The Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis Virology Research (ACH4) was founded as one of Australia’s four national centres for HIV research in 2003, the others being the National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research (NCHECR now incorporated into the Kirby Institute, UNSW), the National Centre for HIV and Social Research (NCHSR) and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS). As suggested by their names, these national centres represented a continuum in HIV research from virology and immunology, through to clinical, epidemiology and social research
The Melbourne HIV Exchange (mHIVE) is a Victorian-wide consortium of over 150 HIV researchers from the Doherty Institute, Burnet Institute, RMIT University, Monash University, University of Melbourne, Alfred hospital, NRL, VIDRL, Deakin, Latrobe, MSHC, AAHL and WEHI. Our aim is to bring together all interested parties, once a month, for exchange of topical and relevant information on the broad range of basic, clinical and translational research currently being undertaken across the state. Every year we hold a special event to mark World AIDS Day. In past years, we have held hugely successful symposiums at the Doherty Institute, the Burnet Institute and RMIT with over 150 delegates from the key scientific, affected community and political sectors. The enthusiasm, communication and discussion that is fostered at these events is key to ultimately ending HIV.