Avac Event

CROI 2026 Community Breakfast Meetings

The Community Breakfast Club is a joint initiative made possible through collaboration among AVAC, the European AIDS Treatment Group, the Treatment Action Group, Fiocruz, and other partners. They feature researchers and advocates discussing some of the most consequential science being presented at CROI.

Download and share the flyer.

Spotlight on HIV Cure Science at CROI 2026: What’s new and what’s next?

Monday, February 23, 7-8am MT

Speakers

  • Jon Frater, University of Oxford
  • Katherine Bar, University of Pennsylvania
  • Allison Awgu, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Moderator

  • Jessica Salzwedel, AVAC
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Prevention Science at CROI 2026: From innovation to impact

Tuesday, February 24, 7-8am MT

Speakers

  • Linda-Gail Bekker, University of Cape Town
  • Renee Heffron, University of Alabama
  • Brian Minalga, HIV/AIDS Network Coordination

Moderator

  • Adaobi Lisa, Root to Rise
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Advances in Long-Acting HIV Treatment: Science, delivery and equity

Wednesday, February 25, 7-8am MT

Speakers

  • Ruanne V. Barnabas, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Francois Venter, Wits Ezintsha

Moderator

  • Sean Hosein, EATG
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Avac Event

Dapivirine Ring: Giving Women Hope and Choice in HIV Prevention

The monthly Dapivirine Vaginal Ring (DVR) is a critical option in the HIV prevention tool kit, being entirely woman controlled, discrete, and very safe and simple to implement.

This webinar will highlight ongoing market access activities to ensure women have access to the monthly DVR; key learnings from community and government engagement activities; the perspective of local advocates in the HIV prevention space; and updates on development of the 3-month DVR, which promises to be a more convenient and cost-effective product. Join The Choice Agenda to learn more.

Speakers (in formation):

  • Diantha Pillay, IPM South Africa
  • Leonard Solai, IPM South Africa
  • Emily Dorman, Population Council
  • Yvette Raphael, Advocacy for Prevention of HIV and AIDS (APHA)

Avac Event

IAS 2027, the 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science

IAS 2027, the 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science, will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, and virtually from 11 to 15 July 2027. Around 5,000 people from more than 130 countries are expected to attend.

The IAS Conference on HIV Science is the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications. Through its open and inclusive programme, the meeting sets the gold standard of HIV science, featuring latest HIV research and innovations that move science into policy and practice.

Avac Event

AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference

AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference, taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and virtually on 26-31 July 2026, comes at a crucial time for the HIV response.

In the face of an unprecedented funding crisis and major cutbacks to HIV programmes, the world’s largest conference on HIV and AIDS will unite people living with HIV, researchers, policy makers, healthcare professionals, funders, media and communities.

Avac Event

The Injectors of Tomorrow are Here Today

An important part of expanding PrEP access includes increasing the number of individuals who can deliver PrEP, particularly injectable PrEP, and the locations where PrEP can be administered and obtained. Join The Choice Agenda to hear from community health workers and pharmacists who are taking actions outside the box such as learning to inject, and moving PrEP out of clinics into homes, the street, and other places our communities want to engage.

Moderators:

  • Dr. Leandro Mena, Emory University
  • Parrish Brown, Whitman-Walker Health

Speakers:

  • Seth Gomez, Wellness Equity Alliance
  • April Henson, Legacy Community Health
  • Francois Venter, University of the Witwatersrand

Avac Event

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026)

CROI Conference

Conference Background

The Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) was established in 1993 to provide a forum for basic scientists and clinical investigators to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and associated diseases. The synergy of basic science and clinical investigation has been a major contributor to the success of the meeting. CROI has facilitated the presentation of important discoveries in the field, thereby accelerating progress in HIV and AIDS research. CROI highlights the latest research in HIV, hepatitis viruses, SARS-CoV-2 (including long COVID), mpox, and their related conditions. Learn more on the CROI website.

AVAC Infographics

Going to CROI? AVAC’s up-to-date infographics — on the research & development pipeline, prevention options, and the impact of US funding cuts — are available here for use in conference presentations. We constantly update these graphics, so check back for updates. The latest version of the deck will be available here.

Download Slide Deck

Community Breakfast Meetings

The Community Breakfast Club is a joint initiative made possible through collaboration among AVAC, the European AIDS Treatment Group, the Treatment Action Group, Fiocruz, and other partners. They feature researchers and advocates discussing some of the most consequential science being presented at CROI.

Learn more and Register

Avac Event

The Future of HIV Prevention: A People’s Research Agenda for Speed, Scale and Equity

First developed in 2024 in partnership with global advocates and communities, the People’s Research Agenda sets out a people-centered framework for equitable and accelerated R&D and product introduction. The PRA tracks the science, shows where investments align—or fail to align—with community-defined priorities, and spotlights critical gaps in the pipeline of prevention options needed to meet the diverse realities of all populations.

  • Featured speaker Jeanne Marrazzo, CEO of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and AVAC board member.
  • We covered what the People’s Research Agenda tracks, why it matters, and the advocacy priorities that will shape the future of prevention R&D.

View Recording / Download Slides

Avac Event

The Science of HIV Cure: What communities need to know

Speakers shared the latest on research toward an HIV cure and how lessons from progress in pediatric cure research can inform the path forward.

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Avac Event

The Quest For An HIV Cure — Will It Be Discovered in Africa?

We explored what has been happening in terms of HIV cure research in Africa, and discussed opportunities to support more Africa-focused HIV cure research.

Moderator:
Anna Miti, The Choice Agenda

Speakers:

  • Dr. Thumbi Ndung’u, Africa Health Research Institute
  • Dr. Gabriela Cromhout, University of KwaZulu-Natal
  • Adaobi Lisa Olisa, Root to Rise, IAS HIV Vaccine & Cure Advocacy Fellow

Recording / Transcript / Slides / Resources

Avac Event

Community Engagement in USG Global Health MoUs

Following up on a recent webinar, this will be a space to share real-time experiences, strategize, and define collective asks before Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) are finalized on December 12.