A conference abstract whose authors include two HEARD researchers, has been recognised by the International AIDS Society (IAS) as one of the highest scoring at their recent annual conference.

Researcher Michael Strauss and Dr Gavin George who is the Programme Leader for Health Systems Strengthening, were first and second author respectively of the abstract which won a US $10 000 prize at the 10th IAS Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City, Mexico. The abstract- Optimizing treatment models for people living with HIV in urban Zimbabwe: Findings from a mixed-methods study- was awarded in the category Operational and Implementation Research in Differentiated Service Delivery. This is for outstanding research that addresses key knowledge gaps and links new evidence to strategic programme priorities in differentiated service delivery.

HEARD provided technical and data analysis support for the study which was conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, as well as the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (ICAP) at Columbia University in Zimbabwe and the United States, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies and the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The paper is due to be published in peer reviewed journal. To read the abstract and see the full list of authors go to:  http://programme.ias2019.org/Abstract/Abstract/1807