Events
SOLID
10 - 12 June 2026
Participation of SOLID Project Representatives in the EMHH 2026 International Conference
From June 10 to 12, 2026, representatives of the SOLID project participated in the 24th European Meeting on HIV & Hepatitis (EMHH 2026), held in Barcelona, Spain. The conference brought together researchers, healthcare professionals, and public health experts to discuss the latest advances in HIV and viral hepatitis treatment, clinical virology, molecular epidemiology, and public health interventions.
The SOLID project was represented by Ayazhan Kuatova, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Gulaziya Issakhova, PhD Candidate, who are also Senior Lecturers at the Department of Sociology of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana, Kazakhstan).
As part of the conference programme, the researchers presented a poster entitled “Social Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Kazakhstan”. The study explored the quality of life of people living with chronic hepatitis C in Kazakhstan and examined the role of social determinants in shaping their physical and psychological well-being. The findings highlight the importance of social factors in influencing health-related quality of life among patients with chronic hepatitis C. The results underscore the need for comprehensive and patient-centred approaches that integrate medical treatment with psychosocial support and social work interventions.
Participation in the conference provided an opportunity to gain insights into the latest international research findings and clinical approaches in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of viral hepatitis, as well as to deepen professional knowledge of current issues related to hepatitis C. The conference served as an important platform for exchanging experiences with leading researchers and healthcare professionals from across Europe, establishing new professional connections, and discussing prospects for future international scientific collaboration.
The knowledge gained and expert recommendations received during the conference will contribute to the further implementation of the project’s research objectives and the development of evidence-based approaches in the fields of public health and social work.
The participation of the researchers in EMHH 2026 was made possible through the support of the SOLID project (Social Work and Strengthening NGOs in Development Cooperation to Treat Drug Addiction), which aims to strengthen research capacity, promote international cooperation, and support scientific research in the areas of public health and social work. Participation in the conference also provided an opportunity to disseminate the project’s research findings and strengthen international academic collaboration in the fields of viral hepatitis, HIV, public health, and social work.
9 - 10 May 2026
Substitution Forum – Platform for Drug Therapy
The Substitution Forum is the leading platform for opioid substitution therapy (OST) in Austria and also serves as the annual conference of the Austrian Society for the Pharmacological Treatment of Addiction (ÖGABS). The conference has been organised by the ÖGABS since 2008 and addresses current topics relevant to addiction treatment in general and, in particular, to opioid substitution therapy. The Substitution Forum traditionally takes place at the Schlosshotel Mondsee, not far from Salzburg.
Report on the 28th Substitution Forum – Platform for Drug Therapy
4 - 5 May 2026
SOLID Team at Conference "Social Work in Action"
On 4 to 5 May 2026, the SOLID team participated in the international conference "Social Work in Action" that was organized at Al-Farabi University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The conference was dedicated to discussing interdisciplinary and global-informed strategies for bridging and advancing sustainable development in Central Asia. A special focus of the conference was social work development in Central Asia, the global standards for social work education, and the relevance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals for overcoming inequialities. The SOLID team had several presentations at the conference and actively engaged in networking. We were happy to be in a community of social work practitioners and researchers from very many different background.
29 April 2026
Round Table at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University
On 29 of April 2026, the SOLID team Kazakhstan organized an international roundtable at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (ENU). The roundtable was dedicated to the topics of Social Work in the Penitentiary System and Social Work in the Health Care Sector. The roundtable was opened by Nazgul Gazizollayevna, ENU vice rector for Finance and Investments. Alua Nadirkulova, Ambassador of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Monika Iwersen, German Ambassador to Kazakhstan, delivered welcoming remarks. The event featured many enlightening presentations from SOLID researchers from China, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, and was attended by more than 100 participants (50 in person and about 70 online). Participants stressed the importance of a human-centered approach for social work in the peninteniary system and the health care sector.
27 April 2026 - 2 May 2026
SOLID PhD Colloquium in Astana
From 27 April to 2 May 2026 the SOLID PhD Colloquium took place in Astana. 11 PhD students from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan presented and discussed the progress of their PhD research. It was great to see how much work has already been done since our first meeting in Nuremberg. The SOLID team also organized two methods workshops and a film evening. The group discussion proved to helpful for overcoming difficulties in the research process. Next to hard work, we also had a lot of fun. During the weekend, we explored Kazakhstan's capital Astana which presented itself in beautiful spring weather.
27 - 29 March 2026
20th Munich AIDS and Infectious Diseases Days
For four decades, the Munich AIDS and Infectious Diseases Days have been a central meeting point for experts from medicine and science. For the 20th anniversary, numerous experts came together in Berlin from March 27th to 29th, 2026 to celebrate this special event together. Participants discussed with experts from various disciplines and gained insights into current research results and therapeutic approaches in the area of HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases. Not only scientists took part in the congress, but also, as always, representatives of people living with HIV and representatives of AIDS aid organizations and gay communities or those of migrants, and unfortunately only few representatives of self-organizations of drug users. The congress offered numerous opportunities to expand your professional network and make new contacts.
Report from the 20th Munich AIDS and Infectious Diseases Days in Berlin from 27th to 29th March 2026
27 - 30 October 2025
SOLID Kick Off Meeting
The SOLID kick-off meeting will take place in Nuremberg from October 27 to 31, at the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm. This will be the first gathering of all project partners from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and China, providing an opportunity to exchange knowledge and discuss future collaboration.
27 October 2025
SOLID International Research Project Launch
The international research project SOLID officially launched on October 27. Project leader Prof. Dr. Daniel Deimel from the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Vice President for Research and Transfer at Ohm University, Prof. Dr. Tilman Botsch, and the former Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Dr. Ruth Limmer, welcomed the 35 international project partners and representatives from the participating universities in Central Asia and China at the project kick-off meeting. Following an entirely digital collaboration to date, the cooperation agreements between Ohm University of Applied Sciences and the Shanghai Mental Health Center, Eurasian National University, Bishkek State University, and the National University of Uzbekistan have now been formally signed. Ohm University of Applied Sciences collaborates with partner institutions in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. A key component of the project is the doctoral program in social work, which the university is developing in cooperation with its partner institutions. The dissertation projects are thematically linked to the core topics of the SOLID project. Through their inclusion in the SOLID network, doctoral candidates and their research projects enjoy high visibility, as the network facilitates public engagement and collaboration with international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). SOLID II is funded for five years by the German Academic Exchange Service's (DAAD) "exceed – Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation" program. With a project volume of over 4 million euros, it is the only exceed project at a university of applied sciences.
