EU investing for an AIDS-free world

On 1 December each year, we commemorate World AIDS Day to raise awareness about the illness and the virus that causes it. According to the WHO, 37.7 million people in the world were living with HIV in 2020. Despite important progress in prevention methods and treatments of HIV, the virus represents a major public health concern.

Since its early days, the EU has considered the fight against HIV/AIDS a priority, having significantly invested in its research.

Here is a look at a selection of research projects funded by the Horizon 2020 programme:

• The European AIDS Vaccine Initiative 2020 (EAVI2020) provides a platform for the discovery and selection of several new vaccine candidates for HIV/AIDS that can both prevent HIV infection and establish long-term remission of those infected.
• The European HIV Vaccine Alliance (EHVA) is an international pool of experts promoting a comprehensive approach to the development of an effective and multidisciplinary HIV vaccine platform.

The EU also funds the following activities through the EU health programmes (EU4Health and 3rd health programme).

• EU4Health action grants to support the implementation of best practices in community-based services for HIV,  AIDS, tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and STIs
  The action aims at expanding upon services available to HIV patients and communities at risk and exchanging best practices that have been developed under previous health programmes
• INTEGRATE Joint Action
  The objective of this Joint Action is to improve awareness, prevention, early diagnosis and linkage to care of HIV, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Europe. INTEGRATE maps existing tools, employs a multidimensional approach and identifies the optimal profile for linkage to care.
• E-DETECT TB
  This research consortium is dedicated to the elimination of tuberculosis (TB) in the EU by utilising evidence-based interventions. The project covers the detection and management of HIV-TB coinfection.

The 3^rd health programme also co-funds the operating costs of some networks of organisations, through dedicated Operating Grants, such as the Aids Action Europe (AAE). This is a network of more than 420 NGOs, national networks and community-based groups of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis. Its activities range from supporting community-based counselling and testing to implementation of training programmes on affordability and accessibility, webinars on sexual and reproductive health and rights, meetings and workshops.

Other co-funded networks are Correlation - European Harm Reduction Network (C-EHRN) and the Tuberculosis Europe Coalition (TBEC).