This webinar outlined the transition to a country-led prevention framework, focusing on the new 2030 global targets and the integration of long-acting prevention tools. Participants learned how community-led organizations will take the lead in service delivery to ensure equitable access and sustainable health systems through the end of the decade.
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HIV Prevention 2030: A Global Access Framework for Country-Led Responses dissemination webinar
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INTEREST 2026
The International Conference on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis, and Prevention Research (INTEREST), will take place 12-15 May in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, covering new advances in HIV prevention, treatment, cure, and vaccine research and development (R&D); implementation science; and how science is being translated into impact through an African-led HIV agenda.
AVAC has compiled resources and highlights to support participation and engagement.
AVAC Infographics
For those presenting at INTEREST (as well as anyone interested in tracking the field), AVAC’s latest infographics on the HIV R&D and delivery pipelines are available in an easy-to-use slide format – including lenacapavir for HIV PrEP (LEN) volume commitments, the current landscape of prevention options in development, and the impact of US funding cuts with new data from PEPFAR. We hope these are useful for presentations and discussions at the conference and beyond.
Join AVAC, Access Bridge and Partners at These Sessions of Interest
If you are in Dar es Salaam, be sure to join sessions in which AVAC, Access Bridge, and our partners are involved.
Posters (Wednesday, 13 May and Thursday, 14 May)
- HIV Prevention Research and Development at a Tipping Point: Insights from the 2025 People’s Research Agenda Update by AVAC’s Grace Kumwenda
Identifying key priorities for the HIV prevention research agenda moving forward and informing global advocacy and engagement in R&D in response to the evolving HIV prevention landscape, including recent scientific advances and growing threats posed by funding and political disruptions.
- Getting PrEP Rollout Right This Time: Lessons from the field by Access Bridge’s Catherine Verde Hashim, presented by Wawira Nyagah
Learn from experts how we can improve and accelerate PrEP introduction at every step along the product introduction pathway. Access the full report: Getting PrEP rollout right this time
- Community Led Research on HIV Treatment, Pathogenesis and Prevention among People who use Drugs in Tanzania by Kwame Juma of Tanzania Network of People Who Use Drugs (TaNPUD) and COMPASS
Description forthcoming!
Mini-Oral Abstract (Friday, 15 May)
- Global Forecast of Long-Acting PrEP Need for Key Populations (2025-2030), by Catherine Verde Hashim presented Wawira Nyagah; 12:00-12:24
Understand the need for long-acting PrEP amongst key populations globally and explore which countries have the highest need.
What We’re Watching
The INTEREST 2026 program includes a full list of sessions, including the following, which AVAC is tracking closely (note: all times are local Tanzanian time):
Tuesday, 12 May
- Opening session with welcome addresses from conference chairs, including AVAC Board member Nyaradzo Mgodi, 9:00-10:45
- Special Session 1: Building Africa’s End to End Vaccine R&D and Manufacturing Ecosystem: Achieve Africa’s Vision, Progress, and Roadmap to Sovereignty, 16:15- 17:00
Wednesday, 13 May
- Session 7: HIV Prevention I: Cure and Vaccine, 8:30-9:15
- Session 8: HIV Prevention II: Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies and Gene Therapy, 14:25-15:10
- Session 9: HIV Prevention III: New Prevention Technologies, with AVAC Board members Nyaradzo Mgodi and Linda-Gail Bekker, 16:35-17:20
If you are attending INTEREST 2026 and would like to connect, reach out to the AVAC and Access Bridge teams at [email protected] and [email protected]. And stay up to date on the latest news from AVAC via our newsletters or on LinkedIn.
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Forward in SYNChronicity through Research and Care
At the SYNChronicity conference, this morning plenary session will bring together nationally recognized leaders who exemplify true synchronicity across scientific discovery, clinical practice, policy, and real-world implementation. This session will highlight how aligning drug user health, long COVID and vaccine research, care delivery, advocacy, and public health strategy accelerates meaningful impact, advances innovation, and improves outcomes — particularly for communities most affected by chronic diseases.
Speakers will provide critical updates on biomedical HIV prevention, vaccine preparedness, and current research studies shaping the prevention landscape; explore the intersections with drug user health, highlighting models that bridge treatment, harm reduction, and community-based support; discuss lessons from long COVID research and chronic disease management to draw connections to advocacy, research equity, and patient-led movements; and share insights on synchronizing policy and research with public health priorities and marginalized community needs.
