Positively Positive - Living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS News
HIV and AIDS News from around the world
Worldwide 91.4 million people have been infected with HIV.
Worldwide 44.1 million people with HIV have died.
Worldwide, 40.8 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2024.
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Practicing Safe Sex is our best resource in preventing HIV infection through sexual contact.
Sexual contact accounts for 95 percent of all new HIV infections worldwide.
Safe Sex = Disease Prevention – STAY SAFE!
Use A Condom Every Time!
“HIV needs to be in the media each and every day as most people only see snippets of news and these are not effective enough. For this reason, in 2007, I decided to include an HIV/AIDS News page where people could find information on many HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) related issues, Infectious Disease,
and more.
I collaborate with individuals, groups, and organizations throughout the world, to include their HIV/AIDS news articles, press releases, events, workshops, conferences, and more on PositivelyPositive.ca. News items stay on the HIV/AIDS News page for a month,
and then News items go into the HIV/AIDS News Archives.”
Bradford McIntyre
 
New antiretrovirals in the pipeline could be part of twice-yearly HIV treatment
6 March 2026
- By Liz Highleyman - aidsmap - Three experimental injectable antiretrovirals – a novel capsid inhibitor and two next-generation integrase inhibitors – could be components of future long-acting HIV treatment regimens, according to study results presented last week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver.
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13 HIV/AIDS activists arrested on Capitol Hill
March 5, 2026 - By Michael K. Lavers - Washington Blade - Protesters demanded full PEPFAR funding
U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday arrested 13 HIV/AIDS activists in the Cannon House Office Building Rotunda.
The activists — members of Housing Works, Health GAP, and the Treatment Action Group — joined former PEPFAR staffers in demanding full funding of the program that President George W. Bush created in 2003. They chanted “AIDS cuts kill, PEPFAR now!” and unfurled banners from the Rotunda’s second floor that read “Trump and (Office of Management and Budget Director Russell) Vought kill people with AIDS worldwide,” “Over 200,000 deaths since January 2025,” and “Hands off PEPFAR” before their arrest.
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Targeting a Dangerous Gut Infection
March 5, 2026 - by Genevieve Rajewski - Tufts Now - Tufts University - New Tufts University School of Medicine studies reveal how Clostridioides difficile behaves inside the body
Affecting roughly half a million Americans each year, bacterial infections caused by Clostridioides difficile—commonly known as C. diff—are a serious and persistent problem for patients and hospitals alike. The bacterium can cause severe diarrhea, life-threatening inflammation of the colon, and recurring illness that dramatically reduces quality of life—especially for older adults, who face the highest risk of complications and death.
C. diff remains difficult to control for a combination of factors. The bacterium survives many disinfectants, allowing it to easily spread in health care settings, where it is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea. After entering the body through the mouth, the bacterium travels to the colon, where it colonizes and starts releasing toxins that damage tissues. About one in nine patients treated for C. diff will develop another infection within weeks or months—often unpredictably—with the risk of a repeat infection increasing from there. And some strains of the bacterium have become resistant to the first-line antibiotics used to treat it.
UB researchers help develop new class of powerful antibodies to treat HIV using AI
BUFFALO, N.Y. - March 5, 2026 - By Laurie Kaiser - University at Buffalo - Medication may be necessary only once or twice per year in some patients, according to published study
Not that long ago, a diagnosis of the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, was considered a death sentence. Today, advancements in medicine have rendered HIV a manageable condition that allows most individuals to enjoy a typical lifespan.
What it often takes to achieve that level of longevity, however, is one or more medications that have to be reliably taken daily for a lifetime and it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, explains Nicholas Smith, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacy practice in the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SPPS).
HIV/AIDS in Dominica
March 5, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Dominica is a small island country in the Eastern Caribbean with a population of around 70,000. Historically, the Caribbean has been one of the regions that HIV/AIDS has affected the most in the world, with an overall incidence rate surpassed only by Africa.
Considered an epidemic in the Latin American-Caribbean region since the beginning of the 1980s, HIV has had a widespread and lasting impact across many countries. Many Caribbean countries witness a prevalence rate of more than 1%, markedly above the international average of 0.7%.
Despite the fact that the greater region is still witnessing a ‘generalized epidemic’ of HIV, Dominica has made remarkable progress in tackling the disease and today accounts for some of the lowest rates of transmission and new infections in its locality, thanks to targeted testing efforts, expanded training and local education programs. Here is more information about HIV/AIDS in Dominica.
Machine-learning immune-system analysis study may hold clues to personalized medicine
TORONTO, March. 4, 2026 - YORK UNIVERSITY - Study found clear vaccine-initiated immune response biomarkers between HIV positive and HIV negative groups, but outliers underscore varied, intricate nature of the immune system
How people with compromised immune systems respond to vaccines is an important area of immunological research. A new study led by York University found that not only could machine-learning models accurately pinpoint differences in healthy controls and those living with HIV, but also found outliers in both groups that provide fascinating glimpses into the complex nature of the immune system and what personalized medicine could look like in the future, accounting for variables such as age, comorbidities and genetics.
Peter Staley Brings Fire, History and Hope in Speech to HIV Scientists
Mar 4 2026 - By Mark S. King - My Fabulous Disease - At the annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in February, HIV activism icon Peter Staley delivered much more than a history lesson on the impact of HIV activism back in the day. He called the thousands of researchers and scientists gathered there to continue actions to fight authoritarianism in all its forms, most especially in regards to the dismantling of public health under the Trump regime.
Along the way, Peter offered fascinating insight into his relationship with figures such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, an early adversary who has become a close friend and ally, and beseeched the attendees to stand strong until this public health nightmare fades into history itself while voters turn out the fascist strongmen ruining the country.
Peter’s speech was titled, “‘Annus Horribilis’ and The War on Science: Thoughts on Resisting and Rebuilding,”
New tool reveals the secrets of HIV-infected cells
SAN FRANCISCO - 3-MAR-2026 - Gladstone Institutes - Developed by Gladstone scientists, HIV-seq could uncover new opportunities for treating HIV.
For people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), life-saving antiretroviral therapy keeps their HIV-infected immune cells from making new copies of the virus, preventing illness and transmission.
Historically, these infected cells have been known as the “latent” HIV reservoir—implying that the HIV within the infected cells is completely inactive.
