APACC 2024

• Scholarship Applications are now open! Apply here.
  Deadline: Friday, 26 April 2024. 

• APACC 2024 will be held as a hybrid conference on 27-29 June 2024 in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong.

• To stay updated on developments about APACC 2024, make sure you sign up for our newsletter.

• Are you part of an NGO? You can submit your proposal for a 55-minute NGO session at APACC 2024!
  Read more under the NGO Symposium tab on the website and send your proposal to Catherine Phan today.

Dear colleagues,

The Asia-Pacific AIDS & Co-Infections Conference (APACC) 2024 will be held in Hong Kong as a hybrid conference on 27-29 June 2024. 

Over the years, enormous progress has been made in the fight against HIV and co-infections. Both academia and industry have contributed greatly to equipping the medical community with the best medications and expertise possible to optimally treat people living with HIV. However, international platforms for scientific interchange are not always accessible to medical professionals worldwide due to budget and travel restrictions. Also, most major conferences do not usually address local and regional issues. In particular, the Asian medical community in this field of research currently has very few platforms that serve the needs of HIV healthcare professionals in this region.

APACC provides a much-needed scientific platform that focuses on the developments, issues, and needs in the Asia-Pacific region. Researchers have the opportunity to present and discuss the latest developments and are offered opportunities for interaction, networking, and building collaborations. Top experts integrate science and clinical practice through state-of-the-art lectures, clinical case discussions, round table discussions, and debates in order to reach a consensus on best practices and inform how treatment guidelines are implemented.

We look forward to meeting you at APACC 2024!

Reena Rajasuriar, Joseph Tucker, and Grace Chung-Yan Lui,

Co-chairs, APACC 2024

General Information 

Practical Information 

On 26 June, the official pre-meeting "Asian Digital Health Innovations in HIV/STI Care Workshop" will take place from 15:30-19:25 HKT. 

On 27 June, another official pre-meeting "Asian Stigma & Discrimination Forum 2024" will take place from 09:00-12:30 HKT. 

The Introducing Medical AI in Infectious Diseases Workshop will be hosted by HOPE on 26 June 2024 from 09:00-15:00 HKT. Registrations are open to all APACC conference delegates (at no extra charge). Places are limited to up to 50 people and we will go by first come first serve. Delegates can also register to join virtually. Registrations will close on 6 June 2024.

* Countries included in the low-income and middle-income economies list of the World Bank Classification

** Industry representatives may receive a discount based on the level of support provided to the event. For more support and registration information, please contact us at catherine.phan@amededu.com.

*** Contact the Conference Secretariat at catherine.phan@amededu.com to claim your code to register at a discount rate.

If you have financial concerns, please contact the conference secretariat at catherine.phan@amededu.com.

• No day rate is available.

• Virology Education reserves the right to cancel improper registrations. Claims for a refund will not be honored.

• We strongly advise that you register early to ensure your registration. Registration will close when the capacity of the venue is reached.

• Submission of your online registration does not guarantee that your registration has been accepted. Your registration is final when full prepayment has been received and a confirmation of your registration has been sent.

Please download and complete the below form. 

After completing the form, please return it to the conference secretariat at catherine.phan@amededu.com

APACC provides a platform for investigators in the Asia-Pacific region to present their latest research or share their experiences in the field of HIV and co-infections! 

APACC accepts encore and industry-submitted abstracts as long as the research is focused on the Asia-Pacific and has new data at the time of the conference.

Registration fees are waived for early-career professionals and regular delegates from resource-limited settings with an accepted abstract. A 50% discount is offered to early-career professionals and regular delegates from resource-limited settings without an accepted abstract. The requirements for the application are specified here.

Co-submission of abstracts with AIDS 2024 is allowed. You can submit your abstract(s) to both APACC 2024 and AIDS 2024 as long as you comply with the AIDS 2024 embargo policy. The co-submission agreement does not apply to AIDS 2024 late-breaker abstracts.

APACC 2024 welcome two types of abstracts:

• “Lessons learned” abstracts: What worked and what did not work? Share your experiences and exchange ideas with a multidisciplinary audience. "Lessons learned abstracts" can be submitted in a descriptive (non-structured) format.
• Research abstracts: Present the latest results from your study or research and discuss the findings with an expert audience. "Research abstracts" should contain the following four components:
  • Background: A concise statement of the issue under investigation or a hypothesis;
  • Material and Methods: The experimental methods used (including the statistical analyses employed);
  • Results: Specific findings (promises such as "to be completed" or "to be presented" are not acceptable);
  • Conclusions: A summary of findings that are supported by your results (statistical analyses used to support the conclusions, where appropriate, should be included; concluding statements such as "the results will be discussed" are not acceptable).

