Program—Monday, July 24

Don’t miss the Congress Opening Session from 4-6 pm on Monday 24 July

Introductory remarks

  • Barbara Van Der Pol, PhD, MPH, ISSTDR President & Congress Chair
  • Janet Wilson, MD, IUSTI President & Congress Co-chair
  • Khalil Ghanem, MD, MPH, ASTDA President & Congress Host

Guest Speakers

  • Irina Tabidze, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Public Health Services, Syndemic Infectious Disease Bureau, Chicago Department of Public Health
  • Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Public Health
  • Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, Director, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Professor Kevin Fenton, CBE PrFPH FRCP PhD, Regional Director, OHID London, Regional Public Health Director, NHS London, Statutory Health Advisor
  • Dr Teodora Elvira C. Wi, Lead, Sexually transmitted infections, Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes, World Health Organization

The Art of Sexual Health

Welcome Reception and IUSTI Centenary Celebration to follow in the Riverwalk (6-8 pm)

Please click here to sign up for pre-congress workshops

The following sessions are available to attendees at no additional cost. Please click here to select which sessions you will be joining. Descriptions will be added as available.

Pre-Congress Workshops: All Day Sessions

Using Embedded Program Science to Improve Equity, Optimize Service Coverage, and Achieve Population-level Impact within HIV and STI Prevention and Care Programs

Morning Session – Chaired by: Marissa Becker, University of Manitoba, Canada

  • 08:00 – 08:10: Welcome and introductions – Sevgi Aral, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA
  • 08:10 – 08:40: Keynote address
  • 08:40 – 10:00: Round Table Discussion: Why is now the right time for a paradigm shift in the way we do science and programming in global public health?
    • Moderator: James Blanchard, University of Manitoba, Canada
    • Discussants: Gambo Aliyu, Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Nigeria; Ruth Morgan Thomas, Independent Consultant, Scotland; Leandro Mena, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA; Ruth Laibon Masha, National Syndemics Control Council, Kenya; Geoff Garnett, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA.
  • 10:00 – 10:15: Coffee break
  • 10:15 – 10:30: Effective Program Coverage framework for embedding science and learning into HIV/STI programming to achieve population-level impact – Leigh McClarty, University of Manitoba, Canada
  • 10:30 – 10:45: A subnational HIV epidemic appraisal in Kenya: A new approach for identifying priority geographies, populations, and programs for optimizing coverage for HIV prevention – B.M. Ramesh, University of Manitoba, Canada
  • 10:45 – 11:00: Applying the Effective Program Coverage framework to assess coverage gaps in the Key Population Program in Nairobi, Kenya – Parinita Bhattacharjee, Partners for Health and Development in Africa, Kenya
  • 11:00 – 11:10: Audience Q&A
  • 11:10 – 11:25: Embedded science and HIV prevention among female sex workers in Zimbabwe –Euphemia Sibanda, Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, Zimbabwe
  • 11:25 – 11:40: Program Science in Action: Scale up of Pre-exposure prophylaxis for Key Populations in Zambia – Michael Herce, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Zambia
  • 11:40 – 11:50: Audience Q&A

11:50 – 13:00: Lunch

Afternoon Session – Chaired by: Helen Ward, Imperial College London, England

  • 13:00 – 14:20: Panel discussion: Approaches and strategies to meaningful community leadership in Program Science
    • Moderator: Patricia García, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
    • Panelists: Solange Baptiste, International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, South Africa; Ruth Morgan Thomas, Independent consultant, Scotland; Andrew Spieldenner, MPact Global Action for Gay Men’s Health and Rights, USA
    • 14:20 – 14:35: Coffee break
    • 14:35 – 14:50: Academic accountability to local communities and society through Program Science – Patricia García, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Peru
    • 14:50 – 15:00: Audience Q&A
    • 15:00 – 15:15: Wrap-up and concluding remarks – Geoff Garnett, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA

Monday 24th July: 8.30 – 15.00: IUSTI World 100 Hundred Years Celebration Advanced Course:

