Spain Launches National HIV Simulator to Accelerate Prevention and Early Diagnosis

A new spatial intelligence platform, dubbed HIVision Spain, is poised to transform HIV prevention and early diagnosis efforts across the country. Developed through a collaborative effort between INCLIVA Healthcare Research Institute-University Clinical Hospital of Valencia, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) – through its VRAIN Institute, the Valencia Anti-AIDS Committee, and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and AIDS in Catalonia (CEEISCAT), the project aims to shift the approach to HIV from reactive to predictive.

A Paradigm Shift in HIV Prevention

HIVision Spain, a national HIV simulator and digital twin, was awarded recognition in the Prevention category at the second edition of Visionarium Innovation by Gilead . The platform is designed to support health policy decisions and resource allocation, focusing on closing gaps in diagnosis, particularly early diagnosis, and improving access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), especially for vulnerable populations. It prioritizes equity by focusing on historically marginalized groups and incorporating community input to ensure interventions are culturally relevant.

How HIVision Spain Works

The innovative platform utilizes a multiscale computer-based simulator with interconnected layers:

• Geospatial Layer: Prioritizes high-return micro-territories for targeted interventions.
• Behavioural Layer: Reflects testing frequency, linkage to care, and access/persistence in PrEP utilize.
• Clinical Layer: Models the diagnostic and therapeutic cascade, tracking progress to viral suppression.
• Programmatic Layer: Incorporates capacity constraints, waiting times, and community-based deployments.

Unlike replacing existing information systems, HIVision Spain complements them by providing a predictive and operational tool. This allows clinicians, managers, and community organizations to quantify the expected impact of different combinations of screening, rapid linkage to care, and PrEP implementation under realistic conditions.

Addressing Persistent Challenges in Spain

Despite advancements in HIV treatment and prevention, Spain continues to face challenges with late diagnoses and unequal access to prevention services. More than 50% of new HIV diagnoses are made at an advanced stage of the disease, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs . Structural, social, and programmatic barriers, including stigma, reliance on hospital services, long wait times, and limited decentralized access points, hinder a fully adequate response.

Project Phases and Implementation

The 18-month project is structured in two phases. Phase I, already underway, involves participatory mapping, community screening, and population size estimation in Valencia. This data will be used to calibrate the simulator. Phase II, funded by the Gilead Visionarium Innovation award, focuses on developing and implementing the multiscale simulator, including engine optimization, scenario design, national parameterization with surveillance data, and empirical calibration in Valencia and external validation in Barcelona before extending it nationally.

Key Personnel

The project team includes Dr. Anaïs Corma (INCLIVA and University Clinical Hospital of Valencia), María José Galindo (INCLIVA), José Canales (Valencia Anti-AIDS Committee), José María Sempere and Marcelino Campos (VRAIN at the UPV), and Cinta Folch, Helena González and Georgia Escaramis (CEEISCAT).

Looking Ahead

HIVision Spain represents a significant step towards ending the HIV epidemic in Spain. By leveraging the power of spatial intelligence and predictive modeling, the project aims to optimize prevention strategies, accelerate early diagnosis, and advance equity in access to care, ultimately improving the health and well-being of all populations.