The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections is the premier annual scientific conference for the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and associated diseases. For the past 30 years, CROI has been a global convening of leading scientists, clinicians, public health experts, among others, where discoveries have been presented that have helped to accelerate progress in HIV/AIDS research.
The 2023 conference took place February 19-22 in Seattle, Washington, and PEPFAR featured prominently in presentations and poster sessions. This includes the Monday, February 20 plenary talk by U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, titled “20 Years of PEPFAR: Looking Back, Striding Forward.” Watch the video here.
The following is a list of key PEPFAR-related sessions and posters with links to the full abstracts. For more information, please see the official CROI 2023 Program Guide. [14 MB]
Monday, February 20, 2023
8:30 – 9:30 AM – PLENARY-01 – “20 Years of PEPFAR: Looking Back, Striding Forward” – Ambassador Dr. John Nkengasong, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy. Watch the recording of the Ambassador’s remarks.
10:00 – 12:00 PM – Oral Abstract Session-04 – Recent HIV infection surveillance in breastfeeding women In Malawi, Jul 2019-Jul 2022; Oral; Malawi, Author(s): Davie Chalira, Bridget Miller, Danielle Payne, Melissa Arons, Alinune N. Kabaghe, Joe Theu, Romance Thawi, Ellen MacLachlan, Reno Stephens, Ireen Namakhoma, Joseph Njala, Alexandra Ernst, Gabrielle O’Malley, Davie Chalira, Bridget Miller, Danielle Payne, Melissa Arons, Alinune N. Kabaghe, Joe Theu, Romance Thawi, Ellen MacLachlan, Reno Stephens, Ireen Namakhom1, Joseph Njala, Alexandra Ernst, Gabrielle O’Malley, Kerry A. Thompson
1:30 – 2:30 PM – Themed Discussion-04 – Proportion of deaths occurring outside of health facilities attributable to HIV/AIDS; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Newton Kalata
1:30 – 2:30 PM – Themed Discussion-05 – Programmatic implications of national recent HIV infection surveillance in Cambodia; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Amitabh Suthar
1:30 – 2:30 PM – Themed Discussion-05 – An analysis of HIV recent infection surveillance data among young people in Malawi; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Reno Stephens
2:30 to 4:00 PM Poster Session-H3 – Early virological outcome of DTG-based regimen in adult ARV-naive PLHIV in Rwanda; Poster; Author(s): S Tuyishime, B Niyongabo, M Gasana, M Uwungutse, D Nirere, B Bizimana, G Rwibasira, S Malamba
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-H3 – High suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on Dolutegravir-based regimens from October 2019 to September 2020 in Uganda; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Grace Namayanja
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-K4 – Progress towards the elimination of cervical cancer among women living with HIV; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey and M. Chevalier
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-K4 – Human papillomavirus infection prevalence among women living with HIV (WlHIV) in five regions of Ethiopia by genotype; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Fana Tefera
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-K4 – Progress towards the elimination of cervical cancer among women living with HIV; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Lauren Viens
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-K4 – Implications of cervical cancer screening and treatment program roll out In Uganda; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Josephine Ninsiima
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-N1 – Factors associated with long COVID-19 in Zambia, 2020 to 2022; Poster; Zambia; Author(s): Warren Malambo
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-O1 – Risk factors for adverse drug reactions related to isoniazid preventive therapy among persons living with HIV on Dolutegravir-based regimens in Uganda; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Stella Muyanja
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-R2 – An analysis of HIV recent infection surveillance data among young people in Malawi; Poster; Malawi, Author(s): Alinune N. Kabaghe, Reno Stephens, Danielle Payne, Joe Theu, Misheck Luhanga, Davie Chalira, Melissa M. Arons, Gabrielle O’Malley, Kerry A. Thomson, Mtemwa Nyangulu, Pragna Patel, Nellie Wadonda-Kabondo
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-R2 – Hotspots of recent HIV infections among adult people living with HIV in Nigeria; Poster; Author(s): P Gado, A Agweye, A Kalaiwo, U Omo-Emmanuel, K Bradley, K Bishop, H Meri, R Goldstein
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-R6 – Proportion of deaths occurring outside of health facilities attributable to HIV/AIDS; Poster; Malawi, Author(s): Newton L. Kalata, Alinune Kabaghe, George Mtonga, Emmanuel Nkambankhani, Masauso Mussa, Amos Nyaka, Kondwani Nkanaunena, Verita Buie, Ramesh Sethi, Rodrick Langwe, Kelsey Mirkovic, Nellie Wadonda for the Verbal Autopsy team
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-S1 – Trends in COVID-19 admissions and deaths among people with HIV In South Africa; Poster; South Africa; Author(s): Waasila Jassat, Lovelyn Ozougwu, Caroline Mudara, Richard Welch, Tracy Arendse, Maureen Masha, Lucille Blumberg, Tendesayi Kufa, Adrian Puren, Michelle Groome, Pedro Pisa, Ian Sanne, Heena Brahmbhatt, Lauren Parmley, Cheryl Cohen