“But notion that the entirety of the HIV reservoir is latent is actually a misleading description, because some reservoir cells can still be quite active,” says Nadia Roan, PhD,senior investigator at Gladstone Institutes. “Even though antiretroviral therapy keeps full-fledged HIV virus from being made, some of the infected cells continue spitting out viral products.”
HIV patients are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events
March 3, 2026 - By Sonia Fernandez - The Current - UC Santa Barbara - Extreme weather events (EWEs), such as floods, blizzards, hurricanes or droughts, threaten everyday normalcy for millions of people around the globe. Coupled with trying to get timely health care, EWE exposure can change the course of an infectious illness for both individuals and local populations. But who — and where — is most at risk?
Focusing on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), scientists from UC Santa Barbara, UC San Francisco and City University of New York (CUNY) have collaborated to begin answering this question. In the process, they have created a historical record that links real-life climate and weather data to a large multi-national (2.2 million) cohort of people living with and at risk for HIV.
“People living with HIV are an especially vulnerable population, many of whom live in areas that are historically and/or increasingly prone to severe weather events,” said UCSB geographer Frank Davenport. “There was not a lot of research in this area and this was a unique opportunity to expand our overall understanding of the health impacts of extreme weather events.”
US study shows rising prevalence of fungal infection
March 2, 2026 - By Chris Dall - CIDRAP - University of Minnesota - Analysis of a nationally representative sample of electronic health record (EHR) data shows aspergillosis diagnoses increased by more than 5% annually in the United States from 2013 through 2023, US researchers reported late last week in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Aspergillosis is an infection caused by breathing in spores of Aspergillus, a common mold that’s ubiquitous indoors and outdoors. While most people don’t get sick from inhaling Aspergillus, it can cause severe and deadly infections in people who have lung disease or are immune-compromised (such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients), with an overall death rate of 20%. Recent data also raise concerns that rising resistance to antifungal medications is making treatment more difficult.
Inside the battle to end the Aids pandemic in the face of Trump’s cuts
02 March 2026 - The Independent - Activists who dispute safety of vaccines are pushing to limit immunization requirements in schools
In a clinic in Cape Town earlier this year, a woman rolled up her sleeve and became the first person enrolled in what is one of the most consequential HIV treatment trials ever attempted on African soil.
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As measles spreads in South Carolina, RFK Jr’s allies work to gut vaccine laws
March 2, 2026 - By Michelle R Smith - The Guardian - Citing rising costs and shortfalls in federal support, about 20 states are toughening eligibility requirements for patients in drug assistance programs.
As South Carolina grapples with a measles outbreak that has infected nearly 1,000 people, groups with ties to the US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, are pushing to eliminate immunization requirements that protect children.
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States Move to Limit Access to H.I.V. Treatment
March 2, 2026 - By Apoorva Mandavilli - The New York Times - Citing rising costs and shortfalls in federal support, about 20 states are toughening eligibility requirements for patients in drug assistance programs.
Tens of thousands of Americans are losing access to treatment for H.I.V. as nearly 20 states impose restrictions on assistance programs and several others weigh such changes.
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Among Jesse Jackson’s Key Legacies Was Raising Awareness Around HIV/AIDS
Mar 01, 2026 - By Joshua P. Cohen- Forbes - Reverend Jesse Jackson died last month. He was one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Among his most important legacies was raising awareness around the HIV/AIDS epidemic at a time that it was a taboo topic in political circles. His advocacy began shortly after the disease emerged in the early 1980s. Jackson helped set the stage for a push for more funding for research on prevention and treatment.
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Machine learning: shortcut or short-circuit to enhanced HIV outcomes?
28 Feb 2026 - By Krishen Samuel - aidsmap - At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) held in Denver, US this week, scientists discussed how machine learning and generative AI can be used to improve various HIV outcomes.
There are lingering, and often perplexing, questions as to exactly how these technologies will be mobilised to do this. Dr Ravi Goyal, a moderator for one of the AI sessions from the University of California, San Diego, aired some of this doubt: “We’ve been told that it’s going to revolutionise public health, it’s going to revolutionise our healthcare system. But if you’re like me, I don’t know, maybe you don’t quite believe the hype, maybe you haven’t quite seen it yet. And don’t get me wrong, machine learning and generative AI are very impressive in demos and in labs, but that doesn’t mean that it always translates into better patient outcomes.”
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Denmark becomes first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis
Geneva - Copenhagen - February 27 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, recognizing the country's sustained commitment to ensuring every child is born free of these infections.
“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases.”
Florida suddenly cuts off 12,000 people from receiving their HIV meds
In a shocking move, the state’s Department of Health utilized its “11th hour” emergency rule just one day ahead of a lawsuit hearing.
Feb 27, 2026 - By Desiree Guerrero - ADVOCATE - HIV patients and advocates in Florida are reeling after the Department of Health’s sudden move to cut off about 12,000 people from receiving affordable HIV medication, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.
The Department utilized an “11th hour” legal loophole on Tuesday, just one day before a hearing in a lawsuit filed against the state by AIDS Healthcare Foundation over changes to its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
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‘Paradigm-shifting’ study confirms effectiveness of long-acting HIV treatment
February 26, 2026 - By Megan Burgasser - UC NEWS - University of Cincinnati - UC is leading site for groundbreaking LATITUDE trial addressing barriers to daily oral medication
A recent clinical trial involving the University of Cincinnati targeted the challenges of medication adherence in people living with HIV. Results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
UC was the leading enrolling site in the U.S., with 32 of the 453 participants taking part in the LATITUDE study, a Phase III randomized trial that tested the efficacy of monthly injectable antiretroviral therapies cabotegravir and rilpivirine instead of daily oral antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The findings indicate that both injectable drugs are superior in preventing regimen failure among people living with HIV who have struggled with medication adherence.
Kenya becomes first in East Africa to launch six-month HIV prevention injection
Nairobi - 26 February 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - When a friend’s father urgently needed a blood donation, Samson Mutua had to say no. He had been engaging in “risky behaviour” and had never tested for HIV. He could not be sure he was safe to donate.
Years later, Mutua, now 27, has become the first Kenyan to receive lenacapavir, a new injectable option that protects against HIV for six months with just two injections a year. Kenya is the first country in East Africa, and one of the first globally, to roll out the drug, marking a significant step forward after 42 years of HIV response in the country.
