HANC Programs

THIS FRIDAY! Still hungry for 2026 IAS Conference recaps? Join David Wohl, MD, and discuss the science behind the conference, covering treatment, prevention, and aging as it relates to HIV.

HIV Research Round-Up: Results from the International AIDS Conference
📆 FRIDAY August 28th
⏰ 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM Eastern

REGISTER: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1771744&tp_key=49a1a13310

This Southern HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we’re shining a light on the challenges facing communities across the South while celebrating the strength, resilience, and possibility of change. ❤️

The American South, and particularly the Deep South, experiences a higher burden of HIV and lower PrEP use than other regions. Poverty, insurance coverage, housing stability, racism, and stigma can create barriers to HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care.

But change is possible. By expanding access to PrEP and care, reducing stigma, addressing health inequities, and supporting communities, we can create a future where everyone has the tools and resources to live healthy lives.

Together, we can build a South where HIV prevention and care are accessible to everyone, and where no one is left behind. 🌟

📊 Infographic credit: AIDSVu

Still wanting to catch up on all the innovative science from AIDS 2026 in Rio? Get the hot goss THIS FRIDAY!

“In Case You Missed It: Scientific Report Back from the 26th International AIDS Conference”

📆 Friday, August 21, 2026
⏰ 11 AM - 12 PM PT
📍 REGISTER: tinyurl.com/AIDS2026reportback

The virtual session featuring Drs. Raphael Landovitz, Amanda Miller, LaRon Nelson, and Patrick Sullivan will provide an expert-led summary of select abstracts presented at the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026). The speakers will summarize major findings and outline practical takeaways for researchers, clinicians, community members, and public health professionals. See less

The GOOD NEWS: Research is underway to find out if Alimatravir, a pill 💊 taken once a month, could prevent HIV. This could revolutionize HIV prevention. Also revolutionary is the promise of access to low-cost generic versions of Alimatravir in 129 low and low- and middle-income countries!

The BAD NEWS? The drug company’s access plan leaves out a lot of other places that also need more HIV prevention options.

Among these excluded countries are key Latin American countries with high HIV burden: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Mexico.

Even worse, several of these countries are currently hosting the clinical trials testing Alimatravir, raising ethical questions about excluding these populations who are contributing their bodies to this science.

We want a monthly pill option! But we also want ACCESS and EQUITY in the fight against HIV.

THURSDAY! Please join TCA and our global panel representing academia and community in a moderated discussion on persistence in health equity research.

🗓️ Thursday August 13
⏰ 10 to 11:30 AM ET
📍REGISTER: tinyurl.com/persistenceparadigm

In these exceptional times, how is health equity research faring? What can we collaboratively do to sustain and continue this important work which is so critical to supporting healthy communities and an HIV response? How can academia and community better synergize and mobilize? How do we know what to do next?

There is no one answer, and instead different approaches are necessary. We hope you join the collective discussion of options, strategies, tactics, contexts and perspectives we need to consider to continue progress toward health equity.

SPEAKERS
🔹Dr. Annesa Flentje, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University and The PRIDE Study, Stanford University
🔹Dr. Brian Mustanski, Northwestern University Impact Institute
🔹Grace Kumwenda, AVAC
🔹Luciana Kamel, Community Advocate and PhD Candidate in Public Health, Instituto Medicina Social (IMS/UERJ), Brazil
🔹Dr. Tabea Hässler, University of Zurich

is just better with community and collaborators.

Whether it's a morning run in scenery as beautiful as the community 🌴🌞 or running into longtime friends and collaborator in the conference halls 👯‍♀️, Brian Minalga finds the common threads of humanity that unite us all.

Science is beautiful when community is at the center. 💙💛💚

Brian reports back on one of the most passionate, maybe best morning plenary they've seen at AIDS 2026 in Rio! 🙌🌟

HPTN Co-PI Dr. Raphy Landovitz brought the fire. 🔥

Dr. Sandhya Vasan reminded all why vaccine hesitancy could lead to more HIV acquisitions. 💉

And Amanita Calderon-Cifuentes made the strong case to consider gender-affirming care as a central pillar of HIV prevention while noting that gender-affirming care does NOT just mean hormones and surgeries. 🏳️‍⚧️

Alongside the incredible science at in Rio is the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate with incredible colleagues! 🌎✨

Every conversation sparks new ideas, every reunion reinforces the importance of this work, and every new connection adds momentum for what's ahead. Here's to science, partnership, and moving forward together.

ACTG AVAC

AIDS 2026 starts with rich culture, tropical vibes, and most importantly, a rousing call from community. Brian Minalga soaks up all Rio has to offer, including the privilege to meet with longtime HANC collaborator, Luciana Kamel in her home city! Stay tuned all week as Brian represents for HANC.

Olá Rio! Brian Minalga will join researchers, scientists and advocates from all over the globe for AIDS 2026 in Brazil! Stay tuned as Brian represents HANC all week for real time conference news, HIV discoveries, and meet-ups with friends and collaborators! 💚💛💙