The EICC was proud to host the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) 36th Conference, a landmark event that brought a global audience together to tackle HPV-related diseases. Through ongoing education and outreach, the committee is dedicated to leaving a lasting legacy on public health
ALONGSIDE the conference the Society created a movement to build a legacy that reaches far beyond the conference and into the community. Driven by the EICC's commitment to positive societal change, representatives from the EICC joined IPV Society representatives to form a Legacy Committee. The Committee was responsible for planning an educational outreach and public awareness campaign which took place in the year leading up to the conference, and which continues to run beyond the conference. The activities in the campaign were enabled by a seed grant fund which was secured by the EICC.
The conference brings together researchers, clinicians, and healthcare professionals with a shared mission to eliminate HPV and associated cancers. Gayle McGuinn from the EICC played a pivotal role in partnering with the local committee for the IPVS to deliver an engaging conference and long-lasting legacy that will promote HPV awareness and education worldwide.
“With a comprehensive legacy and engagement programme in place, we anticipate that this conference will leave a substantial, lasting impact on Scotland's health landscape by enhancing HPV awareness, increasing vaccine uptake and empowering communities with accessible health information,” Gayle highlighted.
The Challenge: Building HPV awareness and preventing cancer
The Legacy Committee identified three key challenges to overcome:
- Raising HPV awareness: Many people remain unaware of HPV and its potential long-term health risks, especially in certain at-risk populations.
- Increasing HPV vaccination rates in young people: Widespread HPV vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent HPV-related cancers, making outreach and education on vaccine accessibility and safety crucial.
- Fostering public engagement: Empowering communities to make informed choices about preventive health measures and advocate for HPV vaccination through ongoing education and resources.
“EICC’s role in this conference goes far beyond providing a venue. We aim to support every conference organiser in achieving their goals whether that’s through facilitating outreach or enabling impactful initiatives,” said Gayle.
EICC’s Role: Enabling legacy through support and grants
As part of its mission to support impactful legacy events, the EICC applied for a seed fund grant to broaden the conference’s reach. Recognising that a separate budget was required specifically for its legacy component, the EICC led the initiative to apply for the 2023 Incredible Impact Programme (IIP) seed grant. Through their efforts, they were awarded $5,000 which provided crucial funding for targeted community engagement and educational activities.
The legacy team undertook a series of events to support awareness raising of HPV in the community, this included the set up and delivery of interactive HPV educational workshops in schools that had low HPV vaccine uptake. These efforts aim to ensure that everyone – young boys and girls alike - has access to crucial information about HPV prevention. Targeted university pop-ups across Edinburgh kicked off during Edinburgh Napier’s Health and Wellbeing Week focusing on international students who may not have had access to the HPV vaccine in their home country.
The collaborative effort and strategic initiative from the EICC played a significant role in enabling the IPVS to secure funding and establish a long-term impact plan.
Community impact and long-lasting legacy: a data-driven approach
“We believe that every conference has the potential to make a lasting impact”
Beyond the immediate educational impact, the EICC aimed to help conference organisers create a lasting legacy in vaccination awareness and education. The EICC’s commitment to building a legacy toolkit for conferences like this demonstrates its investment in driving positive change through conferences and events. Set to be launched in early 2025, this toolkit will provide organisers with the resources they need to continue their initiatives long after the conference concludes, setting a benchmark for future legacy conferences.
“We believe that every conference has the potential to make a lasting impact,” said Gayle. “With the legacy toolkit, we aim to empower future organisers with a framework for building their own impactful programs, ensuring that each event leaves something valuable behind.”
As part of EICC’s legacy-focused efforts, the IPVC organisers plan to implement tracking tools to measure the event’s impact over time. The ‘Best’ tool which stands for ‘Business Events Shaping Tomorrow’ will help track the ongoing impact of the conference and provide measurable results that reflect its success and lasting influence. This data-driven approach will show concrete evidence of the conference’s legacy, allowing organisers to refine and expand their outreach programs for future events.
Engaging Scotland’s schools and young people
One of the standout aspects of the 2024 conference was its school outreach initiative. Education is a powerful tool for prevention and schools play a central role in building awareness among young people. HPV affects everyone, making it essential to educate girls and boys on the importance of vaccination to prevent disease and reduce the spread of the virus. Through workshops, interactive sessions, and assemblies, students learn about the importance of HPV vaccination and broader preventive healthcare practices.
With a target of 1,000 students across 10 schools, the focus is on schools with historically low uptake across Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow. Many of these programs focus on engaging young people directly, providing a unique opportunity to inform them about the risks of HPV and the role of vaccination in prevention.
The committee’s connections with local science hubs have made it possible for these educational programs to reach a broader range of schools, ensuring equitable access to HPV education for students from all backgrounds.
Public awareness campaigns
In addition to school outreach, the Society and Legacy Committee have implemented a series of public awareness campaigns, aiming to spread the message about the importance of HPV vaccination to a wider audience. These campaigns have included targeted social media outreach through the hashtag #onelessworry, which sees a steep rise in activity around International HPV Awareness Day in March, collaboration with local healthcare providers and engagement with community groups.
In line with the commitment to public engagement, the EICC hosts approximately four ‘EICC Live’ events each year, collaborating with various partners to explore impactful topics. The most recent talk, EICC Live: Breaking the Silence on HPV, focused on HPV-disease prevention featuring healthcare professionals and researchers specialising in infectious diseases and public health. These events have covered themes like Women in Tech, Sports Endurance, Robotics, and Heart Health, providing a platform for thought leaders to share insights and drive awareness.
International collaboration to broaden the future of public health
The IPVS Conference also fosters collaboration between Scottish and international health organisations, uniting experts and advocates in the fight against HPV-related diseases. The conference agenda included panels, workshops and keynote sessions where healthcare professionals share insights into HPV-disease prevention, vaccine accessibility and the latest research.
“We’re grateful to the EICC for helping us in our endeavour to make a lasting community”
The local committee involved with the conference has ambitious plans for the future, with a focus on expanding school outreach, and strengthening public awareness campaigns. With each year, the goal is to complement efforts to make HPV prevention more accessible and more widely understood across Scotland and beyond.
A legacy of prevention and health advocacy
The 2024 IPV Conference stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration, community engagement and a commitment to lasting change. With the EICC’s support, the conference organisers have not only raised awareness but have also laid the foundation for sustained public health advocacy in Scotland.
“Our hope is that every attendee, every student, and every community touched by this conference carries forward the message of prevention”
– Dr Kate Cuschieri
Although the conference has ended, the work continues - implementing the insights gained, sustaining partnerships and continuing the educational outreach supported by the team at the EICC. Through its grants, resources and commitment to impactful conferences, the EICC aims to establish itself as a vital partner in Scotland’s public health landscape.
“Our hope is that every attendee, every student, and every community touched by this conference carries forward the message of prevention,” concluded Dr Cuschieri. “Thanks to the EICC, we’re building a legacy that will benefit generations to come.”
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus that can be passed on through sexual activity. In most cases the immune system will clear it, However, if it persists, it can cause certain cancers, including cervical cancer, anal cancer of the back of the throat. Vaccination against HPV is offered routinely at school in Scotland, yet vaccination uptake rates have declined recently, especially in areas with high levels of deprivation. Raising awareness in these areas is essential to maximising prevention.
For more information about HPV and the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), visit ipvsoc.org. and AskAboutHPV.org.
For more information about how EICC supports impactful conferences or to explore partnership opportunities, contact us.