitating held in Kigali, at the Kigali chair, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana of networking opportunities. Convention Centre from May 29 the Rwanda Biomedical Center INTEREST was co-founded by the to June 1. The event was offi cially to execute the most successful late Professor Joep Lange of the opened by a presentation from The INTEREST Conference in its 12-year Institute for Global Honourable Rwanda Minister of history.

INTEREST 2018 by the numbers Social Media Summary

Countries represented • Tweets posted through @INTERESTWKSP, @AIGHD 32 and @Virology_Edu accounts • Top tweet from @INTERESTWKSP is offi cial Funded* oral and mini-oral conference opening with 3,500+ views 38 presentations • Followers increased by 34% #INTEREST2018 Poster presentations 323 • Reached 148,000+ accounts on Twitter • @INTERESTWKSP account tweets were viewed 381 Submitted abstracts 68,000+ times

Attendees 592 Host Countries Since 2007 * For the third year in a row, registration, travel, and accommodation for the presenters was funded through a • Uganda (2007) grant from the USA National Institutes of Health (NIH), with • Senegal (2008 & 2013) additional support from the Fogarty International Center for INTEREST 2017 and INTEREST 2018. • Zambia (2009 & 2014) • Mozambique (2010) • Tanzania (2011) • Kenya (2012) • Zimbabwe (2015) • Cameroon (2016) • Malawi (2017) • Rwanda (2018)

INTEREST is co-organized annually by: External Promotion & Coverage MEDIA WEB/DIGITAL

Press conference on opening day attended by 23 Two INTEREST stories on AIGHD and INTEREST members of the media Conference workshop website • 10 local media outlets provided coverage • Stories shared through AIGHD, Virology • 13 unique published stories in print and online Education and INTEREST social channels • Daily television and radio coverage throughout • Shared by key partners through their social the conference channels

Testimonials from delegates and partners

“I attended because I’m very curious about research that’s going on with non-communicable diseases and HIV. I have an abstract in that area and I have been able to learn from other people that are doing research in that area.” - Research capacity building coordinator and first time INTEREST attendee

“The [conference] has been very beautiful and rewarding. I’ve met a number of peers and mentors.” - Uganda research manager, aspiring PhD candidate and first time INTEREST attendee

“This workshop gives us an opportunity to stand with many scientists, professionals, and different students from all over the world.” - Pharmacy student and first time INTEREST attendee

“Thank you for your leadership in organising this valuable gathering and giving a chance to Rwanda to host our brothers and sisters in the HIV response.

“Also thank you for thinking about “ the community” and giving the opportunity to Imbuto Foundation to share our contribution to the national program and share our experience with such a big audience and online through such social media trend.” - Deputy Director General, Imbuto Foundation

“What I found very unique about INTEREST is that its open to young researchers that have the opportunity to present results – at other conferences, they might not have that opportunity. They can meet with very experienced researchers that can not only discuss their results but also mentor them.” - Pascale Ondoa, Director of Science and New Initiatives at the African Society for Laboratory Medicine

2018 Joep Lange INTEREST Award Winner • Awarded to the top scoring abstract by an early-career African scientist and sponsors the individual to attend the following year’s conference.

• This year’s winner is Frackson Nuke Shaba for his abstract ‘Facility- based HIV self-testing for outpatients dramatically increases HIV testing in Malawi: a cluster randomized trial’

Jacqueline Arts & Culture Tribute • Each year at INTEREST, a local artist hosts an exhibition in memory of Jacqueline van Tongeren.

• The arts and handicraft booth at INTEREST 2018 was hosted by INUNDO Association of People with Mental Disabilities.

INTEREST is co-organized annually by: