INI researcher is elected to the Governing Council of the International Aids Society

Beatriz Grinsztejn, head of the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Aids and STDs at Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI/Fiocruz), has taken office as a Governing Council Member for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International AIDS Society (IAS). Founded in 1988, IAS is the largest global association in the area and brings together researchers, managers and representatives of social movements from 180 countries working on all fronts in the search for a global reduction in the impact of HIV. The ceremony was held during the International AIDS Conference and IAS Conference on HIV, two of the world's most prestigious meetings on the subject, in the Netherlands.

For president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) Nísia Trindade Lima to have a Foundation researcher on the IAS Governing Council is an achievement. "It is a joy for us. It is the recognition of her personal trajectory, of the relevance of the academic production and work of Beatriz in the head of the laboratory. Indicator of the tradition and excellence of INI/Fiocruz in all fields that involve clinical research in infectious diseases," she said.

"Beatriz is one of the main interlocutors of our department for several subjects, among them Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). In a world that needs so much dialogue about representations, it is extremely emblematic the choice of a Brazilian woman, Latin American, to occupy this position. We are very happy for her appointment and I am sure we will feel very well represented by her," said Adele Schwartz Benzaken, director for the Department of Surveillance, Prevention and Control of STIs, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis of the Ministry of Health.

The candidature analysis and election process began in November 2017. The IAS Governing Council is composed of 20 elected members, four representatives from each region and the term of office is four years. Historically, the IAS has had a small number of female representatives from the Americas and the Caribbean region in the Governing Council, including a single Brazilian, more than two decades ago, Lair Guerra de Macedo, then Director of. Besides her and Beatriz, only two other women represented the region, Mercedes Weissenbacher from Argentina, and Gloria Echeverría de Pérez from Venezuela. 
 
Beatriz Grinsztejn

Graduated in Medicine from the Fluminense Federal University, Beatriz holds a Master's and PhD in Infectious and Parasitic Diseases from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She dedicated her career to Clinical Research on Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, mainly to study the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, co-infections and associated comorbidities. In addition to heading the Laboratory of Clinical Research on Aids and STDs at Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases, she also works as a professor in Stricto sensu postgraduate course at the Institute. Leader of the Group of Clinical and Epidemiological Research on HIV/AIDS (CNPq Directory of Research Groups), she is also a consultant to the Ministry of Health, where she is a member of the Advisory Commission on the Management of HIV Infection in Adults (CAA). 

At the international level, she participates in the HIV/AIDS Adult Guidelines Development Group of the World Health Organization, Scientific Expert Panel of Unaids, Therapeutic Advisory Committee of the Pan American Health Organization, and integrates research networks such as AIDS Clinical Trials Group and HIV Prevention Trials Network NIAID/NIH (USA). Beatriz is also a member of the Executive Committee of the network AIDS Clinical Trials Group, and a member of the International Advisory Board of journals The Lancet HIV and Journal of the International AIDS Society.