Florida Department of Health cuts thousands of dollars in funds from HIV and AIDS drug program
February 26, 2026 - By CBS Miami Team - CBS NEWS - The Florida Department of Health issued emergency rules Wednesday that will block thousands of Floridians from accessing their HIV medication.
Starting Sunday, the state will cut its subsidies for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), and funds will only be available for people at or below 130% of the federal poverty level, a drop from 400%.
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CLARIFICATION ON ZIMBABWE’S HEALTH DIPLOMACY
February 25, 2026 - Herald Online - Nick Mangwana-Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services in the Republic of Zimbabwe
Recent extensive media reports have drawn attention to a leaked internal government communication between the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Secretary for Health and Child Care, and the Secretary for Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
This correspondence detailed His Excellency President Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa’s directive that negotiations on a proposed health funding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the United States’ America First Global Health Strategy be immediately terminated.
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The Promise: A Final Interview With Butch McKay
February 25, - By Craig Washington - POZ - The late HIV activist was the founder of the Positive Living Conference.
I first attended the Positive Living Conference in September 2024 and again this past October 23 to 26, 2025. As a Black queer man living with HIV for 41 years — and as a writer, organizer and HIV prevention worker — I regard the Positive Living Conference, hosted by the nonprofit organization OASIS Florida, as a sacred space that must be safeguarded.
On the last day of the 2025 conference, I spoke with the late Butch McKay, founder of the Positive Living Conference and executive director of OASIS Florida, about what the gathering means to so many and why we must not take it for granted, as it could easily be taken away. Butch shared more than I expected. He talked about what led to his involvement in AIDS education service and advocacy, although he was HIV negative. He recalled the friends who motivated him and the life-changing conversations they had. He noted some of his most memorable moments from past conferences.
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Dual immune modulators delay, but don’t prevent, HIV rebound after stopping antiretrovirals
25 Feb 2026 - By Liz Highleyman - aidsmap - A pair of immune-modulating drugs, budigalimab and trosunilimab, appeared to slow viral rebound in about a quarter of people with HIV who stopped antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to study results presented this week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) in Denver. Some participants eventually saw their viral load rise with further follow-up, however, and development of this combination will not continue.
While antiretrovirals can keep HIV replication suppressed indefinitely, the virus inserts its genetic blueprints into the DNA of human cells, establishing a long-lasting reservoir that is unreachable by the drugs and usually invisible to the immune system, making a true cure nearly impossible. But researchers are exploring numerous approaches that may help keep the virus in remission after stopping treatment, known as a functional cure.
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Gilead’s Single-Tablet Regimen of Bictegravir and Lenacapavir Maintained Virological Suppression in People With HIV Who Switched Antiretroviral Therapy
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 25, 2026 - Gilead – Novel Investigational Combination Pairs Bictegravir, a Global Guideline-Recommended Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor with a High Barrier to Resistance with Lenacapavir, a First-in-Class Capsid Inhibitor –
– Phase 3 ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 Results will Inform Regulatory Filings –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced the presentation of new Phase 3 ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 trial data at CROI 2026 showing a treatment switch to an investigational, single-tablet combination regimen of bictegravir 75 mg/lenacapavir 50 mg (BIC/LEN) was effective in people living with HIV with virological suppression, including those switching from complex multi-tablet regimens or a global guideline-recommended single-tablet regimen. The novel combination of BIC/LEN was generally well tolerated, with no significant or new safety concerns identified.
“The ARTISTRY trials represent the latest example of Gilead’s commitment to advancing HIV treatment through continuous scientific innovation,” said Jared Baeten, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. “This once-daily single-tablet regimen combines the durability of bictegravir with lenacapavir, a first‑in‑class capsid inhibitor. The novel treatment combination is designed to sustain virologic suppression for those seeking new options. We look forward to working with regulatory authorities to potentially bring this combination forward to people with HIV.”
Large clinical trial finds zoliflodacin promising for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea
February 24 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Researchers recruited more than 900 people to explore different regimens for gonorrhea
A clinical trial of the new antibiotic zoliflodacin found it was as effective as standard therapy
Side effects associated with zoliflodacin were generally mild to moderate
The germs that cause gonorrhea (N. gonorrhoeae) are most commonly spread during condomless anal, oral and vaginal intercourse. These germs can also be passed from mother to child during the birthing process.
People with gonorrhea do not always experience symptoms. However, in people who were assigned male at birth (AMAB), gonorrhea can cause discharge from the urethra as well as a burning sensation while urinating. If left untreated, the germs that cause gonorrhea can affect the testicles and prostate.
People assigned female at birth (AFAB) who have gonorrhea can develop a burning sensation while urinating, discharge from the vagina, pain in the lower abdomen, and vaginal bleeding between periods or after sex. What’s more, gonorrhea can contribute to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and other complications.
Maria Davis: Living Out Loud with HIV
February 24, 2026 - amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research - The beloved HIV advocate and music promoter talks about the importance of finding your voice, self-care, and sustaining AIDS research
If you are lucky enough to hear Maria Davis speak about her experiences as a person living with HIV, you would find it hard to believe this passionate advocate ever chose to turn down the volume.
But HIV stigma is powerful.
7 reasons why measles is more dangerous than you think
24 February 2026 - by Linda Geddes - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - From hidden immune damage to delayed brain disease, measles carries risks that extend far beyond a childhood rash.
Measles is highly contagious, deadly and yet preventable with a safe, effective vaccine. While millions worldwide deal with the lifelong complications caused the virus, some choose to downplay the threat.
Here are seven reasons why measles is more dangerous than you might think.
Florida’s proposed cuts to AIDS drug program threaten patient care and public health
February 24, 2026 - By Jonathan Appelbaum - The Conversation - More than 128,000 Floridians are living with HIV. The state has the second-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses after Georgia, with approximately 4,500 new diagnoses in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available.
But access to treatment could be in jeopardy if potential budget cuts, announced in January 2026 by the Florida Department of Health, are enacted.
These changes, set to go into effect on March 1, would cut funding for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which helps more than 31,000 Floridians with HIV/AIDS afford care.