Abstract submitters are strongly encouraged to use person-first language in their abstracts. View the video tutorial and guidelines here

Please note that abstracts cannot be accepted if tables or graphs are included. The maximum word count for the abstract body is 500 words.

Abstracts are considered official communications to the conference and will be treated confidentially. Submitters of accepted abstracts agree to attend the meeting and present their abstract as scheduled. 

Abstract presenters are expected to attend the workshop in-person to present their abstract. Please contact the workshop/conference secretariat if this is not possible.

By submitting an abstract to a meeting organized by Virology Education BV (VE) or Academic Medical Education BV (AME), the abstract submitter hereby agrees to the terms and conditions.

The terms and conditions can be viewed here. 

The members of the Organizing Committee are a group of carefully selected experts and inspirational leaders in their respective fields. They meet frequently to discuss the scientific program of the workshop, identify interesting topics and candidate speakers, and review all submitted abstracts.

The purpose of the APACC Fellows Program is to provide early-career investigators with an opportunity to learn about HIV and co-infection research, conference organization, and leadership through serving on the Organizing Committee of APACC. Fellows will help to develop conference session content for other early-career investigators and promote APACC over a two-year term. The Organizing Committee is responsible for the overall content of the conference program, driving conference engagement, and selecting abstracts and panel topics. Fellows will receive support to attend the conference for each of the two years in which they participate (remotely or in-person, as appropriate). 

Are you an NGO specializing in HIV and co-infections active in the Asia-Pacific region?

Good news!

We are delighted to offer exclusive symposium opportunities for APACC 2024! Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with key opinion leaders, organizations, and clinicians and get in touch with the organizing secretariat to secure a slot for your organization.

Deadline for Application: 22 April 2024, 23:59 HKT

Submitted as electronic files to Catherine.Phan@amededu.com with the Subject line: APACC 2024 NGO Symposium Application.

• 55 min symposium slot in the APACC 2024 program;

• Acknowledgement on digital conference materials including but not limited to newsletters, flyers, the streaming platform, and the conference website;

• Acknowledgement on printed meeting materials including the program book;

• Extensive promotional outreach to delegates about the session;

• Exclusive exhibition counter for each NGO organizing a symposium. Offering a prime opportunity to showcase your organization at this premier conference, tailored to your targeted audience.

* Category 1: includes academia, non-profit organizations (international), people living with HIV networks, non-governmental organizations (community-based or national), and advocacy networks.

**Category 2: includes government representatives, UN agencies, and philanthropic organizations.

If you have any further questions, please contact Catherine Phan at Catherine.Phan@amededu.com.

As you plan your trip to Hong Kong, we want to make your stay as comfortable and convenient as possible. Therefore, we are working hard to secure a list of appropriate hotels with beneficial rates in the area that you can reach out to below.

We will provide the information on the hotels here once we have the information available. If you have any questions about accommodation, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Catherine.Phan@amededu.com.

The purpose of the APACC Fellow's program is to provide early career investigators with an opportunity to learn about HIV and co-infection research and conference development and leadership through serving on the Organizing Committee of APACC – the Asia Pacific AIDS and Co-infections Conference. The Organizing Committee is responsible for developing the conference program, driving conference engagement, and selecting abstracts. Fellows will help to develop conference session content and promote APACC over a two-year term, and will receive support to attend the conference each of the two years in which they participate.

Rodenie Arnaiz Olete, MSc, RN

"Embracing the APACC 2023-2024 fellowship was a journey of growth. I had the privilege of shaping my own conference workshops, contributing to research as a peer reviewer of submitted abstracts, and collaborating on the conference program. It's not just a fellowship; it's a chance to evolve in a supportive community, where your contributions matter and connections thrive. Joining the APACC fellowship program opens doors to meaningful experiences, making your early-career journey richer and more rewarding."

Pui Li Wong, MBChB, MRCP(UK)

"This fellowship has given me the opportunity to learn from experienced researchers and clinicians how large regional conferences are put together . It has also given me a platform to speak about topics that I am passionate about through the capacity-building sessions, with valuable guidance and mentorship from the faculty. Furthermore, meeting and working with the other fellows with different interests and viewpoints was exciting and inspiring."

