British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
608-1081 Burrard St. V6Z 1Y6 Vancouver, BC, Canada

The BC-CfE’s COAST team invites you to an exciting virtual Café Scientifique event. Climate Impacts on the Mental Health and Wellness of British Columbians will take place virtually, over Zoom, on February 1st, 2021 from 4-6pm PST. This event represents a collaboration between the BC-CfE, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University & the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, and has been generously funded by the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. The event hopes to... raise awareness and facilitate community engagement on the topic of climate change and mental health, and will specifically discuss the pathways by which mental health and wellness and climate change influence each other. Through presentations and an interactive Q&A, we will hear from two well respected academics in the field of climate change and mental health, Dr. Ashlee Cunsolo and Dr. Maya Gislason. This event will begin with an Indigenous Ceremonial Opening by Elder Valerie Nicholson, a peer Indigenous Research Associate at the BC-CfE and will be moderated by the passionate youth climate activist, Abhay Sachal, co-founder and director at Break the Divide Foundation. For more information please visit: http://bccfe.ca//bc-cfes-coast-team-host-caf%C3%A9-scienti. You can also register to join us on February 1st at the following link: https://sfu.zoom.us///u5Atd-iqrT0oHNemUKvSnmFrhCJHxa9lsCPK. After registering, you’ll get a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.

The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) Committee for Drug Evaluation and Therapy (CDET) has completed the evaluation of the available data regarding the use of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines for persons living with HIV (PLWH). Based on the committee’s opinion, the BC-CfE supports the use of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines to protect PLWH aged 18 years or older against COVID-19 related disease, if they meet current public health criteria for pri...ority groups and if they have no contraindications to the product. The full statement can be found at the following: http://bccfe.ca//bc-centre-excellence-hivaids-bc-cfe-suppo. Within the statement, CDET has also released guidance including priority populations, contraindications and precautions which can be found here: http://bccfe.ca//bc_centre_for_excellence_in_hivaids_cdet_

Just in time for the holidays, our December issue of Forecast newsletter is out! In this issue we close 2020 with: highlights from World AIDS Day 2020 presented virtually recap of the BOOST QI Annual Congress... the 30th anniversary of the Dr. Peter Diaries on CBC’s The Early Edition including Drs. Julio Montaner and Silvia Guillemi new BC-CfE research improving our knowledge of the HIV reservoir You can download or read a copy for all the details: http://bccfe.ca//bc-cfe-marks-record-achievements-world-ai. The BC-CfE wishes everyone a warm and safe holiday season and new year! We look forward to building on our work into 2021!

In recognition of World AIDS Day, Dr. Montaner also penned this op-ed in which he cautions the world that the strides we've made in the fight against HIV/AIDS will be in peril if we do not redouble our efforts. https://theprovince.com//dr-julio-montaner-success-of-hiv-

Today, the BC-CfE observes World AIDS Day by remembering the lives lost and the immense impact HIV/AIDS has had on millions of people. It is through the resiliency & resolve of community and researchers that we can now look forward towards an end to HIV/AIDS. Advances in treatment have transformed this formidable disease from a serious epidemic to a chronic manageable disease, vastly reducing AIDS-related death and preventing transmission. We continue to work towards improvin...g the quality of life for those living with HIV. This morning, BC-CfE Executive Director and Physician-in-Chief Dr. Julio Montaner joined by BC Minister of Health Adrian Dix and PHC President and CEO Fiona Dalton announced that BC has surpassed the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target, will likely see the lowest number of new HIV cases, and formally opened the 625 Powell St. Hope to Health Centre. The full release can be found here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020HLTH0062-001988, and a recording of the announcement can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyRg021q4pw.

