Translating HIV research into policy and practice in Cameroon: proceedings of the 5^th Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO), 2026

¹Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Yaoundé, Cameroon, ²Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Yaoundé, Cameroon, ³Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS), Bamenda, Cameroon, ⁴Chantal Biya International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CIRCB), Yaoundé, Cameroon, ⁵Central Technical Group, National AIDS Control Committee (NACC), Yaoundé, Cameroon, ⁶Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, ⁷Global Fund and Partners Grant Coordination Unit for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, ⁸Division of Operational Health Research (DROS), Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, ⁹University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon, ¹⁰Research and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH), Bangangté, Cameroon, ¹¹University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon, ¹²Texila American University, Georgetown, Guyana, ¹³University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, ¹⁴London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, United Kingdom, ¹⁵Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA, ¹⁶Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA, ¹⁷Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA), Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria, ¹⁸International Research Center of Excellence, Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria, ¹⁹Global Pediatrics Program and Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, ²⁰General Secretariat, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon, ²¹Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

^&Corresponding author
Emmanuel Gwan, Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Yaoundé, Cameroon

Conference proceedings    

The Cameroon HIV/AIDS Research Forum (CAM-HERO) is a consortium that brings together researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to translate research into policy, build local research capacity, and advance collaboration to achieve the HIV prevention and treatment targets in Cameroon. Since 2020, major CAMHERO outputs include developing key research priorities to advance the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets for ending the HIV epidemic [1], fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and strengthening capacity in research methodology, bioethics, and implementation science (IS) [2-4].

Despite significant progress made in the fight against HIV across Africa, implementation gaps persist, characterised by challenges in translating research findings into practice, particularly in the context of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and adolescent care[5-7]. This, therefore, constituted the primary focus of this edition of CAM-HERO, whose objectives were to strengthen capacity in implementation science (IS) for translating HIV research into practice, share current HIV research findings from Cameroon, promote ethical and responsible research conduct, and foster mentorship and collaboration between research, policy, and practice stakeholders.

The conference was held from February 18 - 20, 2026, in Douala and brought together local and international researchers, program implementers, clinicians, and representatives from the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health (MOH). The conference theme was "Translating HIV Research into Policy and Practice in Cameroon." This three-day program featured IS training on day 1 and part of day 2, and plenary sessions and abstract presentations on days 2 and 3. A total of 81 abstracts were submitted, and after a rigorous review process, 16 oral abstracts, nine poster abstracts and two late-breaking abstracts were selected for presentation. These presentations covered four main categories, including IS, basic and prevention science, and clinical research (Table 1).

Day 1: February 18, 2026

A key feature of the first day was the Ministry of Health (MOH)-CAM-HERO partner interaction session, which examined CAM-HERO's role in supporting Cameroon’s HIV response through research. Established to address gaps in the national research workforce, CAM-HERO has evolved into a platform for stakeholder dialogue and the nurturing of early-career researchers. During the session, the Chair of Clinical Research Education Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), Prof. Anastase Dzudie, highlighted major achievements since its inception, including the identification of ten HIV research priorities, establishment of a Local Implementation Science Network (LISN) with funding from the United States National Institutes of Health Fogarty International Center, and progress in addressing misunderstandings between researchers and ethics committees. The head of the MOH Division of Operational Research in Health (DROS), Prof. Anne-Cécile Bissek, noted the relevance of CAM-HERO as an HIV research network aligned with MOH priorities, while the director of the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA), Prof. Nadia Sam-Agudu, underscored the growing importance of IS in improving programme delivery.

The Secretary General of the MOH, Prof. Louis Richard Njock, then officially opened the fifth edition of the CAMHERO. Noting the theme "Translating HIV Research into Policy and Practice in Cameroon", he emphasized the importance of scientific evidence in informing national decision-making and strengthening HIV programme outcomes. Referring to findings from the 2024 Cameroon Population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey [8], he noted declines in HIV incidence and prevalence, while drawing attention to persistent disparities affecting women, adolescents, and young adults. He stressed the value of IS in identifying effective, context-appropriate strategies and called on researchers to generate transparent findings and actionable recommendations. He further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 through stronger research translation, ethical practice, community engagement, and capacity strengthening. The session concluded with a group picture before participants proceeded to the IS training (Figure 1).

In addition to the MOH-CAM-HERO partner interaction session, day 1 was dedicated to IS training, facilitated by Prof. Nadia Sam-Agudu of CAWISA. Participants were selected from diverse professional backgrounds in implementation, academia, and community-based public health, including research institutions, universities, the ministry of health, and non-governmental organizations. The IS training content is summarized in Table 2.

