First announcement: Sixth EDCTP Forum (9-12 October 2011): Strengthening Research Partnerships for Better Health and Sustainable Development

27 September 2010

The Sixth EDCTP Forum will be held from 9 to 12 October 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the Forum isStrengthening Research Partnerships for Better Health and Sustainable Development, taking into account the past, present and the future of EDCTP. This Forum provides an international platform for the presentation and discussion of frontier research for everyone involved in combating the three main poverty-related diseases (HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis) and the appropriate capacity development and networking activities. It presents a unique opportunity to establish and reinforce cooperation and synergy among EDCTP stakeholders at various levels including scientific, policy, funding and political interactions. Scientists involved in EDCTP-funded projects are particularly encouraged to use this opportunity to share new developments and results from their projects.

The programme
The forum programme will include speakers from the scientific, policy, ethics and regulatory as well as political fields. The focus will be on advances in research, capacity development, networking and agenda setting for clinical research on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Priority will be given to EDCTP-funded projects to share their results. The programme will contain a mix of the following:

  • Keynote addresses by invited speakers
  • Plenary and parallel sessions
  • Roundtable discussions
  • Oral presentations
  • Posters sessions
  • Satellite meetings
  • Marketplace for research exhibitions.

The venue
The Forum will be held at the United Nations Conference Centre, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organising committee is still collecting information regarding accommodation for the delegates and the various options will soon be published on the forum website in the coming months.

Participating in the sixth EDCTP forum
EDCTP will invite keynote speakers for the plenary sessions. In addition, abstracts will be invited for oral and poster presentations to be selected based on scientific merit. Presentations on EDCTP-funded projects are particularly encouraged. EDCTP will publish a call for abstracts on its website soon and will circulate the information through a number of channels. A selection of applicants with well rated abstracts especially from sub-Saharan Africa working on EDCTP-funded projects will be awarded scholarships. Details on how to submit abstracts and to apply for scholarships will be published together with the call for abstracts.

Sponsorship opportunities
The sixth EDCTP forum will offer organisations various possibilities to support the meeting and raise their visibility. Information on sponsorship packages and how to apply will be soon available on the website.

Forum updates and website
The Sixth EDCTP Forum website will be launched soon and will contain regular updates on the programme and on opportunities to join the Forum. For now, please check the EDCTP website (edctp.lndo.site) regularly for any updates.