Drugs, denial and stigma: the babies and children swept up in Fiji’s HIV nightmare
24 Feb 2026 - By Michelle Duff in Suva - The Guardian - Vulnerable young people, partners of drug users and victims of sexual violence also among those afflicted in world’s fastest growing HIV epidemic
The night her baby’s heart stopped, Clare* blamed herself. Had she taken her out in the cold too much? Had she damaged her lungs by drinking iced water when she was pregnant? She fixated on Andi’s tiny chest, willing it to suck in air, rushing her to hospital in Fiji for the second time in as many days.
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An entire generation of AIDS survivors is now struggling with a hidden epidemic
February 23, 2026 - By Daniel Villarreal - LGBTQ Nation - Tez Anderson didn’t understand why he was experiencing extreme stress, isolation, and nightmares until he realized he has AIDS Survivor Syndrome.
Tez Anderson decided to get tested for HIV after he moved to San Francisco in 1986 at the age of 25 and began dating his new boyfriend. When the results came back positive two weeks later, the doctor told Anderson he had 18 to 24 months to live. It was two days after his 26th birthday.
Devastated by the news, Anderson began planning his death. But decades later, he remained relatively healthy while watching many friends and acquaintances die of HIV-related illnesses. As he approached age 50, Anderson realized, “Oh, my God, I’m going to be an old man with AIDS. What am I going to do?”
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U.S. Nears 1,000 Measles Cases in 2026 — Largest Outbreak in a Generation
Newswise - 23-Feb-2026 - by George Washington University – Newswise — The U.S. is approaching a troubling milestone: nearly 1,000 measles cases in the first two months of 2026 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With 982 cases already reported across 26 states — more than four times this time last year — the country is experiencing the largest single measles outbreak in a generation. South Carolina is at the epicenter, with nearly 800 cases since January and at least 20 hospitalizations. Cases are also rising in Utah, Arizona and Florida, including a cluster at Ave Maria University.
Mpox in people living with and without HIV, including people on PrEP, during a multistate outbreak in Spain in 2022
20 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Spain reported the highest cumulative incidence of mpox in Europe during the 2022 outbreak, which disproportionately affected people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-negative individuals using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to analyze epidemiological, clinical, and disease progression characteristics of mpox among PLWH, HIV-negative individuals, and PrEP user cases and non-user cases in Spain. Data were collected from June 2022 to January 2023, including 1,158 men aged ≥ 18 years; 35.3% were PLWH and 42.7% of HIV-negative individuals were PrEP users. Adjusted OR and the 95% CI were calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. More frequently PLWH than HIV-negative cases were having sex only with men (aOR = 10.92;3.76–31.69), chemsex (aOR = 2.02;1.38–2.97), another type of immunosuppression (aOR = 2.57;1.07–6.21) and non-anogenital and non-oral exanthems (aOR = 1.64;1.23–2.19). More frequent in PLWH compared to PrEP user cases were lower education levels (aOR = 23.21;2.87–187.52), fever (aOR = 1.42;0.98–2.06), non-anogenital and non-oral exanthems (aOR = 2.40;1.67–3.45) and another type of immunosuppression (aOR = 9.32;1.16–75.16) and more frequent in PrEP user cases than in non-PrEP user cases were risk factors related to sexual activity and concurrent sexually transmitted infections. PLWH did not experience more severe mpox than HIV-negative persons. These findings underscore the need for tailored prevention and clinical approaches.
Military Reinstates Ban, Prohibits People With HIV From Enlisting
February 20, 2026 - By Trent Straube - POZ - A 2024 ruling stated people with HIV and an undetectable viral load pose no risk and can enlist. This week, an appeals court reversed that ruling.
A federal appeals court ruled that the Pentagon may reinstate its ban on the enlistment of people living with HIV, even if they maintain an undetectable viral load. This overturns a previous ruling by a lower court that found the HIV ban unconstitutional.
Specifically, a conservative three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on February 18 reversed a 2024 lower court ruling. The panel said it deferred to the military, which sought to reinstate the ban, saying the military itself best understood the reasons for banning enlistment, reports Courthouse News Service.
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Orphaned by War at age 11, a Global-Health Researcher Builds a Support System for Ugandan Youth Affected by HIV/AIDS
Feb 20, 2026 - By Robert Polner - New York University (NYU) - Fred Ssewamala returns to the community of his birth to nurture hope for poor orphans and their extended families
Known affectionately as “Dr. Fred” around the halls of New York University’s Silver School of Social Work where he teaches, Fred Ssewamala leads a researcher’s life rooted in purpose. Eight or nine times a year, he makes the 24-hour journey to the tiny Ugandan village where he was born—a rural community 19 miles north of the capital of Kampala—to confront a crisis he knows intimately.
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UAB leads study to mitigate the medication adherence barriers in those living with HIV
Feb. 19, 2023 - UAB | The University of Alabama at Birmingham - Medication adherence remains a challenge across all chronic conditions, commonly imposed by financial, physical or educational factors with impact on personal health outcomes. In infectious diseases like HIV, in addition to impacting individual health, reduced adherence to medications also results in ongoing transmission of the virus, reflecting the significant public health impact and limiting efforts to end the HIV epidemic.
Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham led a study from the ACTG, an NIH-funded global clinical trials network focused on HIV and other infectious diseases, to target the challenges of adherence in those living with HIV.
Redesigned Hepatitis C Drug Becomes a Powerful New Treatment for COVID-19
Newswise - 19-Feb-2026 - by Department of Energy, Office of Science – Scientists transformed an old drug into a potent COVID-19 treatment effective against drug-resistant variants.
Researchers have redesigned the hepatitis C drug boceprevir to create a more effective treatment for COVID-19. Some virus variants no longer respond well to current therapies, like Paxlovid, due to mutations in the main COVID-19 virus protease (Mpro). This is a key enzyme the virus uses to replicate. Mpro is essential to the virus and remains intact from variant to variant. As such, it is an ideal target for treatments to focus on. Using X-ray crystal structures, scientists refined boceprevir atom by atom. They worked to improve how the drug binds within key pockets of the enzyme. The researchers used the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (a DOE Office of Science User Facility) to analyze the crystal structure when the drug was attached to Mpro.
