IDU Reference Group
The Reference Group to the UN on HIV and Injecting Drug Use

About us

The Reference Group provides independent advice and technical assistance on matters related to injecting drug use (IDU) and HIV to the United Nations, primarily to UNODC, WHO and the UNAIDS Secretariat.

The Reference Group and the Reference Group Secretariat collects and analyses global data on injecting drug use and HIV, as well as the coverage of HIV prevention, treatment and care services for people who inject drugs.

Reference Group membership

In 2010 the group has 23 core members and 24 corresponding members from 20 countries. These members are selected by the Steering Committee of the Reference Group and include clinicians, researchers in epidemiology and policy as well as injecting drug user representatives.

Core members
Atul Ambekar
Francisco Bastos
Alexey Bobrik
Azizbek Boltaev
Marcus Day
Don Des Jarlais
Jimmy Dorabjee
Lena Grigoryeva
Mauro Guarinieri
Matthew Hickman
Adnan Khan
Rick Lines
Jessie Mbwambo
Bronwyn Myers
Badou Roger N'Guessan
Afarin Rahimi
Heino Stöver
Steffanie Strathdee
Mark Tyndall
Daniel Wolfe
Lucas Wiessing
Wenyuan Yin
Tomas Zabransky

Corresponding members
Elie Aaraj
Abu Abdul-Quader
Tasnim Azim
Mamadou BA
Holly Bradford
Benham Farhoudi
Le Minh Gian
Jean-Paul Grund
Carl Hart
Li Jianhua
Adeeba Kamarulzaman
Alisher Latypov
Kasia Malinowska-Sempruch
Jane Maxwell
Pratima Murthy
Tatyana Nikitina
Olanrewaju Onigbogi
Fred Owiti
Samiran Panda
Diana Rossi
Abdalla Toufik
Jallal Toufiq
Gino Vumbaca

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Reference Group Secretariat

The operation of the Reference Group is coordinated by a Secretariat. The Secretariat undertakes research activities on behalf, and with guidance, input and the endorsement of the Reference Group.

2010 - present

Since October 2010 the Secretariat of the Reference Group has been based at the Medical Research Council, South Africa.

2007 - 2010

From March 2007 - September 2010 the Secretariat was based at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), University of New South Wales, Australia. During this time the Secretariat comprised the following academic and technical staff:
Professor Richard P Mattick
Professor Louisa Degenhardt
Dr Bradley Mathers
Mr Benjamin Phillips
Dr Hammad Ali
Dr John Howard
A/Prof Kate Dolan
Dr Alex Wodak
Other NDARC employees also contributed to the Secretariat during this period, including: Chiara Bucello, Linda Sigmundsdottir, Samantha Chivers, Muhammad Umer Rana, Christina Briegleb, Lisa Robins, Jim Lemon and Anton Perkins.

2002 - 2006

From August 2002 - March 2006 the Secretariat was based at the Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, Imperial College London and from April to August 2006, following the Centre's relocation, at the London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Steering Committee

The workplan of the Secretariat is determined by a Steering Committee, which comprises two representatives each from UNODC, WHO, and the UNAIDS Secretariat. The Steering Committee is also responsible for selecting the members of the Reference Group.

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IDU Reference Group

Contact us

Secretariat of the Reference Group to the UN on HIV and Injecting Drug Use
c/o Alcohol & Drug Abuse Research Unit
Medical Research Council
P P Box 19070, Tygerberg, 7505
SOUTH AFRICA

Tel: +27 (21) 938 0888
Fax: +27 (21) 938 0342
Email: bronwyn.myers@mrc.ac.za