This session will review the various types of clinical trials encountered by HIV clinicians. The strengths and weaknesses of various study designs will be discussed. Special consideration will be made of the ethical limits on placebo-controlled trials and the changes in trial design which have resulted. Advanced topics will include an analysis of Active-Control trials, non-inferiority trials, and the role of genotypic and phenotypic sensitivity scores in the review of new agents.
(Slides)

Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents: The Reasons Behind Them
Michael A. Kolber, MD, PhD

The goal of this talk is to review the Adult ARV Guidelines and provide information regarding the reasons for the recommendations. Information will be provided to help participants better understand when to start antiretroviral therapy; what antiretroviral combinations you can use and which you should not use; and when and how to use resistance testing.
(Slides)

Advanced HIV Prevention
Ivan Meléndez-Rivera, MD

Current approaches to HIV prevention need to be optimized and specific to our population needs. In this session, the participant will acquire HIV prevention tools needed to manage areas such as: issues in behavior modification, current and future approaches to the development of microbicides, and the rationale for the use of antiretroviral therapy within HIV prevention strategies. Prevention also will be discussed in the areas of viral and host factors, ARV modifications, mother-to-child transmission, circumcision and HIV vaccine trials.
(Slides)

Legal Issues and Negotiating Living Wills/Advance Directives for PLWA
George Castrataro, MPH, Esq

The session will provide participants with a basic overview of relevant legal issues associated with HIV disease. Participants will gain an understanding of the most common legal issues facing people living with HIV and AIDS including: 1) access to public benefits, 2) advance directives (including wills, trusts, living wills, power of attorney, and guardianship), 3) discrimination, and 4) employment and returning to employment. Participants will gain a basic understanding of legal interventions needed to protect and support people living with HIV disease. Finally, the session will highlight legislative changes in the areas of HIV testing, confidentiality, and access to treatment.
(Slides)

Street Drugs & The Immune System
Ron Wilcox, MD

This session will introduce commen street drugs including marijuana, methamphetamine, alcohol, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, crack, herion, GHB, Special K, LSD, Ecstasy, PCP and their effects on the immune system, high-risk behaviors, and adherence. The potential interactions between HAART and these street drugs will be explained.
(Slides)

HIV Jeopardy is an interactive session developed as a review of key points from presentations given throughout the Advanced Track. The audience will participate as part of teams or observers.