“Test and Treat in the Global World of STIs”
Organized by IUSTI Europe at the ISSTDR-IUSTI World Conference in Chicago.
Dedicated to 100 years IUSTI World

08.30 – 08.45: Welcome Introduction: Angelika Stary, Marco Cusini
Greetings from the IUSTI World President: Janet Wilson

Session I Diagnosis Before Treatment – Chairs: Somesh Gupta, Claudia Heller
08.45 – 09.10 Advantage of Point of Care Tests: When and How?: Charlotte Gaydos, USA
09.10 – 09.35 Modernizing Syphilis Diagnosis: Caroline Cameron, USA
09.35 – 10.00 New Diagnostic Methods for Genital Discharge: Do we still need genital swabs?: Janet. Wilson, UK

10.00- 10.30 Coffee Break

Session II Challenges in Treatment: Chairs – Tom Quinn, Jo-Anne Dillon
10.30 – 10.50 Microbial Resistances: Problem Solved?:Raj Patel, UK
10.50 – 11.10 Treatment Guidelines for M: Genitalium. Which one to use: Jorgen Skov-Jensen, Denmark
11.10 – 11.30 Doxy-PrEP: Connie Celum, USA
11.30 – 12.10 STI Treatment Guidelines: Key Points and Challenges CDC Guidelines: Ellen Kersh, USA
IUSTI Europe Guidelines Jackie Sherrard, UK

12.10 – 12.40 Podium Discussion: Chairs: T. Quinn, J.-A. Dillon,

R. Patel, J. Jensen, C. Celum, E. Kersh, J. Sherrard

12.40 – 13.40 Lunch

Session III STIs of Special Interest – Chairs: Elisabeth Foley, Adele Benzaken
13.40 – 14.00 HPV Vaccines: Updates: UPDATE: Kit Farley, Australia
14.00 – 14.20 STIS and Pregnancy: Angelica Espinosa Miranda, Brazil
14.20 – 14.40 STIs in Sexual Minorities: Henry De Vries, Netherlands
14.40 – 14.50 Summary: Bradley Stoner, Canada
14.50 – 15.00 Closing Remarks Angelika Stary, Marco Cusini

WHO Sessions – 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

  • What’s new in STI diagnostics and point of care testing for STIs – 8:00 AM- 10:30 AM
    • WHO will launch the Global WHO laboratory and point- of-care diagnostic testing for STIs / HIV manual, STI landscape analysis and target product profiles for point-of-care tests for STIs. The session will discuss updates in the diagnostic testing for specific STIs and will present the diagnostic landscape of available tests for STIs and target product profiles for point-of-care tests for STIs. Partners: WHO, WHO Collaborating Center STI, Orebro University, UK Health Security Agency, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Sydney, UNITAID
  • Enhance Gonorrhoea AMR Surveillance – 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
    • The Enhanced Gonorrhea Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Programme (EGASP) aims to strengthen monitoring of AMR in Neisseria gonorrhoeae to ensure standardized and comparable data globally through establishing EGASP in sentinel countries globally. During the session, the EGASP methodologies and patterns of resistance in N. gonorrhoeae in sentinel countries and implications in national AMR response will be presented. Partners: US CDC DSTDP and WHO
  • Lunch – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
  • New developments in the response to AMR STIs: surveillance efforts, new treatments and diagnostics and better strategies for LMICs – 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
    • The session will present some of the latest developments in the field, share experiences within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and chart the way forward in addressing antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The session will share LMIC experience and challenges in addressing AMR in N. gonorrhoeae, present new or near market diagnostics and therapeutics, new treatment guideline developments and define implementation as well as research and the gaps to better address AMR in N. gonorrhoeae. Partners: FIND, GARDP and WHO
  • Priority STI Research Agenda – 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
    • WHO has developed a global research priority setting process for STIs using the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) process. Global online surveys to identify priority research areas for any pathogen of public health interest and another to prioritize key STI research questions were conducted targeting STI experts and stakeholders ensuring global representation. The process was supported by a technical advisory group. During the session, priority STI research questions from this global process will be presented.