As we approach World AIDS Day on Tuesday, December 1st, CBC's Early Edition with Stephen Quinn has been looking back at the Dr. Peter Diaries which CBC aired 30 years ago. They've had a number of great guests over the week (including BC-CfE Directors) looking back at the early days of the AIDS epidemic in BC and the challenges and successes seen since. Our Director of Clinical Education Dr. Silvia Guillemi was a guest on Wednesday's show and the audio is here: https://www.cb...c.ca//cl/15810750-they-saw-worst-aids-crisis Executive Director & Physician-in-Chief Dr. Julio Montaner was a guest on Friday's show and can be heard here: https://www.cbc.ca//15811248-bcs-world-reknown-expert-hiva The complete set of guests can be found in the Early Edition archives here: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91-the-early-edition

New BC-CfE-supported research in eLife Journal looked at T-cell response in the latent reservoir of people living with HIV durably suppressed on ART. Results from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill-led study show T-cells likely help control viral rebound and could be leveraged in future curative strategies for HIV. BC-CfE Software Developer Daniel MacMillian wrote the software used in the analysis and the Laboratory helped analyze the sequences in the study. https://elifesciences.org/articles/57246

The latest issue of our Forecast Newsletter is out and in it we highlight: Dr. Montaner’s ‘Medical Groundbreakers’ stamp from Canada Post New collaborative research into HIV pathogenesis from the laboratories of Drs. Mark Brockman and Zabrina Brumme recently published in PLOS Pathogens New research into COVID-19 transmission by Dr. Jeffrey Joy published in Science... Nance Cunningham’s receipt of a UBC Public Scholar Award You can read or download your own copy here: http://bccfe.ca//dr-julio-montaner-honoured-groundbreaking

Capping a great week celebrating Canada’s Medical Groundbreakers with Canada Post with a new blog post and video: http://bit.ly/djm_stamp. Thank you to everyone who followed along this week, recognizing the important role of science & medical research in this country! Don't forget to get your stamps at: https://canadapost.ca//sta/2020/medical-groundbreakers.jsf.

[Job Alert] Are you an epidemiologist who enjoys collaborating to solve complex problems? We're hiring and urgently looking for an epidemiologist to join our team at the BC-CfE! Applications are now open: http://bccfe.ca/careers/epidemiologist. Not an epidemiologist? We've got over a dozen other positions to fill as well. For a complete list, please visit: http://bccfe.ca/join-us/careers.

ICYMI, Dr. Montaner was featured on the Global BC News Hour at 6 Wednesday night. A great interview on his career and how he felt being honoured in Canada Post stamp form. Hope that childhood stamp collection is easy to find and has room for one more!

Today, Canada Post is highlighting Dr. Montaner's new stamp as part of the #MedicalGroundbreakers series with this great tribute video. You can get your Dr. Montaner stamps online by visiting: https://www.canadapost.ca//stamps-and-collectibles-by-year

Today, Canada Post issued a set of five commemorative stamps celebrating six groundbreaking physicians and researchers, including BC-CfE Executive Director & Physician-in-Chief Dr. Julio Montaner. Joining Dr. Montaner are Drs. Bruce Chown, Balfour Mount, M. Vera Peters, James Till and Ernest McCulloch, whose contributions to the fields of pediatric pathology, HIV/AIDS, palliative care, oncology and stem cell science changed the practice of medicine in Canada and around the wo...rld. At a time when we are reminded almost daily of how important all healthcare professionals are to our society, these stamps are a timely reminder of the Canadian innovations made in healthcare and the need for Canada to remain at the forefront of research into new treatments and prevention strategies. We are proud of the contributions made by these six extraordinary Canadians who have paved the way in medical science around the world, and recognize the countless people, voices, and organizations, who help contribute to, develop and implement these breakthroughs on a daily basis. These stamps are out now from Canada Post, and while we couldn’t join in-person, they had a virtual unveiling this morning which you can check out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxcIdsbHiUg. Congratulations to Dr. Montaner and all his fellow medical groundbreakers in being recognized in this momentous way! Thank you to Canada Post / Postes Canada for highlighting the role of medical science and research for all Canadians to be proud of! #MedicalGroundbreakers #PionniersDeLaMédecine