Day 2: February 19, 2026

The second day began with the concluding sessions of the IS training initiated the previous day. Participant groups presented their IS research and programmatic projects developed during the day 1 practical session, prompting discussion and peer feedback while reinforcing the practical application of IS concepts. Training certificates were awarded to 52 participants in recognition of their participation and acquired skills (Figure 2).

The official opening of the plenary and abstract presentation sessions followed. In her opening remarks, Prof. Bissek commended CAM-HERO for its important role in advancing HIV research in Cameroon and called for continued collaboration among stakeholders (Figure 3). The scientific programme for the day included one plenary session and two oral abstract presentation sessions.

Plenary session 1: implementation science and practice to enhance HIV programs in Cameroon

This plenary session focused on the role of implementation and improvement science in strengthening HIV programmes in Africa, with a particular focus on Cameroon. Prof. Sam-Agudu presented on implementation research and practice in HIV programme management in Africa, emphasising its role in bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, particularly in resource-limited settings. Dr. Djikeussi Tatiana, MD, and Dr. Tchounga Boris, PhD, from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) then discussed quality improvement science as an approach to addressing existing programme challenges through better, more responsive solutions. The session concluded with a panel discussion and a question-and-answer segment.

Oral abstract session 1: improving HIV programs performance in Cameroon

Four oral abstracts were presented in this session. Grace Nyemb from EGPAF Cameroon presented findings on strengthening index case testing in the Littoral and South Regions of Cameroon, showing initial gains but also the need for sustained and adaptive strategies. Leonie Simo from EGPAF Cameroon reported substantial improvements in uptake and completion of tuberculosis preventive treatment following targeted training, supportive supervision, and real-time monitoring. Awono Noah from DROS presented evidence that community-based ART initiation was highly acceptable among key populations and increased same-day ART initiation. Abanda Emmanuel from the National AIDS Control Committee (NACC) examined quality management practices in HIV rapid testing laboratories in the South Region and identified important disparities across facility types.

Oral abstract session 2: HIV programme implementation and service delivery in Cameroon

This session featured four presentations on HIV service delivery and implementation challenges. Sandrine Valerie Talla, MD from EGPAF Cameroon, described improved early infant diagnosis and ART initiation through enhanced tracking, data verification, and follow-up in facilities in the Littoral and South Regions. Diego Nitcheu Tchoukam from EGPAF Cameroon presented findings showing that collaborative quality improvement approaches can strengthen tuberculosis preventive therapy uptake in HIV care. Sixtus Bame Ngomo from the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (LSTMH) highlighted the contribution of community-based organisations to HIV case finding and re-engagement in care in the North-West Region. Nsangou Paul, from Research and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH) presented a systematic review showing lower completion of curative chemoradiation among women living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries, underscoring the need for more integrated HIV-cancer care models. The abstract sessions concluded with closing remarks from Prof. Bissek.

Day 3: February 20, 2026

The final day of the CAM-HERO 2026 featured poster presentations, plenary sessions, oral abstract presentations, and the CAM-HERO Awards of Excellence.

Poster presentations

The poster session showcased a range of studies addressing clinical outcomes, programme implementation, and emerging analytical approaches in HIV research in Cameroon. Njeodo Njongang Vigny, from the University of Buea, presented work on hypertension among Highly Active ART-experienced patients in Tiko Central Clinic and Cottage Hospital. Presley Tayong, from Ngaoundere Regional Hospital, examined the impact of parental follow-up on viral load outcomes among children living with HIV in Adamawa Region. Ndié Justin, from DROS, presented two posters, one on community-based HIV testing among male partners of pregnant and breastfeeding women as a strategy to address gaps in prevention of vertical transmission of HIV programmes, and another on the availability, functioning, and performance of point-of-care platforms in Cameroon and their implications for early HIV diagnosis. Angyiba Serge, from the University of Dschang, presented an AI-driven predictive modelling approach to optimize HIV testing and linkage to care, while Divine Ndamnsa, from Texila American University, Guyana, examined machine learning-based prediction of virological failure among patients on antiretroviral therapy. Enowmbi Dede Mary, from Chantal Biya International Reference Centre (CIRCB), reported on sustained virological response following genotyping-guided treatment switch among clients failing therapy in the Centre Region.

Plenary session 2 - meet the mentors from different angles

This session, chaired by Prof. Appolinaire Tiam, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at George Washington University, and Prof. Dzudie Anastase, Professor of Cardiology and Chair of CRENC, provided strategic career guidance to early-career researchers. Prof. Dzudie Anastase opened with a talk on “Building a reputed scientific career: tips and tricks”. He emphasized that a strong scientific reputation is earned through integrity, consistent productivity, and a commitment to solving important problems. Recognition, he noted, comes later. Young scientists should therefore aim to be genuinely valuable rather than seeking fame. Prof. Dzudie stressed the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, cultivating mentorship relationships, and building strong professional and social networks as foundations for a reputable career.

