The Vietnam Partner Site Scientific Days were held on November 15 and 16, 2023 at Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy.
Last updated on 04 December 2023
Co-organized with Vietnam’s National HIV/AIDS Program, they were attended by the Vice-Minister of Health Pr Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the French Ambassador to Vietnam Mr Olivier Brochet, the Director of ANRS | Emerging Infectious Diseases (MIE) Pr Yazdan Yazdanpanah, the President of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Hai Phong Prr Pham Minh Khue and the coordinators of the partner site, Dr Phan Thi Thu Huong and Dr Didier Laureillard.
Prestigious guests included Pr Françoise Barré Sinoussi, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, and Pr Sharon Lewin, Director of the International AIDS Society and Chair of the ANRS | MIE Scientific Advisory Board.
A large panel of young researchers, confirmed national, regional and international researchers, representatives of local authorities, civil society and international institutions such as the WHO took part in this event to discuss the latest scientific advances and research prospects in the various fields of ANRS | MIE in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
The event, which took place against the backdrop of the 40th anniversary of the discovery of HIV and the 50th anniversary of Franco-Vietnamese cooperation, focused on the theme “Towards the eradication of epidemics in Vietnam”. It enabled Franco-Vietnamese research teams to demonstrate the effectiveness of the DRIVE program (DRug use and Infections in ViEtnam ), a multidisciplinary research platform set up with the close involvement of community organizations, in reducing the incidence of HIV among intravenous drug users. Following its proven effectiveness, the DRIVE model is being used as a basis for the development of other studies concerning access to diagnosis and treatment of pathologies such as hepatitis C, tuberculosis and psychiatric pathologies in this same population.
On this occasion, the indispensable work carried out by community organizations as part of the DRIVE program was praised.
At the end of these days, several avenues of research were highlighted, such as the prevention of HIV among men who have sex with men, reducing the mortality rate linked to the hepatitis B virus, understanding and controlling the dengue and Mpox epidemics, and preparing for the arrival of other emerging infectious diseases unknown in Vietnam.
This research will be carried out in a continuum of basic, clinical, human and social science disciplines, in collaboration with the community, to meet the scientific research priorities identified with the national programs of Vietnam and the region.
If you would like to find out more about the Vietnam Partner Site, to collaborate with French and Vietnamese research teams on infectious disease research projects in Vietnam, please contact the ANRS | MIE Strategies and Partnerships Department at sp@anrs.fr