Deciphering D
19 FEB 2026 - By Jon Cohen - Science - A mysterious influenza strain infects livestock around the world. Scientists worry it can become a threat to humans as well
Nuevo León state in Mexico—At dawn one morning in December 2025, researchers in the sprawling city of Monterrey, Mexico, loaded a large passenger van with syringes, swabs, test tubes, air samplers, and coolers. They then drove through the flat countryside for 2 hours, leaving the gap-toothed Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in the distance, until they reached a feed lot that had 24,000 head of cattle. “Everywhere you look, all the way to the horizon, it’s cows,” said Gregory Gray, an infectious disease clinician and epidemiologist from the University of Texas Medical Branch..
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Federal appeals court sides with Pentagon against science, reinstating U.S. military’s HIV enlistment ban
“We are deeply disappointed that the Fourth Circuit has chosen to uphold discrimination over medical reality,” said Gregory Nevins, Senior Counsel and Employment Fairness Project Director for Lambda
Feb 19, 2026 - By Christopher Wiggins - ADVOCATE - In a ruling that reasserts broad judicial deference to the U.S. military and delivers a major setback to HIV and LGBTQ+ advocates, a federal appeals court on Wednesday reinstated the Pentagon’s long-standing ban on people living with HIV enlisting in the armed forces, undoing a lower-court decision that had briefly opened the door to qualified recruits with undetectable viral loads.
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Exposing a hidden anchor for HIV replication
February 18, 2026 - by Tracey Bryant - University of Delaware - International collaboration involving UD uncovers key piece of virus’s machinery
The tiny shell protecting the HIV virus resembles a slightly rounded ice cream cone, but there is nothing sweet about it.
More than 40 million people worldwide live with AIDS because of this virus, and treatments must continually evolve as HIV mutates. During the acute stage of infection, a single human cell can produce as many as 10,000 new HIV particles.
At the University of Delaware, Professor Juan R. Perilla and his research team in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have spent over a decade probing the structure and function of HIV’s protective shell, or capsid, and the proteins packed inside. Their goal is to identify new targets for drugs that could stop HIV in its tracks.
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Editorial: Money for HIV/AIDS is drying up
February 18, 2026 - by BAR Editorial Board - Bay Area Reporter - We’re sounding the alarm. Money for HIV/AIDS is drying up.
For decades, nonprofits that provide HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs have relied on federal funding. Thanks to President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his incompetent health and human services secretary, today’s federal funding landscape is in peril. As we first reported online, many HIV/AIDS nonprofits were informed this month that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants have been terminated. According to ABC News, the grants totaled $600 million nationally.
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Casey House releases Big Fucking Deal, a short film examining the compounding effects of stigma for people living with HIV
TORONTO, Feb. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casey House - Study reveals only 44% of Canadians are confident that people living with HIV receive stigma-free health care when they need it – a gap the film recognizes through storytelling
Casey House – a hospital unlike any other providing care for people living with and at risk of HIV – today announces the release of Big Fucking Deal, directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis, as part of the hospital’s ongoing Smash Stigma campaign.
Thanks to decades of scientific innovation, HIV is medically manageable for many people. But the ability to access and sustain consistent HIV care is not equally shared, especially when barriers compound and reinforce one another. A study commissioned by Casey House found that more than half of Canadians (54%) don’t feel they understand what it means to live with HIV today – a gap that leaves stigma unchallenged and barriers unseen. Big Fucking Deal responds by demonstrating how stigma intensifies and outcomes diverge when an HIV diagnosis intersects with challenges such as housing insecurity, substance use dependency, mental health challenges, and discrimination tied to identity.
“We’ve made extraordinary progress in HIV treatment, but equity has not kept pace,” said Joanne Simons, CEO, Casey House. “This film, the sixth edition of our longstanding Smash Stigma initiative, is a call to see the full humanity of people living with HIV. It asks Canadians to replace assumption with understanding and empathy, especially when other challenges are present in people’s lives.”
UNAIDS rallies African leaders to remain united to end AIDS
GENEVA, 17 February 2026 - UNAIDS - At the 39th African Union summit, UNAIDS urged African leaders to stay united, keep HIV high on the political agenda and move towards sustainable financing for health and development.
“AIDS is not over in Africa and continued African leadership is essential,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Now is the moment to raise ambition, safeguard our gains and ensure Africa drives the global agenda for a sustainable and sovereign health future.”
Scientists develop first-of-its-kind antibody to block Epstein Barr virus
SEATTLE – February 17, 2026 – Fred Hutch Cancer Center - Fred Hutch Cancer Center scientists reached a crucial milestone in blocking Epstein Barr virus (EBV), a pathogen estimated to infect 95% of the global population that is linked to multiple types of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other chronic health conditions.
Using mice with human antibody genes, the research team developed new genetically human monoclonal antibodies that prevent two key antigens on the surface of the virus from binding to and entering human immune cells. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the study highlights one of the newly identified monoclonal antibodies that successfully blocked infection in mice with human immune systems when they were challenged with EBV.
HHS confirms acting director Jim O’Neill out at CDC
February 17, 2026 - By Anthony Stitt - Healio - An HHS spokesman said O’Neill’s last day was on Friday.
A former official said there is a “continued leadership vacuum” at the CDC.
With ’;Neill out – and no permanent replacement named – the CDC remains without a leader more than a year into the second Trump administration. And that is a major concern to some former CDC officials.
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U.S. rejection of new mRNA flu vaccine ‘sends chills,’ epidemiologist says
Feb 17, 2026 - PBS Neshour - PBS - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced recently that it will not review Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine, despite late-stage trials showing it was safe and effective. The rejection has many in and outside the industry concerned about the Trump administration’s approach to vaccine development and recommendations. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Michael Osterholm.
Listen & read...
Gilead to Present New HIV Treatment and Prevention Data at CROI 2026, With a Focus on Expanding Options
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 17, 2026 - Gilead - – Pivotal Phase 3 Findings Support the Potential of a Novel Single-Tablet Combination of Bictegravir and Lenacapavir for HIV Treatment –
– Latest Data from the PURPOSE Program Further Demonstrates the Safety and Efficacy Profile of Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir for HIV Prevention –
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced details of new clinical and real-world data from its innovative HIV treatment and prevention portfolio and research pipeline that will be presented at the 33rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2026) being held from February 22-25 in Denver, Colorado. Focusing on expanding therapeutic options to meet the diverse needs of communities affected by HIV, notable late-breaking abstracts include Phase 3 results from the ARTISTRY-1 and ARTISTRY-2 trials that explored the efficacy and safety of an investigational, single-tablet combination regimen of bictegravir and lenacapavir for HIV treatment.
