The UK-CAB is a network for community HIV treatment advocates across the UK that was set up in May 2002.
The 3 main aims of the UK-CAB are to:
- Develop and strengthen a network of treatment advocates
- Provide expert training on current treatment issues and opportunities to meet with doctors, researchers and pharmaceutical companies
- Develop community representation in clinical trials and setting the standard of care
Participation in the UK-CAB is open to HIV-positive people and community advocates.* A valid email account is needed to join.
Individuals join the UK-CAB as members in their own right. Many members of the UK-CAB are linked to a wide range of organisations in the UK. Members also include advocates that are not linked to organisations, and HIV-positive people who want to use the training offered in the workshops.
A Steering Group elected by the members coordinates the programme and CAB development.
Treatment advocates’ network
UK-CAB connects members via a web-based message board and face-to-face meetings.
The message board enables members to contribute to clinical trials design, comment on treatment guidelines, communicate with other advocates and keep up to date with reports on the latest research.
Expert training
The core programme comprises 4 national meetings a year.
National meetings include presentations from experts, feedback from recent medical conferences and training on practical and technical issues. Speakers include leading doctors and researchers, representatives of pharmaceutical companies and experienced advocates. Meetings are limited to 30 people. Meetings are interactive, with questions, discussions and time to network. Transport and accommodation costs are paid for participants who live and work outside London**. Background reading, presentations and reports from workshops are available on this website.
The public can read meeting reports on the website. Meeting reports include a list of attendees (attendees who prefer not be named are omitted).
Community representation in clinical trials and setting the standard of care
HIV-positive people and their advocates must be involved in all aspects of our medical care. This includes input into clinical guidelines and the design and management of clinical trials.
UK-CAB elects and selects representatives for clinical trials and guideline writing groups. This usually comprises two advocates that share this responsibility, often pairing an experienced advocate with someone wishing to develop their expertise.
Funding
Since April 2008 the CAB is supported by an educational grant from the Monument Trust which has allowed us to employ a part-time administrator.
When the CAB meets with pharmaceutical companies we ask for a nominal contribution towards the meeting costs. The CAB decides the content and agenda for these meetings.
We also ask that support for community involvement in research be included when independent researchers submit grant proposals and hope that in the future some of the CAB work can be supported in this way.
* Directors and employees of pharmaceutical companies involved in research into HIV treatment and diagnostics, or employees of agencies providing PR, marketing and other professional services for these companies may not join the UK-CAB. We work closely with industry, but the UK-CAB is a community-based network, and it is important to respect this boundary.
** UK-CAB cannot provide any funding for people travelling from outside England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.