Speakers: Gregorio Millett, MPH; Mitchell Warren; JD Davids; and Judith Feinberg, MD
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The Power of Advocacy: Keeping state, national and global progress connected
Advocacy requires us to understand that local actions connect to broader systemic change. This plenary session at AIDSWatch will discuss the interconnected nature of advocacy at the state, national, and global levels and highlight how policies, movements, and decisions influence one another. Participants will examine the tactics of our current administration, learn how grassroots work impacts national and global efforts, and identify how we can learn from each other and collaborate as we face unprecedented threats at every level.
Speakers: Kamaria Laffrey, SERO Project; John Meade, AVAC; Joseph Stango, AIDS United; Kelly Flannery, PWN
Moderator: Liz Kaplan
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What Happens When the Next Pandemic Hits?
In today’s world of misinformation and geopolitical upheaval, are we more prepared or less prepared for the next pandemic than we were when COVID-19 hit?
Join the Center for Global Health Policy & Politics for a conversation with Bloomberg’s Global Health Editor, Jason Gale, former White House Global Health Security Coordinator Stephanie Psaki, and Senior Scholar and former USAID COVID-19 Vaccines Access Director Nina Schwalbe on the future of pandemics and global health.
Drawing on Gale’s award-winning reporting, the discussion will explore COVID’s enduring legacy and look ahead to what today’s environment of inequality, strained health systems, mental health challenges, and the rise of misinformation and anti-science narratives means for the future. Moderation by Professor Matthew Kavanagh and discussant remarks by Professor Rebecca Katz.
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Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026)
The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) took place February 22–25, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
Check out AVAC’s Highlights from the Meeting
- Science, Solidarity and High Stakes for the HIV Response — Day 1 & 2 at CROI
- Meaningful Progress, Expanding Choice — Day 3 & 4 at CROI
- CROI2026: Hot Takes
- My CROI 2026 Notebook: Science, Surprises, and the Big Question of Choice
AVAC Infographics
AVAC’s visuals for presentations and discussions were seen across the conference. Access them here in an easy-to-use slide format.
Community Breakfast Clubs
Each day during CROI, AVAC, EATG, Fiocruz, TAG, and other partners hosted virtual webinars called Community Breakfast Clubs featuring researchers and advocates breaking down important prevention, treatment and cure science presented at CROI and the implications for the field.
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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.
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
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
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
- Shari Margolese, CanCURE
Moderator
- Sean Hosein, EATG
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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, discreet, and very safe and simple to implement.
This webinar highlighted 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 provided updates on the 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:
- Diantha Pillay, IPM South Africa
- Emily Dorman, Population Council
- Yvette Raphael, Advocacy for Prevention of HIV and AIDS (APHA)
- Chilufya Kasanda, Ascend Futures Foundation
Recording / Transcript / Slides / Resources
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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, took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and virtually from the 26-31 July 2026. Under the theme Rethink. Rebuild. Rise. it took place at a defining moment for the global HIV response. Alongside the latest research, discussions focused on scaling up long-acting HIV prevention, strengthening health systems, advancing country ownership, and ensuring the future of HIV prevention remains rooted in innovation, implementation and sustained investment.
AVAC’s resources, events and insights from the conference are below.
Check out AVAC’s Highlights from the Meeting
- The State of HIV Prevention: Big News, Big Moves: Reflections from AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — August 18, 2026
- Beyond AIDS 2026: AVAC’s Top 10 — August 5, 2026
- AIDS 2026: Rising Above to Meet the Moment — August 5, 2026
- Innovation Without Access is Injustice: AIDS 2026 Opens in Rio — July 28, 2026
- Science, Systems, and Communities: Turning Progress into Impact — July 30, 2026
Looking for key takeaways from the conference?
Watch here for highlights of the meeting from AVAC’s executive director, Mitchell Warren.
AVAC Session Roadmaps
AI and HIV Session Roadmap
See the AI & HIV Session Roadmap, featuring key conference sessions on artificial intelligence in HIV prevention, care, research and global health.
HIV Prevention Session Roadmap
See AVAC’s curated roadmap of HIV prevention sessions and key presentations to watch throughout AIDS 2026.
HIV Cure and Prevention Research Networking Zone
AVAC’s HIV Cure and Prevention Research Networking Zone was a place where delegates, researchers, advocates and community members could come together for interactive discussions, expert-led sessions and networking on HIV cure and prevention research, implementation and advocacy. See the schedule.
Resources
AVAC’s latest infographics on the research and development pipeline, prevention options, and the impact of US funding cuts can be accessed here.
