What’s All the Buzz About: mRNA, manufacturing, vaccine access

Exploring the potential role of bNAbs in prevention

AVAC and partners hosted a conversation to explore the potential role of bNAbs in prevention, current status in the field, and key issues to consider in HIV vaccine research.

Panelists included: Slim Karim, CAPRISA, Pervin Anklesaria, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Khadija Richards, Wits RHI, Huub Gelderblom, HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN)
Hosted By: Mitchell Warren, AVAC and Stacey Hannah, AVAC

Recording / Slim Karim Slides / Pervin Anklesaria Slides / Khadija Richards Slides / Huub Gelderblom Slides

PrEP (In)equity: Documenting, measuring, and flipping the script towards justice

Tuesday, May 9 at 9:00 AM–10:30AM ET

Disparities in PrEP awareness, access, and uptake are stark in the United States, and play out along lines of race, gender, age, and geography. While we see increases in PrEP uptake overall, these metrics tend to mask the fact that the people who most need PrEP are not to be found in those numbers. As we see new modes of PrEP delivery become available, we are concerned these “shiny new things” will be yet another way to measure disparities and not actually help those who most need it. We must focus on these inequities with laser-like intensity, allocate resources using an equity model, and strive harder for PrEP justice.

Speakers include: Leisha-McKinley Beach, National HIV/AIDS Consultant, Michael Chancley, PrEP4All, and Dr. Patrick Sullivan, Emory

Recording / Slides / Resources

HIV Prevention Plus Plus: Developing Options that Meet the Full Range of our Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs

Tuesday, April 25 at 9:00 AM–10:30AM ET

Despite a dynamic research and development (R&D) pipeline for prevention products, male and female condoms remain the only multi-purpose prevention technologies (MPTs) currently available. Yet MPTs are an integral part of the HIV prevention advocacy agenda. For decades, advocates have pushed for products to be developed that simultaneously prevent HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or pregnancy.

With a growing number of PrEP options already, what will it take to bring a new MPT to market? A Dual Prevention Pill (DPP – https://www.prepwatch.org/products/dual-prevention-pill/) that prevents both HIV and pregnancy could be just two years away. Looking further upstream, there are over 25 other MPTs in the pipeline (https://www.prepwatch.org/research-pipeline/), including vaginal rings, which would follow in the footsteps of the dapivirine vaginal ring recommended by WHO and recently approved in several countries.

Within this fast-evolving HIV prevention landscape, work is already underway to build a platform to introduce the DPP, which could speed up the rollout of other MPTs. Join us to hear what we’ve learned so far on R&D, marketing, counseling and delivery for MPTs – and to discuss what we can do now to prepare prevention markets to include new MPT options.

Featured Speakers:
Ruth Akulu, ICWEA, AVAC fellow
Barbara Friedland, Population Council
Gregorio Millet, amfAR
Dr. Thesla Palanee-Phillips, Wits RHI
Danielle Resar, Clinton Health Access Initiative
Co-moderators: Wawira Nyagah, AVAC Kate Segal, AVAC

Recording / Slides / Resources

How to Communicate about Sexual Health and STIs: Sex positivity vs. risk-based language

Thursday, April 20 at 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM ET

Join The Choice Agenda for a conversation focused on sex positivity and risk-based language when discussing sexual health and STIs.

Speakers include Dr. Keosha T. Bond, CUNY School of Medicine, Dr. Joseph Cherabie, Washington University St. Louis, Mark Kaigwa, Nendo, and moderated Alison Footman, AVAC

Webinar co-sponsored by the American Sexual Health Association.

Recording / Slides / Resources

Mpox – Sexual Networks, HIV and Activism

Wednesday, March 29 at 9:30–11:00am ET

MPX NYC: A community-led study on queer sex in New York City
Dr. Keletso Makofane, Harvard University, FXB Health & Human Rights Fellow

Mpox and HIV
Dr. Chloe Orkin, Professor of HIV Medicine, Queen Mary University of London

Recording / Slides / Resources

Much Accomplished, Much to Do: A Conversation Looking Back & Looking Ahead with Tony Fauci

November 28, 2022

AVAC Executive Director Mitchell Warren spoke with NIAID Director, Anthony Fauci to discuss all that’s been accomplished in the HIV and COVID-19 responses over the years, what’s ahead, and what the future looks like for NIAID, for Dr. Fauci and for pandemic preparedness.

Recording / Transcript

Efficacy is Not the Only HIV Prevention Attribute that Matters – Lessons from Contraception

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

During this webinar, experts explore lessons learned from contraception research and advocacy in relation to HIV prevention. This webinar featured Dominika Seidman, University of California San Francisco.

Recording / Slides / Resources

The Research Says Yes, YES, YES – Just Like That

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

During this webinar, advocates explored the need for pleasure in HIV prevention research and rollout.

Featuring Anne Philpott, Joao Alves, and Christine Curley

Recording / Slides / Resources

Faster, Smarter and More Equitable – Accelerating Roll Out and Uptake of CAB for PrEP

Monday, August 8, 2022

As we begin rolling out injectable cabotegravir (CAB) as PrEP, what lessons have we learned from the first 10 years of oral PrEP implementation? How can we do better with a new PrEP intervention that offers new opportunities and distinct challenges? Learn more in this Choice Agenda webinar.

Featuring Rachel Baggaley, Caroline Carnevale, Monica Gandhi and Mitchell Warren

Recording / Slides / Resources

CROI and Community and YOU – Preparing for CROI 2023

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

During this webinar, CROI community advocates gave an overview of the CROI meeting and shared logistics of the conference happening in February 2023.

Featuring Drs. James Hoxie, Diane Havlir and Landon Myer

Recording / Slides