Chunyan Li, MSc, PhD

"Working with a global team of esteemed experts in HIV research to coordinate and plan APACC has proven to be an enlightening experience. This opportunity allows me to keep up with the latest research trends across diverse fields (that otherwise I might get less exposure to in my daily work), expand my professional network, and most importantly – observe and learn how to facilitate the intellectual exchange in this field via organizing academic conferences like APACC. As an early-career fellow, we feel free to ask questions or propose ideas without fearing being judged or dismissed in such a supportive atmosphere where the senior members exhibit a remarkable openness to engage with junior fellows. Every individual (from committee chairs to administrative staff) and each interaction underscores a collective commitment to the sincere goal of eradicating HIV in the Asia-Pacific region."

Deadline for Application: 

1 April 2024

Requirements:

1) Early-career investigator, as defined by: a medical degree (MD, MBBS) or PhD in a health-related field in the past ten years (if in an academic institution, holding a position up to the level of Assistant Professor, or comparable title);

2) Living in one of the below eligible countries*;

3) Submission of a complete application by the deadline;

4) Commitment to participate in and implement program activities.

The following must be submitted:

1) A personal statement describing what would be the applicant’s goals as a member of the Organizing Committee and how they could contribute to APACC (<500 words);

2) A letter of support from a mentor, department chair, or supervisor to describe the applicant’s current scope of work, confirm eligibility to apply (per the above criteria), and comment on the candidate’s suitability for the fellowship program;

3) A current CV.

All application documents must be in English and should be submitted as electronic files to Catherine Phan (catherine.phan@amededu.com) with the Subject line: APACC Fellowship Application 2025-2026.

Review criteria for selecting Fellows include clinical and/or research experience with HIV and co-infections in the Asia-Pacific and prior experience actively participating in research conferences (e.g., presenting at local or international meetings).

If you have any further questions, please contact Catherine Phan (catherine.phan@amededu.com).

Limited booths are available in the APACC 2024 exhibition hall – act fast as spaces are available on a first come first served basis.

This is a unique opportunity to showcase your organization at this premier conference, focused on your targeted audiences.

Get up close and personal with the participants and explore networking opportunities with key experts.

Contact Ting-Wen Cheng today for more information!

Complimentary registrations and several additional commercial benefits and privileges are available depending on support level.

*Commercial rates are applicable to all for-profit organizations including pharma and diagnostics companies.

*Non-commercial rates are applicable to non-profit organizations including scientific foundations, NGOs, charity organizations etc.

If you have any further questions, please contact Ting-Wen Cheng at Ting-wen.Cheng@amededu.com.

Virology Education (VE), with support from the industry, is offering scholarships to attend the APACC 2024. Depending on the type of scholarship awarded, the scholarship covers registration and/or travel and accommodation. 

The scholarships are supported by industry. These companies will have no control, influence, or involvement in selection of any attendees.

Virology Education is proud to support participation from professionals from underrepresented communities. We strongly recognize the value of conducting our programs with a diverse and inclusive representation of the scientific and medical global community, welcoming a range of backgrounds, experiences, and opinions and embracing the benefits that these differences bring. This diversity and equity are essential to our mission of advancing clinical care and scientific research worldwide.

Read our Code of Conduct

• Full Scholarship:

  • Registration to the APACC 2024, Asian Digital Health Innovations in HIV/STI Care Workshop, and Asian Stigma & Discrimination Forum 2024
  • Accommodation
  • Travel

• Partial Scholarship:

  • Registration to the APACC 2024, Asian Digital Health Innovations in HIV/STI Care Workshop, and Asian Stigma & Discrimination Forum 2024
  • Accommodation

• Registration Scholarship: 

  • Registration to the APACC 2024, Asian Digital Health Innovations in HIV/STI Care Workshop, and Asian Stigma & Discrimination Forum 2024

Please note, successful scholarship applicants are required to attend the APACC 2024 and any confirmed pre-meetings in full.

All scholarship awardees are required to attend the full meetings. Awardees must sign in at the beginning of each meeting day and sign off at the end of each day as requested by the Conference Organizer. At the close of the Conference, awardees must have completed the daily and overall conference evaluations.

Recipient will provide post-meeting feedback and a summary about his/her conference experience within one month after the end of the conference. The feedback questionnaire will be an online survey with the recipient providing feedback on their experience at the conference, scholarship procedure, and how they will implement the knowledge acquired at the meeting in their daily practice. The questionnaire will be sent to each recipient by email within one week after the conclusion of the conference.

