HIVResNet structure
WHO HIVResNet is comprised both of a network of countries and affiliated institutions implementing the WHO HIVDR strategy, and a network of accredited laboratories who perform quality assured genotyping to support HIVDR surveillance and monitoring in those countries. Through the steering committee and the working groups, it also serves an advisory and evaluation functions to the WHO HIV drug resistance team and to countries and regions implementing the strategy.
The main entities within WHO HIVResNet function are as follows:
Steering Committee
The WHO HIVResNet steering committee (SC) was originally chaired by two officers of the International AIDS Society, which co-founded HIVResNet in collaboration with WHO. It is convened by the WHO secretariat. The SC meets at least annually. Its functions include:
- Evaluating the implementation of the WHO HIVDR strategy, including expenditures, and overseeing an external evaluation at least every three years.
- Reviewing the annual report of the WHO HIVDR team and providing advice on future work.
- Evaluating reports from and making recommendations to the Laboratory Network Advisory Group and the Surveillance and Monitoring Network Advisory Group.
- Reviewing the structure and function of the current working groups, and making recommendations for changes in their work or the need for additional groups.
- Assuring that the work of WHO HIVResNet is appropriately linked with, and supports, international antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale-up strategies and HIV prevention strategies.
The HIVResNet SC consists of a maximum of 20 persons (not including the WHO secretariat), and includes:
- Representatives from international committees on ART guidelines, HIV prevention, and HIV surveillance.
- Representatives from governments that are both supporters of and collaborators in implementing the WHO HIVDR strategy, including Canada, the United States of America, Spain and Italy.
- Representatives from major donor institutions and foundations, such as the European AIDS Fonds and the William and Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Representatives from institutions collaborating with WHO on the HIVDR strategy, including Pharmacess, Medicines San Frontiers, Treat Asia, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Union, and academic centres.
- Representatives from WHO regions implementing active HIVDR strategies.
- One national representative from a country actively involved in implementing the WHO HIVDR strategy in each active WHO region.
- At least one representative from each of the two Advisory Groups (see below).
- The WHO HIVDR secretariat.
The WHO HIVResNet Surveillance and Monitoring Network
The WHO HIVResNet Surveillance and Monitoring Network is made up of countries implementing the WHO HIVDR strategy and reporting their data to WHO, and affiliated institutions and individuals actively supporting implementation in one or more countries. The network is overseen by the WHO HIVResNet Surveillance and Monitoring Advisory Group, which is made up of a maximum of 15 expert clinicians, epidemiologists, virologists, and statisticians involved in international ART guidelines, HIVDR prevention and assessment, and HIV prevention in international institutions and developing countries, supported by a WHO secretariat.
WHO HIVResNet Surveillance and Monitoring Advisory Group
This group meets at least annually, has regular telephone consultations, and will communicate electronically through email. It has the following functions:
- Reports to the WHO HIVResNET SC on the functioning of the global HIVDR surveillance and monitoring network.
- Recommends agenda items and suggests issues to the HIVDR surveillance and monitoring and the HIVDR information working groups.
- Reviews guidance produced by the HIVDR surveillance and monitoring and the HIVDR information working group and reports from consultants providing technical assistance.
- Advises WHO, national Ministries of Health, and WHO regions in collecting, compiling, interpreting, and reporting on HIVDR data.
- Assists WHO in advising countries in making public health recommendations based on their HIVDR data, implementing those actions, and monitoring and evaluating the functioning of national HIVDR prevention and assessment systems.
- Oversees the production of HIVDR surveillance and monitoring-related guidance by working groups and individual consultants.
- Produces an report to the Steering Committee twice yearly, including a summary of consultant reports.
The WHO HIVResNet Laboratory Network
The WHO HIVDR Laboratory Network consists of national, regional, specialized, and training laboratories that have met the WHO criteria for accreditation to perform HIVDR genotyping in support of surveillance and monitoring under the WHO HIVDR strategy. The structure of this network is described more detail on the WHO website.
WHO HIVResNet Laboratory Network Advisory Group
The network is overseen by the WHO HIVResNet Laboratory Network Advisory Group, which is made up of a maximum of 15 representatives of the accredited laboratories, consultants and laboratory experts, supported by a WHO secretariat. This group meets at least once annually. It has the following functions:
- Reports to the WHO HIVResNET SC on the functioning of the laboratory network.
- Recommends agenda items and suggests issues to the WHO HIVResNet Laboratory Working Group.
- Oversees the accreditation process for laboratories.
- Oversees the functioning of the proficiency panel external quality assurance system.
- Recommends to WHO and provides oversight for the technical assistance to be provided to genotyping laboratories in countries and regions.
- Reviews guidance produced by the HIVDR laboratory working group reports from consultants providing technical laboratory-related assistance to countries.
- Recommends special studies to WHO to be undertaken by network laboratories.
- Makes recommendations for and oversees the development of training materials and the implementation of training related to the WHO HIVDR laboratory strategy.
- Oversees the production of laboratory-related guidance by working groups.
- Produces an annual report to the Steering Committee, including a summary of consultant reports.
WHO HIVResNet Working Groups
HIVDR working groups are convened by WHO and the Steering Committee to serve specific functions. These include the production of guidance documents, the provision of technical assistance to WHO or to countries, performing research or assessments as part of the WHO HIVDR strategy, and providing training. Because working groups may have several subgroups focusing on different projects, the membership number is not limited. Working groups will generally meet through telephone conferences; consultative meetings may be planned to take advantage of group members' presence at international conferences. Special meetings may be arranged for subgroups to facilitate a specific piece of work.
WHO HIVResNet Structure
