The first meeting of the new IPM2 initiative was held in London on October 20-21. The IeDEA Pediatric Working Group has been collaborating for a number of years with UNAIDS and WHO to inform global epidemic modeling and treatment policy for children. With new supplemental funding from NICHD, we now have the resources for a dedicated pilot initiative to address critical data and methodological gaps that have been barriers to more accurate characterization of the global pediatric and adolescent HIV epidemics.
A tri-partite leadership structure links together biostatistical analyses, big data management, and computer simulation modeling expertise within East Africa IeDEA, IeDEA Southern Africa, and Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital (CEPAC). Additional analytical support and scientific guidance is provided through the other pediatric IeDEA regions of West Africa, CCASAnet, Central Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. Initial projects will include working with the UNAIDS Spectrum team on assessments of fertility among HIV-positive women, forecasting of antiretroviral drug needs from first- to second-line regimens, and tracing studies in pregnant women, children and adolescents to determine the true outcomes of those lost to follow-up
IPM2 meeting participants representing all 6 IeDEA pediatric regions, Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Athens, NIAID, NICHD, UNAIDS, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (not pictured: Avenir Health, Imperial College, WHO).