This year's BHIVA Annual Conference was held in the spring of 2019 at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth, UK.
The conference was considered a great success and has received excellent feedback from delegates.
There were 486 delegates registered for the conference and this number included 12 BHIVA Scholarship winners and 40 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.
Welcome Reception
The Welcome Reception was held on Wednesday 3 April among the exhibition stands at the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC). Guests were provided with light refreshments and an opportunity to network with colleagues.
Gala Dinner
This year's Gala Dinner was held in the Phoxtrott Ballroom at The Hilton Bournemouth Hotel, a short walk away from the seafront, promenade and the Bournemouth International Centre. The event began with a drinks reception, which was followed by dinner. Throughout the duration of the dinner guests were entertained at tables by a close-up magician. After some short speeches by the Chair of BHIVA, Chloe Orkin and the Chair of the BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee, Laura Waters, the evening continued with an entertaining performance by Rich Watkins. Later in the evening, DJ Louise Clarke proved a big hit in bringing everyone to the dance floor.
Gala Dinner - Professor Chloe Orkin
Gala Dinner - Dr Laura Waters
Gala Dinner entertainment
Gala Dinner entertainment
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, 181 were selected for presentation - 30 as oral presentations and 151 as poster presentations. All selected abstracts were published in HIV Medicine (Volume 20, Supplement 5, April 2019) and are available to download here.
Click here to view the full list of this year's prize winners. Pictured below are some of the winners.
The Margaret Johnson Best Oral Presentation Award
This prize was awarded to the presenter of the best oral research presentation during the conference. To be eligible for this prize the presenter had to be of junior grade (sub-consultant or equivalent).
Winner:
Abstract O18 - Equivalent responses to quadrivalent influenza vaccine are detectable in blood and oral fluid in healthcare workers and men living with HIV on ART
Dr Katrina Pollock, Imperial College London
Pictured left to right: Dr Laura Waters (BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee Chair), Dr Katrina Pollock, Professor Chloe Orkin (BHIVA Chair)
The Ian Williams Best Poster Presentation Award
This prize was awarded to the presenter of the best poster research presentation during the conference. To be eligible for this prize the presenter had to be of junior grade (sub-consultant or equivalent).
Winner:
P90: Chemsex-related drug use and its association with health outcomes in men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study of Antidote clinic service data
Mr Oliver Stevens, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London
BHIVA Best Case Presentation Awards
Best PrEP Case Presentation
Winner:
PrEPare for renal tubule troubles
Dr Lakshmi Jain, Mortimer Market Centre, London
Pictured left to right: Dr Laura Waters (BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee Chair), Dr Lakshmi Jain, Professor Chloe Orkin (BHIVA Chair)
Best Clinico-Pathological Case Presentation
Winner:
Not just Found in Germany!
Dr Hannah Yeend, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, London
Pictured left to right: Professor Chloe Orkin (BHIVA Chair), Dr Laura Waters (BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee Chair), Dr Hannah Yeend
Mediscript Awards in collaboration with BHIVA
Best oral presentation for work in social sciences or community-based work
Winner:
Abstract O27 - Attitudes and factors to PrEP uptake among HIV risk groups across London
Dr Renee West, GMI Partnership
Best poster for work in social sciences or community-based work
Winner:
P102: ‘Promoting and creating awareness of HIV/AIDS in the African communities in London, United Kingdom
Mr Nelson Anti, Actionplus Foundation UK, Luton
Pictured left to right: Professor Chloe Orkin (BHIVA Chair), Dr Laura Waters (BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee Chair), Mr Nelson Anti
MSD International Travel Bursaries in collaboration with BHIVA
The British HIV Association made provision for 8 scholarship awards funded by MSD Ltd to be made available to assist healthcare professionals to attend the 26th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) which was held in Seattle, Washington, USA on 4-7 March 2019.
The value of each scholarship was capped as a contribution towards an award winner’s registration fee, travel and accommodation expenses.
The winners of the award this year were as follows:
Dr Natasha Astill
Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust, Leeds
Dr Lucy Garvey
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London
Dr Lakshmi Jain
Mortimer Market Centre, London
Dr Amelia Oliveira
Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London
Dr Sarah Parry
Bart’s Health NHS Trust, London
Dr Amanda Samarawickrama
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London
Dr John Shaw
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
Pictured left to right: Professor Chloe Orkin (BHIVA Chair), Dr Lakshmi Jain, Dr Amanda Samarawickrama, Dr Lucy Garvey, Mr Bill Gardner (MSD), Dr Laura Waters (BHIVA Conferences Subcommittee Chair)