“Striving for continuous progress in HIV means delivering transformative therapies that support people across their entire treatment journey, aiming for sustained long-term health,” said Jared Baeten, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development, Virology Therapeutic Area Head, Gilead Sciences. “Our commitment to ending the HIV epidemic globally fuels our scientific innovation and our goal to develop novel options that are responsive to the needs and preferences of people with HIV.”
Politics and Healthcare Colliding: HIV/AIDS in Serbia
February 16, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Prejudiced attitudes toward homosexuality in Serbia are preventing early diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which has resulted in suffering and even death, as reported in 2013. Progressive groups and residents have spoken out over the years, claiming that hostile attitudes toward homosexuality in socially conservative Serbia have fostered this culture of fear. In extreme cases, individuals endanger themselves. The World Bank states that HIV/AIDS in Serbia affects 0.1% of the population, but despite this, the number of untreated cases or late-stage diagnoses remains a concern.
Fighting HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Healthy Economic Future for Women
February 16, 2026 - The Borgen Project - Nigeria has the second-largest HIV epidemic globally, with approximately 2 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) as of 2023. Studies show women and adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa are more than twice as likely to contract HIV as men and are more likely to face social stigma for taking HIV medication. Factors contributing to the disparity include poverty, limited access to education and gender-based violence, which increase vulnerability among women and girls.
Organizations, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Achieving Health Nigeria Initiative and the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, work with trusted local leaders to combat stigma and expand access to HIV testing and treatment. By promoting updated perspectives within communities, these efforts educate adolescents and broader populations about gender equality and sexual health. Advocates say the programs provide women with critical mental and physical support, thereby improving employment opportunities and long-term stability.
Together, We Have Power
February 16, 2026 - By Jennifer Morton - POZ - Advocacy for people living with and at risk for HIV remains essential.
Advocacy for people living with and at risk for HIV remains essential. Decisions made at the local, state and national levels directly affect access to HIV prevention, treatment, education and care. Advocacy isn’t limited to marches or policy meetings; both large and small actions can help end the epidemic. Advocacy can happen during everyday conversations and in online spaces, classrooms and communities.
The efforts of individuals who speak up, share knowledge, challenge stigma or support inclusive policies add up. Collectively, they help protect hard-won progress and move us closer to stopping HIV.
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Last call for handmade hearts to uplift San Diego women living with HIV
Feb. 16, 2026 - by Elizabeth Ireland - Times of San Diego - With ’;Neill out – and no permanent replacement named – the CDC remains without a leader more than a year into the second Trump administration. And that is a major concern to some former CDC officials.
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Public Health Agency of Canada visits ECDC for enhanced collaboration and to strengthen global health security
Stockholm, 16 February 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and its Director, Pamela Rendi-Wagner, welcomed the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Nancy Hamzawi, to ECDC on Monday, 16 February 2026.
During the visit, ECDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada adopted a joint action plan marking their longstanding collaboration and outlining areas for collaboration of mutual interest within public health. The action plan underlines the importance of close collaboration to ensure preparedness and prevention of infectious diseases and to strengthen global health security. The two agencies also explored future opportunities for joint international missions in outbreak investigation and activities.
Vaccine denial sets Americans up for more chronic illness
February 15, 2026 - By Christine Miller, and Janna K. Moen - Live Science - Despite well-established links between pathogens and chronic illness, the U.S. government continues to weaken public health measures to treat and prevent infectious diseases — a strategy that will ultimately make Americans even sicker.
For most of modern medical history, scientists have framed infectious disease as having two possible outcomes: recovery or death. You either get better, or you do not survive. But this binary has never fully captured reality.
For a substantial number of people, illness does not simply end — it lingers, reshaping and even
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‘We almost lost you in the night’ - the life-threatening rise of measles in the UK
15 Feb 2026 - By Mayeni Jones - The Guardian - It is one of the most infectious diseases around, and can cause blindness and hearing loss – and can also be fatal. Why are cases now soaring and what can be done about it?
Saijal Ladd’s week in hospital remains a blur. The very worst days still feel like a fog, punctuated by two nightmarish memories. First, attempting to speak to a consultant to discuss if she should be rushed to ICU, but being unable to form words through her breathlessness. And later, a family member’s exhausted face mouthing: “We almost lost you in the night.”
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Time to death and its predictors among adults living with HIV receiving ART in Ethiopia applying proportional hazard model
13 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Globally, more than 32.7 million AIDS-related deaths have occurred, and about 38 million people were living with HIV by the end of 2019, yet only half had access to ART. Despite Ethiopia’s long-standing ART program, evidence on mortality and its predictors remains limited in the study area, creating an information gap for policymakers. This study aimed to assess time to death and its predictors among adults living with HIV on ART at public health facilities, Northeast Ethiopia. A retrospective follow-up study was used among 602 study participants selected by simple random sampling method from clients enrolled for ART from July 8, 2010 to July 7, 2020 in public health facilities of Kemise town. Descriptive statistics was used to describe cohort characteristics and Kaplan–Meier analysis to estimate survival probability. Bi-variable and multivariable Cox-regression analysis was used to identify predictors of mortality. Hazard ratios along with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at p-value ≤ 0.05. Among 602 ART naïve study cohort, 108 patients were died with cumulative incidence density of 4.14 (95% CI (3.43, 5.00) per 100 Person Year Observed (PYO). The predictors of mortality were rural residents [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 1.51, 95% CI (1.01, 2.28)], not taking co-trimoxazole prophylactic therapy(CPT) [AHR = 4.52, 95% CI (2.83, 7.21)], having co-morbidities [AHR = 1.64, 95% CI (1.06–2.55)], Patients with opportunistic infections (OIs) [AHR = 4.45, 95% CI (2.07, 9.59)], bedridden functional status [AHR = 3.21, 95% CI (1.52, 6.77)], unsuppressed viral load [AHR = 2.45, 95% CI (1.17, 5.10)], TB co-infection[AHR = 3.91, 95% CI (1.89, 8.08)], baseline CD4 count of ≤ 50 cell/mm3 [AHR = 2.87, 95% CI (1.28, 6.44)] and CD4 count of 51–200 cell/mm3 [AHR = 2.12, 95% CI (1.06, 4.24)]. Patients with opportunistic infections, rural residents, bedridden functional status, CD4 count of ≤ 50 cell/mm3 and 51–200 cell/mm3, TB co-infection, having comorbidities, not taking CPT and high viral load status had higher hazard of die from AIDS-related illnesses. Substantial efforts are required for the prevention, early identification, and treatment of opportunistic infections. Earlier ART initiation and expansion of services to rural areas are also highly recommended to reduce mortality among adults on ART.
