The business programme of the Healthy Life Area, which will be organized on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, will include the session entitled "HIV: Innovative Solutions on the Way to Victory". The participants of the discussion will examine advanced developments and technologies in the field of HIV control. The Healthy Life Area is organized by the Healthy Life project within the Roscongress Foundation. The Knowledge Partner of the project is Content Foundation for the Development of Expert and Analytical Activities.

Aside from forcing the public health worldwide to shift significant resources to combat the new infection, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the importance of infectious epidemics in general: today, HIV infection continues to claim millions of human lives.

"The search for innovative solutions to prevent the spread of HIV is carried out all over the world. The development of a vaccine against HIV remains a global priority that both Russian and international scientists are working on. Undoubtedly, when resolved this will be one of the main medical victories in the history of mankind. But this goal requires open professional partnership from all participants of the process. Russian healthcare is ready for it," stressed Alexey Mazus, chief freelance specialist in HIV diagnosis and treatment of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation and the Moscow City Department of Healthcare.

HIV prevention research has been marked by a number of breakthrough discoveries. Scientists have learned much about the genetic structure of the human immunodeficiency virus, and there is a high probability of slowing its spread. However, despite significant progress in HIV treatment, the development of an effective HIV vaccine remains a key focus for the global scientific and medical community. Today, scientists in Russia and around the world have made serious progress in developing a vaccine – perhaps in the future these discoveries can make a person immune to the immunodeficiency virus.

During the session, experts will discuss the following matters: Will the experience of battling SARS-CoV-2 become a springboard for explosive growth of scientific research in the fight against infectious epidemics and HIV infection in particular? What scientific discoveries and innovations in immunoprophylaxis and treatment of HIV infection are the most progressive in Russia and in the world today? What regulatory decisions can help to expand timely access of HIV patients to necessary therapy and innovative therapeutic technologies? Other relevant issues will also be discussed.

The session will be held with the support of GlaxoSmithKline Trading.

The full business programme of the Healthy Life Area is published at forumhealth.ru.

Details about preparations for SPIEF 2021 can be found on the Roscongress Foundation’s telegram channel t.me/roscongress.

Official website of the Roscongress Foundation’s photo bank photo.roscongress.org/ru/projects.