[Webinar] Join us virtually Wednesday September 23rd at 12pm for the latest in our HIV/AIDS Webinar Learning Series. BC-CfE Assistant Laboratory Director Dr. Chanson Brumme will be presenting on "Next-Gen Sequencing and Proviral DNA: The Future of HIV Drug Resistance Testing?" In his talk Dr. Brumme will be covering:... - an update on recent technological advances in genotypic HIV Resistance testing; - a review of the clinical relevance of low-frequency resistance mutations detected by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS); - a discussion on the potential benefits and limitations of proviral DNA-based HIV resistance testing. For more information and to register please visit: https://education.bccfe.ca//next-gen-sequencing-and-provi/

With COVID-19 adding to the devastating toll of the opioid crisis, it is critically important to continue the strong work of the BOOST Collaborative in sustaining the success teams saw in improving OAT retention for those living with OUD. The BC-CfE is pleased to continue this work by establishing the QI Network which will see teams continue to implement quality improvement methods to their healthcare delivery in supporting those living with OUD. The network launched virtual...ly at the end of June, re-engaging & updating teams on the impact of COVID-19 on both OUD and QI, and introduced a less intensive reporting process. We covered the impact of the launch in last month’s issue of Forecast alongside news of a new Education course for Health Practitioners, and research updates from the BC-CfE laboratory. In case you missed it, the full issue is available for download: http://cfenet.ubc.ca//bc-cfe-launches-boost-quality-improv. Anyone interested in learning more about the launch of the QI Network, can read more at http://stophivaids.ca/boost-qi-network/ or view the full webinar at: http://stophivaids.ca//boost-qi-network-webinar-recordings/

Our latest issue of Forecast Newsletter is out now. This month we highlight: -the latest on how the BC-CfE is adapting services to COVID-19 -recent research from Kalysha Closson and colleagues on intimate partner violence -profile on Dr. Val Montessori & her new role as Head of the St. Paul's Hospital Division of Infectious Disease... You can download and read your own copy here: http://bccfe.ca//bc-cfe-work-continues-evolve-help-fight-a

Today the BC-CfE marks International Overdose Awareness Day. We remember those lost to overdose, acknowledge the devastation of stigma & a toxic drug supply on those who use drugs, and continue to fight for safe supply to save lives and end this epidemic. COVID-19 has exacerbated the overdose crisis around the world and heightens our need to address the challenges and barriers facing those who use drugs. We need to remove the poisoned drug supply through the implementation of... safe supply, eliminate stigma of those who use drugs, and ensure supports are in place for the health outcomes that lead to and result from overdose. As BC sees record numbers of overdose deaths, we pause to remember these preventable deaths are not just some horrifying statistic, but people who didn’t deserve to die, and left behind families, friends and communities.

New research just published in PLOS One from BC-CfE Research Scientist Dr. Jeff Joy and colleagues from the Public Health Agency of Canada examines HIV phylodynamics among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Pakistan. The World Health Organization considers Pakistan to have a concentrated HIV epidemic due to a rapid rise in HIV transmission among PWID, so this research helps better understand the nature of HIV transmission in the country and correlates to trends in the illicit drug trade. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article

Our July issue of Forecast is out now and highlights a busy month for the BC-CfE. In this issue we: -look back at the first fully-virtual International AIDS Conference -highlight the work of our Per-SVR team as the BC-CfE recognized World Hepatitis Day on July 28th... -introduce new Women-Centred HIV Care Toolkits developed by CHIWOS -highlight an article from Canada Day recognizing Dr. Julio Montaner's contributions to HIV/AIDS Research as a Canadian Health Innovator You can download and read your own copy here: http://cfenet.ubc.ca//bc-cfe-contributes-vital-dialogue-vi

Today on World Hepatitis Day, the BC-CfE recognizes the strides made to test, treat and cure British Columbians living with Hepatitis C. As many as 80,000 here in BC are affected by HCV infection and the hard work done by our Per-SVR team members is helping lead the way in increasing testing, education, and access to therapy. http://cfenet.ubc.ca//bc-cfes-svr-team-fights-hcv-awareness Learn more:... What is Hepatitis C?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCMRoWCfa5k The Per-SVR Study: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9rM6vzMjxM Dr Kate Salters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA2t1Hd9qgI See more