Statement on the planned hepatitis B birth dose vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau
13 February 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) underscores that the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine is an effective, and essential public health intervention, with a proven record. It prevents life-threatening liver disease by stopping mother-to-child transmission at birth. It has been used for over three decades, with more than 115 countries including it in their national schedules. Protecting newborns with a timely birth dose not only provides individual benefit but is also central to national and global elimination efforts.
Env-antibody coevolution identifies B cell priming as the principal bottleneck to HIV V2 apex broadly neutralizing antibody development
13 Feb 2026 - Science Immunology - Science - Abstract
Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are rarely elicited during HIV-1 infection. To identify obstacles to bNAb development, we longitudinally studied 122 rhesus macaques infected by 1 of 16 different simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs). We identified the V2 apex region of the envelope (Env) as the most common bNAb target and a subset of Envs that preferentially elicited these antibodies. In 10 macaques, we delineated Env-antibody coevolution from B cell priming to bNAb development. Antibody phylogenies revealed permissive developmental pathways guided by evolving Envs that contained few mutations in or near the V2 apex C-strand, which were a sensitive indicator of apex-targeted responses. The absence of such mutations reflected a failure in bNAb priming. These results indicate that efficiency of B cell priming, and not complexities in Env-guided affinity maturation, is a primary obstacle to V2 apex bNAb elicitation in SHIV-infected macaques and identify specific HIV-1 Envs to advance as vaccine platforms.
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Exclusive: Key US infectious-diseases centre to drop pandemic preparation
13 February 2026 - By Max Kozlov - Science - Staff members have been instructed to scrub this topic and ‘biodefense’ from the agency’s website.
Staff members at the United States’s premier infectious-disease research institute have been instructed to remove the words “biodefense” and “pandemic preparedness” from the institute’s web pages, according to e-mails Nature has obtained.
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Anti-Marburg antibody from Vanderbilt Health sent to Ethiopia during outbreak
February 13, 2026 - By Bill Snyder - Vanderbilt Health News - There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.
MBP091, an investigational, anti-Marburg virus antibody identified by Vanderbilt Health researchers and under development by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc., was provided to Ethiopian health officials during that country’s first outbreak of the deadly viral infection late last year.
Nine people died and five recovered from Marburg virus disease during the outbreak, which began in mid-November in Ethiopia’s southern region. Successful containment of the outbreak was declared Jan. 26.
A close cousin of Ebola, another hemorrhagic virus, Marburg is transmitted by fruit bats and exposure to body fluids from infected individuals. There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.
Broadway Cares Awards $3.2 Million to U.S. Food and Meal Delivery Programs
Feb. 13, 2026 - By Andrew Gans - PLAYBILL - Over 150 food service organizations around the country will benefit from the grants.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded a record $3,207,500 to 158 food pantries, meal delivery services, and congregate meal programs nationwide.
A committee of 19 actors and stage managers, who all played an integral role in Broadway Cares’ in-theatre fall fundraising, awarded the grants February 10. The 2026 grants eclipse the previous record, set last year at $2.9 million. Distributed annually, these grants mark the first round of Broadway Cares’ 2026 National Grants Program.
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America’s disease surveillance system is going dark. Here’s what we can build to replace it
Feb. 13, 2026 - By Allen Sinclair,and Stephen Stafford - STAT News - We can’t just wait for Washington to do the right thing
Part of the UK Aids memorial quilt has gone on show to mark the 40th anniversary of an HIV support group.
A study published recently in Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed what many clinicians had begun to suspect: Nearly half of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s regularly updated surveillance databases have gone dark. Of 82 databases that were updated at least monthly at the start of 2025, 38 have stopped — no new data, no explanation, no timeline for resumption. Eighty-seven percent of the paused databases are vaccination-related..
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Aids quilt display marks 40 years of HIV support
February 13 , 2026 - By Allen Sinclair,and Stephen Stafford - BBC - Part of the UK Aids memorial quilt has gone on show to mark the 40th anniversary of an HIV support group.
As part of the anniversary events for Thames Valley Positive Support (TVPS), six panels are being displayed at the University of Reading Students' Union.
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Gut Microbes Actively Support Immunity in People Living with HIV
February 12, 2026 - Weizmann Wonder Wander - Weizmann Institute of Science - A study conducted in Israel and Ethiopia, led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Hadassah, reveals that the microbiome partly compensates for the immune damage caused by the viral infection
The circumstances surrounding a study on a deadly virus could hardly have been more dramatic. One of its first authors was forced to flee his homeland when it became a war zone. More than two thousand kilometers away, the laboratory of a team leader was destroyed by a ballistic missile. Despite these setbacks, after nearly a decade of work in Ethiopia and Israel, the team has brought its findings to publication. Their study, appearing today in Nature Microbiology, shows that gut microbes help bolster immunity in people living with HIV – and that, one day, these microbes may be harnessed to protect this population from infections driven by immune deficiency.
The research was led by Prof. Eran Elinav, whose lab at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot was among those wrecked by an Iranian missile in June 2025, and by physician-scientist Prof. Hila Elinav, an expert in infectious diseases and head of the Hadassah AIDS Center in Jerusalem. The two are not only scientific collaborators but also husband and wife.
