This year's BHIVA Annual Conference was held at Manchester Central Convention Complex. The conference was considered a great success and has received very positive feedback from delegates.

There were 762 delegates registered for the conference and this number included 42 BHIVA Scholarship winners and 58 Community Registration places.

Events

As customary, a number of social events were held at the conference. These events were well attended and enjoyed by all.

Civic Welcome Reception

The Civic Welcome Reception was held on Wednesday 17 April in Exchange Hall at Manchester Central Convention Complex. A number of speeches were given during this reception. Dr Ed Wilkins (Conference Local Host) welcomed delegates to Manchester, followed by The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester, Councillor Elaine Boyes, who gave a brief history of the city and its many attractions. Speeches were concluded by Professor Jane Anderson (Chair, British HIV Association) who informed delegates of the recent achievements of the association and the many challenges that lie ahead. Delegates were serenaded by the sounds of Cassia String Quartet and provided an opportunity for delegates to meet each other whilst enjoying a drink and some light refreshments.

Left to right: Dr Adrian Palfreeman (BHIVA Hon Secretary), Linda Geoghegan (Lady Mayoress), Dr Ed Wilkins (Local Host), The Right Worshipful, Lord Mayor Councillor Elaine Boyes, Professor Clifford Leen (BHIVA Hon Treasurer) and Professor Jane Anderson (BHIVA Chair)

Cassia String quartet

Gala Dinner

This year's Gala Dinner was held at Manchester’s magnificent Monastery. The event started with a drinks reception, which was followed by dinner, prepared by Michelin-star Head Chef, Graham Campbell. Speeches were made by Mr Garry Brough (BHIVA Executive Committee member and Community Representative) and Lord Norman Fowler (Patron, BHIVA) to reflect on the progress made by the British HIV Association since its inception and the huge improvements in treatments and care for people living with HIV. Professor Jane Anderson formally thanked Dr David Asboe (Conference Subcommittee Chair) and Dr Ed Wilkins (Local Host). Dr Adrian Palfreeman (Honorary Secretary, BHIVA) and Professor Clifford Leen (Honorary Treasurer, BHIVA) then congratulated the outstanding achievements of retiring Chair, Professor Anderson, and thanked her for her time and efforts as Chair of the Association. Professor Anderson then said a few words about her time as Chair and thanked the Executive Committee for their support and commitment during her term as Chair. To conclude the evening’s events, after-dinner entertainment was provided by the International Party Doctors, who proved a hit in bringing everyone to the dance floor.

The Monastery, Manchester	Harpist, Alex Young
Lord Norman Fowler (BHIVA Patron)	Dr Adrian Palfreeman, Professor Jane Anderson and Professor Clifford Leen
Dr David Asboe (Conference Chair) and Professor Jane Anderson (BHIVA Chair)	Professor Jane Anderson (BHIVA Chair) and Dr Ed Wilkins (Conference Local host)

Prizes and Awards

Research excellence was again reflected by the breadth and depth of oral and poster research presentations at this year’s conference. Of those abstracts submitted, 235 were selected for presentation – 26 as oral presentations and 209 as poster presentations – by the Abstract Review Committee, which comprised members from BHIVA’s Education and Scientific, and Conferences subcommittees as well other members of the Association, who were invited to participate due to their relevant specialties. All selected abstracts are published in HIV Medicine (2013, 14 Suppl 2), and available to download here.

Click here to view the full list of this year's prize winners. Pictured below are some of the winners.

BHIVA / AbbVie / SSAT (BASS) Exchange Scholarships 2013
Abbott, in collaboration with the British HIV Association (BHIVA) and the St Stephen’s AIDS Trust (SSAT), have set up an exchange scholarship for practising HIV doctors, under 35 years of age from developing and transition countries, to travel to the UK for training purposes. The objective was to increase their understanding of the treatment and management of HIV in the UK and to disseminate this information and experience when they return to their country of origin.

In exchange, scholars from the UK (SpR or StR grade) travelled to the home country of a winning overseas applicant in order to take part in a placement at an HIV centre or hospital.

4 x Winners:

	Left to Right: Dr Elizabeth Gatley, South Africa, Mr Alex Paskins (AbbVie representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Dr Charlotte Hall, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, Mr Alex Paskins (AbbVie representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Dr Sally Jewsbury, North Manchester General Hospital, Mr Alex Paskins (AbbVie representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Dr Kiplangat Sigei, Kenya, Mr Alex Paskins (AbbVie representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).

MSD International Travel Bursaries in collaboration with BHIVA
MSD has provided travel scholarships to 11 UK-based consultants and non-consultant healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and non-clinical researchers) who are either training or working in the field of HIV medicine. The value of each scholarship was capped as a contribution towards an award winner’s registration fee, travel and accommodation expenses at either the recent CROI Conference in Atlanta. Some of the winners can be seen below:

	Left to Right: Dr Paul Collini (Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield), Mr Alastair Paice (MSD representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Dr Matthew Phillips (Manchester Royal Infirmary) Mr Alastair Paice (MSD representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Dr Karen Rogstad (Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield), Mr Alastair Paice (MSD representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
	Left to Right: Miss Kay Seden (University of Liverpool) Mr Alastair Paice (MSD representative) and Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).

BHIVA Best SpR Case Presentation This prize was awarded to the presenter of the best Clinico-pathological case presentation at conference. Winner: 'A multi-system syndrome: is it the drug or is it a bug?' Dr John Thornhill, Barts Health NHS Trust, London Left to right: Dr John Thornhill (Barts Health NHS Trust, London), Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
Mediscript Awards in collaboration with BHIVA Two prizes were awarded for the best oral or poster research presentation during the conference in the field of social sciences and community-based work. Winners: P2: 'Are Health and Wellbeing Boards in higher HIV-prevalence areas prioritising HIV prevention' Miss Babs Evans, MBARC Left to right (top): Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA), Miss Babs Evans (MBARC). O1: 'Is primary care prescribing for people with HIV safe? A review of practice in an inner London setting' Left to right (bottom): Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA), Dr Rosie Wellesley (Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry).
BHIVA Ian Williams Best Poster Presentation This prize was awarded to the presenter of the best poster research presentation during the conference. All poster research presentations were judged by a BHIVA-appointed poster research judging panel, and to be eligible for this prize the presenter had to be of junior grade (sub-consultant or equivalent). Winner: P178: 'The emergence of new viral strains following treatment failure in an HIV-Positive cohort infected with acute HCV' Dr Tamer Abdelrahman, University of Glasgow Left to right: Dr Tamer Abdelrahman (University of Glasgow), Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).
BHIVA Margaret Johnson Best Oral Presentation Award This prize was awarded to the presenter of the best oral research presentation during the conference. All oral research presentations were judged by a BHIVA-appointed oral research judging panel, and to be eligible for this prize the presenter had to be of junior grade (sub-consultant or equivalent). Winner: O16: 'Loss to follow-up after pregnancy among women living with HIV in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: the role of African ethnicity' Dr Shema Tariq, City University, London Left to right: Dr Shema Tariq (City University London), Professor Jane Anderson (Chair BHIVA).