The US HIV Cure Academy 

The US HIV Cure Academy connects people affected by HIV with leading researchers to explore the latest HIV cure strategies and equip them with the skills needed to prepare their communities to engage in HIV cure research.  

→ Read highlights from the 2026 US HIV Cure Academy! 

The World Needs an HIV Cure, and Cure Research Needs Community Input 

More than a hundred HIV cure clinical trials with thousands of participants are underway. An effective HIV cure will reduce new infections, neutralize stigma and discrimination, contribute to the end of the epidemic and provide hope to millions of people living with HIV. But cure research is highly complex and the trials to test possible solutions involve careful considerations that communities must understand. People affected by HIV have an opportunity to play a fundamental role in shaping a research agenda that reflects community priorities and ensuring communities understand and support research.

About the HIV Cure Academies 

AVAC convenes two HIV Cure Academies each year— the US HIV Cure Academy and the Advocacy-For-a-Cure Academy hosted with the International AIDS Society (IAS). The Academies prepare civil society to fight effectively for research that matters to the people who are most impacted by HIV. AVAC co-hosts the US HIV Cure Academy in the US through the Martin Delaney Collaboratories (MDCs) community engagement program under REACH, PAVE and I4C, with support from additional partners. Previous partners include the Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE), BEAT-HIV, CRISPR for Cure and The Well Project. Each year, the US Academy brings together roughly 20 people affected by HIV and leading cure researchers to explore current strategies under investigation and the implications for different populations. They consider the challenges in cure research, approaches to broad stakeholder engagement and strategies for accelerating the design, social acceptability and rapid adoption of HIV cure products.

The program: 

• Provides training on current HIV cure research strategies, barriers to a cure and skills for communicating scientific results accurately to communities that will most benefit from cure research.
• Supports the development of tools to broaden cure literacy to the wider community, including policy makers, the media and program managers.
• Creates opportunities to interact with leading researchers and other people affected by HIV with a view to expanding the civil society network supporting HIV cure.

The Cure Fellowship

Following the Academies, AVAC awards at least one fellowship to Academy alumni to support the development of a project that meets one of the following criteria:

• A program to build support for HIV cure research in-country;
• Strengthens networks and tools for cure advocacy in local contexts;
• Develops and provides HIV cure education and information for clients, advocates and healthcare providers

Learn more about the 2026 Alumni Fellows.

Impact 

Since 2025, 40 advocates have participated in the US HIV Cure Academy. The majority represent communities across the US that are most burdened by HIV. Academy alumni have gone on to serve on community advisory boards and support better understanding of HIV cure science in their communities. They make the science accessible and promote community support for accelerated research in their local context. Furthermore, they identify and inspire future Academy participants, growing the field of cure advocates.

Contact

For more information on this program, reach out Jessica Salzwedel at [email protected]. 

This work is supported by the National Institutes of Health, grant numbers UM1AI164556, UM1 A164565 and UM1AI164566.