Pre-Congress Workshops: Morning Sessions

WHO/TDR Designathon Practical Guide Development – 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

  • To review evidence from a systematic review and crowdsourcing open call about how designathons can be used to enhance health outcomes

Psychology of Sexual Health – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • This pre-symposium will provide short presentations on the variety of evolving roles health psychology plays within the field of sexual health. Work will span key areas of listening to lived experience as well as using behavioural science theory and evidence in interventions and programmes

STIIX: Global STI research and benchmarking – 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

  • The STI International Exchange is a global forum bringing together STI experts from public, NFP and research. Objectives for the session are to define a number of international research initiatives and building cross-border teams to put these in place. For further information please go to www.stiix.org

Structural Interventions for Sexual Health Promotion and STI Prevention – Implications for Workforce Development – 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The adoption of a sexual health paradigm for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) implies the development and implementation of interventions that address structural and societal factors affecting the STI epidemics. Recruitment and training of the STI workforce form an integral part of a structural approach. In this pre-congress symposium, we will discuss these topics from the perspective of STI workforce development and training, both nationally and internationally.

Participatory Designathon Pre-Conference Satellite – 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

  • Are you excited about STI/HIV research? Join our participatory designathon! A designathon includes a co-creation activity, an intensive period of collaborative work, and follow-up activities. The STI & HIV 2023 World Congress is organizing a series of participatory events to inspire collaboration, inclusion, networking, and thinking outside the box. All are welcome and selected people from each group will present to the entire World Congress on the final day. For more information on the designathon, click here.

Pre-Congress Workshops: Afternoon Sessions

Atlas of Queer Anatomy Workshop – 11 AM – 1PM

This workshop will be led by artist Kuang-Yi Ku and dermatologist Henry de Vries. It is derived from their collaborative work ‘Atlas of Queer Anatomy’, the Bio Art & Design Award-winning project. This workshop attempts to challenge the medical patriarchy and heteronormativity by re-designing anatomical illustration and education.

The STI Prevention Pipeline: Where Are We, and What Will It Take to Move Forward Faster? – 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

  • STI vaccines and diagnostics have the potential to improve treatment and prevention measures. During this session we will explore the current development and implementation stages of STI vaccines and diagnostics and identify ways to accelerate research through advocacy.

Panel Discussion on Transgender Care – 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

  • Panelist discussion with members from the trans community on a variety of topics pertinent to research and clinical care of the trans community from the perspective of trans individuals.

Community-based integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health intervention to improve HIV outcomes in youth – The CHIEDZA and STICH Trials – 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

  • Young people are high risk of HIV infection and have disproportionately poorer outcomes across the HIV care cascade compared to other age-groups. This symposium will discuss key findings, implementation, and post-trial ethical considerations from the CHIEDZA and STICH trials which delivered and evaluated a community-based integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health intervention aimed at improving HIV outcomes in youth in Zimbabwe.

NGU ISSTDR Pre-Symposium Agenda: Monday, July 24, 1PM-3PM

  • 1:00-1:10PM​: Introduction
  • 1:10-1:30PM: ​“Two urethrotypes comprise the urethral microbiome in asymptomatic high-risk men”
  • 1:30-1:50PM: ​“Idiopathic urethritis: Could epithelial to mesenchymal transition and increased pelvic floor tone be involved in its pathogenesis: – a summary of the supporting evidence”
  • 1:50-2:10PM​: “Aetiology of Idiopathic Urethritis”
  • 2:10-2:30PM: ​“Urethral microbiota in men: association of Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma penetrans with nongonococcal rrethritis”
  • 2:30-3:00PM: ​“Expert Panel Discussion: Difficult Questions in the Diagnosis and

Early Career Mentoring Hour – 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

  • This early career mentoring hour will provide early career researchers the opportunity to network with senior experts from around the world! Come along to expand your professional networks and gain advice on building a career in the STI field.