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-V1 – Potential impact & cost-effectiveness of widely accessible TLD in sub-Saharan Africa; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-X1 – Acceptability of emergency contraception in ACTG A5375; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y02 – A low-cost, rapid urine test for TFV increases ART adherence and viral suppression; Poster; Namibia; Author(s): L. Bikinesi; M. Spinelli; N. Nyoni; J. Hifindwako; A. Mengistu; J. Kamangu; G. Mutandi; D. Mouton; F. Negussie; R.S. Beard; M. Gandhi; S.Y. Hong
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y03 – Progress on UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets among key populations in three Tanzania regions; Poster; Tanzania; Author(s): George S. Mgomella, Joyce Neal, Mark Breda, Ananthy Thambinayagam, Jessica Greene, Mahesh Swaminathan, Mohamed F. Jalloh
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y03 – Getting to zero: Achievement of 95’s and declining HIV incidence in Eswatini; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y03 – Reaching the “third 95” In Uganda after lowering HIV viral load suppression cut-off point; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Joseph Rosen
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y04 – Early case finding is still needed in the HIV test and treat ERA To Prevent Mortality; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Sasi Jonnalagadda
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-G2 – Genetics of HIV and TB drug interactions with Levonorgestrel emergency contraception; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-O3 – Effectiveness of Dolutegravir in people on Rifampin-based tuberculosis treatment; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey – Late Breaker
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-O3 – Accelerating tuberculosis preventive treatment among Tanzanians living with HIV; Poster; Tanzania; Author(s): Alexander Kailembo, Jaiving Kazitanga, Daniel Magesa, Eva Matiko, Nicolas Schaad, Jonathan M. Grund, Brian Baker, Mahesh Swaminathan, Mohamed Jalloh
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-P6 – COVID in pregnancy: Evolving insights; Poster; Zambia; Author(s): Elizabeth Heilmann
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-P6 – SARS-COV-2 seroprevalence by HIV Status among pregnant women In Zambia, 2021-2022; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Elizabeth Susan Heilmann
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Q3 – Mortality risk among children <5 years old living with HIV on ART; Poster; Author(s): K. Godfrey
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Q3 – Relative gap in HIV viral load suppression in younger children in Ethiopia; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Dereje Woldehanna
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-R5 – Sexual risk and role of low-level viremia to HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Olanrewaju Edun
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-T2 – Factors associated with HIV positivity unawareness among Tanzanians living with HIV; Poster; Tanzania; Author(s): Alexander Kailembo, George S. Mgomella, Oscar E. Rwabiyago, Kokuhumbya Kazaura, Eva Matiko, Brian Baker, Mahesh Swaminathan, Mohamed Jalloh
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-T2 – No increased violence victimization after the return of recency test results in Rwanda; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Eugenie Poirot
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y14 – Impact of COVID-19 induced program adaptations on HIV suppression in three countries; Poster; Uganda; Author(s): Vamsi Vasireddy, Neha Shah, Allahna Esber, Trevor Crowell, Joseph Cavanaugh, Hannah Kibuuka, Ajay Parikh, Jonah Maswai, Valentine Sing’oei, Emmanuel Bahemana, Michael Iroezindu, Julie Ake
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y14 – Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on HIV viral load access among key populations; Poster; Author(s): U Omo-Emmanuel, V Obianeri, A Kalaiwo, O Oyelaran, J Williams
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y14 – Utility of Digital Solutions in sustaining access and improving efficiency of HIV VL; Poster; Author(s): U Omo-Emmanuel, V Obianeri, O Oyelaran, H Meri, A Kalaiwo, D Ogundehin, R Goldstein, J Williams
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
10:00 – 12:00 PM – Oral Abstract Session-13 – HIV recency testing with index testing can identify new infections earlier in Rwanda; Oral; CDC; Author(s): Suzue Saito
10:00 – 12:00 PM – Oral Abstract Session-13 – ART sharing is common and associated with viremia: A population-based study In Uganda; Oral; CDC; Author(s): Caitilin Kennedy
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-P1 – Incident HIV infections in pregnant/breastfeeding women and infants in Mozambique; Poster; CDC
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y09 – Depression as a determinant of PrEP holidays among key and vulnerable populations in Namibia; Poster; Namibia; Author(s): Laimi Ashipala, Leonard Bikinesi, Kaitlyn Atkins, Justine Heita, Denis Mali, Abubakari Mwinyi, Robyn Eakle, Jane Schueller, Kelly Curran, Jason Reed
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y09 – PrEP knowledge, ever-use and discontinuation in a HIV hyperendemic Ugandan community; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Ntabadde Kauthrah
2:30 – 4:00 PM – Poster Session-Y10 – Emergency response to restore HIV treatment services, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, 2022; Poster; CDC; Author(s): Charlie Temesgen
For more information, please see the official CROI 2023 Program Guide .