Applicants must:

• Be proficient in english to interact with faculty and fellow attendees
• Be actively involved in the field of HIV 
• Be able to show benefits to their patients / research / community from attending the meetings
• Be willing and able to share information learned at the meetings with a larger community
• Be eligible to obtain a visa for travel. Declare that she/he is able and willing to fund all other costs beyond the scholarship that are involved in attending the meetings, e.g. all other hotel, travel and subsistence expenses NOT covered by the scholarship.
• Declare to take out her/his own insurance policies (for travel, liability, illness and/or other necessary insurances in relation to her/his participation to the conference).
• Conference organizer will automatically decline all scholarship applications that do not conform to the eligibility terms

The scholarship applications must be submitted online through our Scholarship Application Portal by Friday, 26 April 2024 23:59 HKT. The applicant will be asked to submit a motivational letter (max. 200 words) describing how their patients/research/community will benefit from the knowledge gained at these meetings, and their knowledge dissemination strategy, a CV, and a letter of recommendation (optional).

• All applications will be acknowledged upon receipt.
• All applications will be reviewed by an independent Scholarship Review Committee
• Successful applicants will be sent a scholarship agreement.
• After receipt of the signed scholarship agreement, successful applicants will receive instructions for further arrangements.
• All applicants will receive notification of the application status no later than two weeks prior to the meetings.

• Professional background

• Quality of the abstract (if accepted)

• Country of residence

• Recommendation by your supervisor

• Demonstrable benefits to patients / research / community by the knowledge to be gained at this meeting

• Strategy of knowledge dissemination

• Early-Career Investigator

• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Conference Organizer cannot be held responsible for any incorrect information that is submitted through the scholarship application portal.
• All travel arrangements will be made by Conference Organizer in collaboration with their preferred business travel partner. Conference Organizer cannot reimburse any travel costs made by participants themselves.
• Retrospective applications will not be considered.
• Scholarship recipients must attend the entire conferences.
• Scholarship recipients are committed to attend the meetings in person. If they fail to do so, they will be charged the full amount of the travel and accommodation costs incurred and will be excluded from applications for future scholarships of Conference Organizer.
• Scholarships are non-transferrable.
• Conference Organizer cannot guarantee awarding the scholarship to prospective scholarship recipients until the confirmation of available funds. In the event that sufficient funding for the scholarship is not available, Conference Organizer will not be liable for any expenses or damages incurred by the prospective scholarship recipient with regards to the scholarship application and/or preparation for the meeting.
• Applications will be considered until the exhaustion of funds.
• Scholarship recipients will be responsible for all other costs associated with conference attendance.
• Conference Organizer will not be liable for any injury, death, damage, loss, delay, cost, expense, or inconvenience, causes of action claims and suits for property damage, theft of property or personal injury (including death) arising in connection with the scholarship and participation in the Conference.
• Conference Organizer reserves the right to make the final decision regarding all applications, which cannot be disputed.
• Successful scholarship applicants are required to attend the APACC and any confirmed pre-meetings in full.

Financial backing helps us deliver an impactful meeting experience for the benefit of healthcare professionals and community representatives involved in HIV and co-infections with HIV.
 
This collaboration plays a vital role in both the organizational as well as scientific success of the program.

To show your commitment to the cause and get in touch with us for a tailored support package, please contact Ting-Wen Cheng at ting-wen.cheng@amededu.com.
 
Benefits of Support
By supporting this program, we can offer the following advantages for your company.* Please contact us for the most recent support level benefits for this program.

• Symposium opportunities
• Non-commercial interviews with company representatives
• Verbal acknowledgement during the program 
• Discounted and complimentary registrations for your representatives
• Company acknowledgement on digital meeting materials including but not limited to newsletters, flyers, the streaming platform, and our website
• Company acknowledgement on printed meeting materials including but not limited to banners and the program book
• Digital and printed advertising opportunities 
• Social media shout-outs
• Logo on the conference bag 

 
*Subject to the support level.

APACC 2024 is endorsed by the following societies and organizations. Their support and collaboration are key to the success of this program!

If you would like your organization to endorse this meeting, please contact Andrés (Yuxuan) Ma at yuxuan.ma@amededu.com.

APACC 2024 is accredited by the following societies. To claim the CME points, members of the societies must either log on to the virtual congress portal, or sign up on the attendance sheet onsite, and attend the full sessions. Additional information such as membership number or license number might be required after the event.

APACC 2024 has been accredited by the Japanese Society for AIDS Research (JSAR) with 5 CME credits. To claim these CME points, JSAR member physician will need to submit their conference badge to JSAR for validation.

日本エイズ学会認定医・指導医制度　細則3認定の要件１(3）④に基づき、APACC参加者には認定医・指導医取得・更新のための点数5点が付与されます。

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