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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. The Choice Agenda heard 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.
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.
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.
View recording below.
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
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.
Avac Event
Influencing the New USG Global Health MoUs and PEPFAR Strategy
We invite you to an urgent and critical webinar focused on the new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) governing US Government (USG) global health investments, including PEPFAR, under the “America First Strategy.” These MoUs are currently under rapid discussion with African Governments.
Organized by COMPASS in collaboration with EANNASO and Data ETC, this webinar is designed to equip African Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) with the necessary analysis and advocacy strategies.
The goal is to enable CSOs to proactively influence the priorities for the upcoming five years of USG health investments, specifically concerning HIV, primary prevention, and the crucial role of community-led monitoring and delivery.
Featured Experts
Emily Bass: The New MoU and its implications.
Brian Honnermann (amfAR): The New MoU and its implications.
Nelson Otuoma (NEPHAK-Kenya): Direct experience from national MoU participation.
Munyaradzi Chimwara (ACT-Zimbabwe): Community safeguards for inclusion and accountability.
