The XI International Conference on AIDS: at the crossroads of hope and urgency.

This month Canada will host the largest conference ever held on the worldwide epidemic of AIDS. More than 12,000 participants from over 130 countries are expected to convene in Vancouver from July 7 to 12 for the XI International Conference on AIDS. As at previous conferences, the program will be organized along four tracks: basic science, clinical science, epidemiology and public health, and social and behavioural science. The author notes that although in each of these areas there is reason to take heart, we must not become complacent in the fight against HIV infection and AIDS. The pandemic is still growing at an alarming rate, and governments need to be reminded that a failure to commit funding and resources to the extension of programs for AIDS research, prevention and care is both cynical and unwise. Now is the time to redouble our efforts, not to abandon them.