Metrodora

Meaningful Engagement of Women in HIV Treatment Research

Rationale:

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Globally, women are disproportionally affected by HIV, and constitute more than half of all people living with HIV. Young women and adolescent girls are especially vulnerable, accounting for 46% of new infections in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and 29% in Western and Central Europe[1].

Women have been historically under-represented in clinical trials and consequently, many treatment guidelines contain minimal advice on the care of women and lack of understanding on their response to medications. In fact, less than a quarter of people taking part in clinical trials for antiretroviral medications are women, which limits the generalisability of research findings.2

New conjoint efforts and research are required to guide evidence-based practice and to develop more focused responses on HIV prevention and treatment for women living with HIV.

 

[1] UN Women – Facts and Figures: HIV and AIDS http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/hiv-and-aids/facts-and-figures

 

Summary:

The aim of the Metrodora project is to foster women’s involvement in Research and Development in the HIV field (henceforth: HIV R&D) and their active participation in decision-making processes. The project foresees 3 levels of activities: assessing the involvement of women in Eastern and Western European regions; empowering advocates; and enhancing collaborative efforts between key stakeholders to improve the involvement of women in HIV R&D. By the end of the project, it is expected key stakeholders involved in women’s HIV treatment and prevention research are jointly and actively contributing to increase women’s representation in HIV R&D processes.

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Project Coordinator: This project is coordinated by the EATG office in collaboration with the EATG4Women steering committee.

 

Activities:

 

First phase:

Literature review of the women’s involvement in HIV R&D; identification of gaps, obstacles, unmet needs and best practices. Development of a position paper.

 

Second phase:

• Collection of informational material on clinical research in HIV on the EATG Training Academy Website and development of a reading list for women advocates participating in the programme available at https://www.eatg4women.com/metrodora-resources

• Webinars: 3 webinars will be organised on the following subjects:

• Webinar 1: Women’s participation in HIV research

• Webinar 2: Introduction to Research and Development in HIV

• Webinar 3: Results of the Metrodora Research

• One-day training for 15 women advocates

 

Third phase:

Multi-stakeholders’ meeting between the women advocates and representatives from pharmaceutical companies, relevant international organisations, researchers and policy makers.