Professor Appolinaire Tiam followed with “Living and working outside Africa but making impact in Africa”. He encouraged African scientists resident locally or in the diaspora to become true experts who bring depth and not just experience to their fields. Career progression, he argued, requires professionalism, planning, and defining one’s own trajectory despite obstacles. He highlighted humility, collaboration, and the mindset of being a forerunner contributing to a collective journey. Prof. Tiam underscored the importance of gradual growth and urged participants to set clear short‑, medium‑, and long‑term goals while leveraging partnerships to amplify impact.

Oral abstract session 3: clinical outcomes and comorbidities among people living with HIV

This session featured four presentations addressing clinical outcomes and comorbidities among people living with HIV. Faustus Ajamah, from Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS), presented a three-year retrospective cohort study from Bamenda Regional Hospital, reporting a mortality rate of 7.6% among recently initiated patients and identifying male sex, opportunistic infections, comorbidities, abnormal liver enzymes, and advanced clinical stage as associated factors. He emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and management of co-existing conditions to improve outcomes. Manjuh Florence, from CBCHS, presented findings from cervical screening among more than 101,000 women in Cameroon, showing a higher prevalence of invasive cervical cancer among women living with HIV and underscoring the need for integrated HIV-cervical cancer screening. Korine Nforbi, from M.A Santé Yaoundé, reported an increasing burden of obesity among people living with HIV at Yaoundé Central Hospital, particularly among women, with older age, sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, alcohol use, and longer ART duration. Dolly Jovita, from the Directorate for the Control of Diseases, Epidemics and Pandemics of the MOH, presented data on the sero-epidemiology of HIV and viral hepatitis B and C among traditional practitioners in the Dschang Health District, highlighting high HIV prevalence, low knowledge levels, and risky practices such as nonsterile scarification methods, and calling for training and provision of protective equipment.

Oral abstract session 4: HIV treatment, resistance, and viro-immunological mechanisms

This session featured four presentations on HIV treatment response, resistance, and related viro-immunological mechanisms. Bonjoh Brandon, from the University of Buea, presented a cross-sectional comparative study showing that adults receiving ART at the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital had higher levels of systemic inflammation than HIV negative controls, despite similar liver enzyme profiles, and recommended further studies on sex-sensitive and albumin-based monitoring. Saleh Warsai, from CIRCB, reported in silico findings indicating that dolutegravir maintained stable binding across HIV-1 variants in ART-naive individuals in Cameroon, suggesting a low risk of primary resistance in non-B subtypes. Fulbert Ngarmadji, from CIRCB, presented data showing high sensitivity to integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) among individuals with multiple ART failures in Cameroon, with resistance identified only among people with prior INSTI exposure, underscoring the importance of resistance testing and access to newer agents. Frederick Nchang Cho, from CBCHS, reported a psychological distress prevalence of 17.1% among adults living with HIV in Akonolinga, with early ART initiation and absence of HIV-related symptoms appearing protective, while unmarried status was associated with higher risk. The findings supported the integration of timely ART initiation with routine mental health screening.

Plenary session 3: HIV/AIDS research development and ethical considerations in Cameroon

This last plenary session was chaired by Prof. Bissek (DROS), Dr Mboh Eveline (CBCHS), Dr Tchounga Boris (EGPAF), Dr. Ajeh Rogers (MOH). It consisted of two late-breaking abstracts and two presentations. The first late-breaking abstract on “Scientometric analysis of HIV/AIDS research in Cameroon,” presented by Dr. Peter Ebasone from CRENC, showed that from 1987 to 2025, Cameroon produced 805 HIV/AIDS publications, mostly research articles with high international collaboration (78%) and concentrated authorship, led by the University of Yaoundé I. Research clustered around clinical care and treatment, epidemiology, and molecular virology, with a rising focus on treatment outcomes and viral suppression, while psychosocial and key population studies remained limited. Strengthening local research leadership, promoting South-South partnerships, and aligning with national health priorities were recommended to enhance research capacity and relevance.

The second late-breaking abstract on “Ethical considerations in HIV/AIDS publications from Cameroon: what do publications reveal about ethics reporting, consent, and accountability “, by Lorraine Guedem from EGPAF, assessed how ethical considerations are reported in HIV publications involving Cameroon between 2020 and 2025. Among 274 studies, 90% reported ethics approvals and 80% reported consent, but gaps persisted in ethical approval numbers, oversight, and funding transparency, highlighting the need for standardized ethical disclosure.

