Spotlight on AVAC’s Cure Program

Ending the HIV epidemic will, ideally, include a safe, effective and durable cure for those living with HIV. HIV cure research is advancing the understanding of the immune system, driving discovery of innovative testing and monitoring technologies, and supporting the development of new therapeutics. It’s vital for advocates to understand the science and ethics of HIV cure research and to champion equity in research, development and, ultimately, access to cure interventions of the future.

Since 2017, AVAC has helped to advance global and country-specific HIV cure research and advocacy agendas that are community-centered, ethically-based and scientifically rigorous. AVAC’s cure initiatives aim to:

1. Cultivate and support informed cure advocates who are actively engaged with the HIV cure research landscape nationally, regionally and globally.
2. Develop and disseminate new tools that translate complex cure research for the field and advance cure research advocacy.

Advocacy Champions for HIV Cure Research

HIV cure research must center communities of people with and affected by HIV. With knowledgeable and passionate advocates engaged in cure research at the basic and clinical research phases, future trials can be designed to successfully test strategies that align with community needs. Advocates also play a critical role in influencing policies, funding and infrastructure that support HIV cure research.

AVAC’s investment in cure champions includes:

• The Martin Delaney Collaboratories for HIV Cure Research (MDC)
  The NIH-funded MDCs are the largest collaborations focused on HIV cure globally and the flagship NIH research program advancing cure science. The MDCs foster dynamic, multidisciplinary collaborations among academic researchers, industry, government and community partners to pursue cure strategies for HIV. AVAC leads community engagement for three of the ten collaboratories—REACH, PAVE and I4C. AVAC disseminates research literacy materials, convenes dialogues and trainings, and facilitates opportunities for communities to influence cure research from the earliest stages. These efforts ensure cure strategies are developed with meaningful input from a broad range of stakeholders affected by HIV.

• Advocacy-For-A-Cure Academies
  AVAC facilitates two Advocacy-for-a-Cure Academies (also referred to as HIV Cure Academies): the Global Academy, co-hosted with the International AIDS Society (IAS), and the US Academy, with the MDCs. These programs identify and nurture advocates to fight effectively for the development of supportive research environments and the ethical involvement of impacted communities in clinical research. Academy attendees and leading cure researchers explore current investigational strategies, population-specific considerations and effective strategies for translating cure science to a variety of stakeholders. They consider the challenges in cure research, approaches to broad stakeholder engagement and an advocacy agenda to accelerate the design, social acceptability and rapid adoption of HIV cure products. Read highlights from the 2025 global Advocacy-for-a-Cure Academy.

• The African HIV Cure Consortium
  The African HIV Cure Consortium includes seven partners (African Alliance, AVAC, CIDRZ, HCAAP, GGTI, IAS and SANTHE) working together to accelerate HIV cure research in Africa. The group advances advocacy by raising awareness, creating and tracking metrics, and working with communities to create advocacy and scientific agendas. AVAC’s role, in partnership with IAS, is to cultivate advocacy hubs by providing strategic grants and mentorship to academy alumni. In addition, AVAC is tracking the state of HIV cure research and mapping cure research assets in Kenya and South Africa in order to address barriers and advance opportunities to conduct cure research in these countries.

Cure Literacy Tools

Accurate information on cure research enables stakeholders, including affected communities, to engage with critical questions facing the field. AVAC and partners produce literacy content on the scientific fundamentals and challenges driving the field forward. Advocates engaged in cure research rely on these materials to stay informed and prepared.

AVAC Cure Literacy Tools

• What Does it Take to Conduct HIV Cure Research?
• HIV Cure Strategies (coming soon)
• Cure Research Cohort Map (coming soon)
• Sex & HIV Cure Research

Partner Spotlight

HIV Cure Academy alumni Doreen Moraa, Josephine Nabukenya and Skegabo Seselamarumo are leading voices for young people to turn to for HIV cure information, with thousands of followers across various social media platforms. These alumni engage with prominent researchers to create novel digital materials, including videos and podcasts, to explain the state of HIV cure research in Africa and connect scientific advances to everyday lives.

HIV Cure Academy alumni Elina Mwasinga and Lusungu Harawa organized the first HIV cure agenda setting workshop in Africa to identify barriers and opportunities for cure research in Malawi. The workshop was conducted in collaboration with the Malawi National AIDS Commission and Ministry of Health.

The PAVE Community Advisory Board created an African-wide storytelling campaign to share the importance of HIV cure research from the perspective of young people.

Partner Resource Library

• CUREiculum — learning modules and tools that simplify the science of HIV cure-related research to strengthen community engagement in HIV cure research, created by the MDC CAB, AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition, AIDS Action Baltimore and the Treatment Action Group
• CROI 2026 HIV Cure Reflections — a PAVE and REACH video series with HIV cure-related takeaways from CROI 2026
• HIV Cure and the Environment — a REACH webinar recording discussing how the environment may impact HIV cure strategies
• PAVE Voices Project — a PAVE video documenting what an HIV cure means to youth advocates
• CROI 2025 HIV Cure Reflections — a PAVE and REACH video series with HIV cure-related takeaways from CROI 2025
• The Series of JoJo — a culturally tailored video series by Josephine Nabukenya, HIV Cure Academy alumni, on the basics of HIV cure science
• Skegabo Podcast — HIV Cure Academy alumni Skegabo Seselamarumo’s YouTube channel translates complex HIV cure science into accessible, community-centered conversations