September 28-29, 1995, FASEB Conference Center, Bethesda, MD Women of child-bearing age and children are the fastest growing segment of the HIV-infected population. In previous reports, LSRO has identified critical gaps in our knowledge about the integral role of nutrition in the morbidity and mortality of this pandemic disease. To further advance our understanding of this relationship, particularly in these high risk groups, LSRO along with a consortium of supporters from the scientific, medical foods, public and private sector communities convened a workshop address this issue.
A synthesis of invited presentations and working group discussions, the workshop provided a review of current knowledge and identification of areas of need, as well as development of a research agenda and an interdisciplinary network. Working group discussions also focused on domestic and international impacts, coordination of agendas and interested agencies/researchers and technology transfer between industry and the academic community. The workshop was targeted at new and senior investigators with either basic or clinical orientation; clinical/health care workers, dieticians, family/caregivers; and public and private funding agencies.
Historically, the LSRO approach to critical issues in health care has been to bring the stakeholding communities, in this case clinicians/academicians, funding agencies, advocacy groups, and the medical foods industry together to interact and foster an increased appreciation for the issues and obstacles facing each community. As a result of this workshop, specific funding programs were developed and key links were made between members of the various communities involved in this issue. Through the broad dissemination of the proceedings of this workshop came an increased awareness of the nature of the nutrition and HIV relationship and the opportunities for research support to address the key unanswered questions.
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