Naah Tabala Felicite, from DROS, proceeded to give a presentation on “Informed consent as a pillar of community engagement”, which emphasized consenting as an ongoing process, supporting but never replacing individual consent, and outlined researcher responsibilities to ensure understanding and voluntary participation. This session was concluded by a presentation from Atanga Benjamin of DROS on the “Legal implications of the non-respect of consent by researchers in Cameroon”, sharing with us the new law governing research in Cameroon (Law N° 2022/08 of 27^th April 2022).

Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) awards

The closing session included the presentation of CAM-HERO awards in recognition of excellence in scientific communication and research. Jean Pierre Yves Awono Noah from DROS received the award for best oral abstract, Saleh Warsai from CIRCB was recognized for the second-best oral abstract, and Justin Ndié of DROS received the award for best poster presentation. In the closing remarks, Dr. Ajeh Rogers of the MOH commended the resilience of CAM-HERO’s continued impact amid changes in global health funding and emphasized the need for more integrated, efficient, and nationally aligned HIV research and service delivery, including greater attention to comorbidities such as tuberculosis and cervical cancer. Prof. Bissek concluded the conference by congratulating the Organizing Committee and praising the academic quality of the presentations (Figure 3).

Key points of the meeting: this edition highlighted the importance of implementation research and practice to achieve the UNAIDS 95‑95‑95 targets and explored integration of healthcare services amid an uncertain global funding landscape (Table 3).

Conclusion

The fifth edition of CAM-HERO successfully achieved its objectives of capacity building in implementation science, sharing of HIV research findings, promoting ethical research conduct, and fostering collaboration and mentorship. Through enriching workshops, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and abstract presentations, participants received IS training and shared their research findings amongst policy-makers and other HIV stakeholders. Key achievements included the training of over 50 early-career researchers in IS, reinforcement of ethical and regulatory frameworks for research in Cameroon, and perspectives for further research, including integration of healthcare services in line with national priorities.

Competing interests     

The authors declare no competing interests.

Authors' contributions     

All the authors read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

Acknowledgments     

The authors thank the following persons for their support and various contributions to the CAM-HERO initiative and holding of the Douala meeting in February 2026: Dr. Manaouda Malachie, Cameroon Minister of Health; Prof. Louis Richard Njock, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health; Dr. Joseph Fokam, Permanent Secretary National AIDS Control Committee; Prof. Anne Cecile Bissek Zoung-Kanyi, Head of the MOH Division of Operational Research in Health; Dr. Rogers Ajeh, Coordinator of the Global Funds for the Fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Ministry of Public Health, Cameroon; Justin Ndié, Jean Pierre Awono Noah, Félicité Naah, MOH Division of Operational Research in Health; Prof. Apollinaire Tiam, Professor of epidemiology and public health, George Washington University; Dr. Patrice Tchendjou, Dr Gilles Ndayisaba, Dr. Boris Tchounga, Dr. Boris Youngui, Dr. Emile Nforbih Shu, Dr. Tatiana Djikeussi, Dr. Sandrine Talla, Rogacien Kana, Lorraine Jinette Guedem, and the entire team of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Cameroon; Prof. Nadia Adjoa Sam-Agudu, from the Central and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance (CAWISA); Prof. Tih Pius, Dr. Eveline Mboh Khan, Dr. Edouard Tshimwanga, Dr. Pascal Nji Atanga, Dr. Florence Tumasang, Dr. Foyeth Eugene, Dr. Emmanuel Nshom, Dr. Wirsiy Frankline, and the team from the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services; Prof. Friedrich Thienemann from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; Dr. Alex Durand Nka, Dr. Ezechiel Ngoufack Semengue, Dr. Collins Chenwi and the team from the Chantal Biya International Reference Centre (CIRCB). The entire team of the Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC), including Clarisse Lengouh, Dr. Emmanuel Gwan, Hannah Wabila, Cheh Franklin, Abeh Sonita, Edouard Belinga, Ngwa Clenise, Jordanne Ching, Judith Nasah, Dr. Peter Ebasone, and Prof. Anastase Dzudie.

Tables and figures     

Table 1: overview of Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) 2026 forum participation, scientific submissions, presentations, and awards, held from 18^th to 20^th February 2026 in Cameroon (N=81 abstracts submitted; N=27 abstracts selected for presentation)

Table 2: content and delivery formats of the implementation science training sessions conducted during the Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) 2026 forum delivered over training days 1-2

Table 3: key components and highlights of the Cameroon HIV Research Forum (CAM-HERO) 2026 forum, held from 18^th to 20^th February 2026 in Cameroon

Figure 1: group picture of the first day of the conference

Figure 2: group picture of the second day of the conference

Figure 2: group picture of the third day of the conference

References