Resource Hubs
Lenacapavir for PrEP
The introduction of injectable lenacapavir for HIV PrEP (LEN) is underway–in some places. While the field is moving faster than it did during the first decade of oral PrEP or the rollout of injectable cabotegravir, ensuring LEN—and future prevention options—reach everyone who needs them will require even greater speed, scale and equity. This resource hub contains all the tools, resources and insights on the latest with LEN rollout.
MK-8527
Expanding prevention choice means investing in a diverse pipeline of HIV prevention options. MK-8527 is an investigational antiretroviral (ARV) once-monthly oral PrEP pill currently in Phase III clinical trials. If proven safe and effective, it could offer another important PrEP option. This resource hub provides advocates with an overview of the MK-8527, the science behind it and the latest on its clinical development.
People’s Research Agenda
The People’s Research Agenda (PRA) sets out a people-centered framework for equitable and accelerated R&D and product introduction. This resource hub offers an online, interactive dashboard for tracking, translating, and advocating for HIV prevention research and development (R&D). It also 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.
Pre-conferences, Satellites, Sessions and Workshops Featuring AVAC and Partners
Sunday, 26 July
- Pre-conference: Advancing HIV prevention science and access
08:00 – 19:00
Hosted by the International AIDS Society, this pre-conference features six sessions showcasing the latest advances in HIV prevention science and access—including the Global Forecast of Long-Acting PrEP Need for Key Populations (2025–2030), developed jointly by GBGMC and AVAC. AVAC board, staff and partners will also explore the science behind next-generation HIV vaccine candidates and how to translate.
Monday, 27 July
- Satellite: Shared pipeline; shared goal: Innovations in long-acting antiretrovirals for PrEP, PEP and treatment
11:30 – 12:30
Organized by AVAC, this session will bring together researchers, product developers, donors, advocates and other partners to explore the future of long-acting antiretroviral (ARV) innovation for PrEP, PEP and treatment.
Tuesday, 28 July
- Symposium: bNAbs for cure: Hope or hype?
10:30-11:30
AVAC Board Member Marina Caskey will present in this symposium exploring the promise—and limitations—of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) for HIV cure.
Wednesday, 29 July
- Symposium: Leadership at the tipping point: Protecting the gains and advancing progress in a new era of the HIV response
10:30-11:30
Moderated by AVAC’s Mitchell Warren and HER Voice Fund Ambassador Nomonde Ngema, this symposium explores the future of the global HIV response amid shifting political priorities and an evolving global health landscape.
- Satellite: Choosing impact: Making long-acting HIV prevention a reality for key populations in sub-Saharan Africa
12:00 – 13:00
Organized by Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC) with AVAC and a number of partners participating, this session will examine strategies to sustain and expand HIV prevention for key populations as long-acting prevention options become available.
- Satellite: To fund or not to fund: Pathways and proof points to sustaining HIV prevention as part of integrated approaches and health financing reforms
18:00 – 19:30
Organized by PATH, AVAC, UNAIDS, WHO, Unitaid, APCOM, ICWEA, Harvard, Frontline AIDS and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, this session will examine the growing HIV prevention funding crisis and what’s needed to sustain progress.
Thursday, 30 July
- Workshop: Skills Lab: Community-led monitoring
12:00 – 13:30
Facilitated by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), NACOSA, the Network of Journalists Living with HIV (JONEHA) and community monitoring experts, including AVAC Senior Advisor Maureen Luba, this interactive workshop will strengthen practical skills in community-led monitoring (CLM).
- Symposium: From community to innovation to scale
16:30 – 17:30
AVAC’s Grace Kumwenda will join community leaders, researchers, clinicians, policymakers and funders to discuss the partnerships, inclusive research and implementation strategies needed to accelerate innovation and ensure equitable access from the outset.
- Satellite: From choice to impact: Long-acting and multipurpose HIV prevention technologies
18:00 – 19:30
Hosted by IPM South Africa, AVAC and Access Bridge’s Kate Segal and Ascend Futures Foundation’s Chilufya Kasanda will join researchers, advocates, implementers and policymakers to examine the latest scientific advances, implementation strategies and pathways to equitable access for long-acting options and MPTs.
Friday, July 31
- Symposium: The promises of long-acting injectable PrEP for HIV prevention
10:30 – 11:30
Access Bridge Executive Director Wawira Nyagah share community perspectives on early implementation of injectable cabotegravir and lenacapavir, identifying remaining gaps, and discussing strategies to accelerate equitable rollout.
HIV Cure Research at AIDS 2026
Explore HIV cure research sessions at AIDS 2026 with Treatment Action Group (TAG)’s curated list of conference sessions and events.