Health Canada approves Maviret for the treatment of acute hepatitis C infection
February 12, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Until recently, hepatitis C treatments were only approved for use in Canada for chronic infections
Health Canada has approved the use of a direct-acting antiviral before the infection becomes chronic
This allows hepatitis C to be treated earlier, reducing wait times and avoiding liver damage
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection infects the liver and causes inflammation in this vital organ. In some people, the immune system is able to contain and destroy HCV during this initial, or acute, phase of infection. However, in cases where the immune system is not able to contain acute HCV, it becomes a chronic infection. Over time, healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Gradually, the liver becomes increasingly dysfunctional, and a variety of problems ensue. Some people develop persistent fatigue. Later, they can develop internal bleeding, fluid buildup in the abdomen and serious abdominal infections. Eventually, difficulty thinking clearly and problems with memory occur. As the liver becomes increasingly unable to filter the blood of waste products, the skin gradually turns yellow (jaundice). The risk of liver cancer increases as the amount of scar tissue expands. Thus, if HCV is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can result in death.
Physicians for Human Rights and Council for Global Equality Sue U.S. State Department for Release of Critical AIDS Relief Data
February 11, 2026 - Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) - Physicians for Human Rights and the Council for Global Equality filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the U.S. Department of State to comply with the Freedom of Information Act
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Council for Global Equality (CGE) filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to compel the U.S. Department of State to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and release critical data and planning documents related to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward.
PAHO Urges Americas Region to Increase Measles Response
FEBRUARY 11, 2026 - By Susan Kreimer - Infectious Disease Special Edition (IDSE) - To curb transmission of measles and protect vulnerable groups, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued an epidemiological alert for the Region of the Americas, urging nations to increase surveillance, vaccination, and swift outbreak response activities.
Kenneth Lackner Scholarship
FEBRUARY 11, 2026 - Ribbon Commuity - Ribbon Community will be awarding a Kenneth Lackner Scholarship of $2,500 in March 2026. This scholarship provides funding for education at a recognized, Canadian postsecondary education institution.
Kenneth Lackner worked as a bookkeeping assistant when Ribbon Community was AIDS Vancouver. When he died in 2017, Kenneth generously gifted AIDS Vancouver funds for this scholarship. We are grateful to Kenneth for making this scholarship possible, and all his contributions.
This scholarship was initially administered by the LOUD Foundation. In 2023, AIDS Vancouver began administering the scholarship independently.
 
We’re Still Here:
Honouring Every Voice, Every Journey
February 11, 2026 - The Reunion Project San Francisco Bay Area - A convening for long-term survivors of HIV and allies in the San Francisco Bay Area
Friday and Saturday, February 13-14, 2026
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
940 Howard Street (between 5th & 6th St.), San Francisco, CA
The Reunion Project, the alliance of HIV long-term survivors, will be hosting our next two-day community convening themed “We’re Still Here: Honoring Every Voice, Every Journey”.
Activities on both days will be held between 9am-5pm with sessions and community discussions addressing the health, wellness, and employment concerns of all individuals living and aging with HIV in the San Francisco Bay Area area.
Daniel O’Day
Feb 11, 2026 - By Alice Park - TIME - Advancing the fight against HIV
The HIV epidemic has been simmering for more than 40 years, and while anti-viral medications have saved millions of lives, there is still no vaccine to protect people from getting infected in the first place—crucial to eliminating the disease. Anti-HIV medications can reduce the risk of getting infected, but people need to take the oral medication daily, a barrier that prohibits many from taking advantage of the therapy. CEO Daniel O’Day’s team at Gilead changed that in June 2025, when its drug lenacapavir became the first twice-yearly medication approved by the U.S. FDA to prevent HIV infection.
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OraSure to Launch OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test in Canada
BETHLEHEM, Pa., Feb. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OraSure Technologies, Inc. - OraSure Technologies, Inc. (“OraSure”) (NASDAQ: OSUR), a leader in point-of-need and home diagnostic tests and sample management solutions, today announced its OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test has received a license from Health Canada for use in Canada.
The OraQuick™ HIV Self-Test is a point-of-care rapid antibody test. It is Canada’s first oral HIV self-test and detects antibodies for both HIV-1 and HIV-2, enabling individuals to find out their HIV status with a simple oral swab in as little as 20 minutes. The simplicity of the product makes it ideal for testing in a range of locations, including in the privacy of one’s home, at the pharmacy, or at community-based testing events.
Opposite effects of chronic HIV infection and antiretroviral medication on organismal and organ-specific biological aging
10 February 2026 - Nature - Abstract
People with HIV (PWH) on combination antiretroviral therapy have an elevated risk for aging-related non-AIDS comorbidities. We assess whether HIV infection accelerates biological aging in two independent cohorts of PWH using six organ-specific and three organism-wide aging clocks derived from plasma proteomics of healthy individuals. Proteomic age acceleration significantly correlates with DNA methylation age and is linked to comorbidities and mortality. HIV infection accelerates systemic biological aging, with Mendelian randomization demonstrating causality between organ aging and inflammatory or metabolic complications. Accelerated aging in PWH is further related to the total HIV reservoir, and specific antiretroviral drugs reduce age acceleration. These data reveal important causal effects between chronic HIV infection, antiretroviral medication, biological aging and age-associated diseases, highlighting targets for improving health span in PWH.
Oral HIV self-test approved for sale in Canada
Feb 10, 2026 - CBC News - CBC - Can give results in 20 minutes, company says, without blood sample
People in Canada have a new, less invasive way to test for HIV at home, following Health Canada's approval of an oral self-test.
U.S.-based OraSure Technologies said Tuesday its OraQuick HIV self-test has been greenlit for sale, making it the first of its kind approved in Canada.
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Pelosi Statement on Rescindment of Federal Health Funding for California
February 10, 2026 - Representative Nancy Pelosi | Nancy Pelosi - House.gov - Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement on reports that the Trump Administration will rescind $600 million in federal funding for public health in California and three other states:
“The Trump Administration’s decision to rip $600 million in Congressionally appropriated public health funding from California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota is reckless, irresponsible and dangerous.
Immigration and poverty tied to heightened HIV risk in the Netherlands
10 February 2026 - Krishen Samuel - aidsmap -There is a strong social gradient associated with HIV diagnoses in the Netherlands, Dr Vita Jongen from Stichting HIV Monitoring and colleagues report in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. People who are poorer or are first-generation immigrants are much more likely to be diagnosed with HIV, while intersections between poverty and migration further increase their vulnerability.
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TV stars unite to urge public to test for HIV, as new polling data shows only one in five have
9 February 2026 - Terrence Higgins Trust - During National HIV Testing Week anyone in England can order a free HIV test.
Famous faces from TV have endorsed National HIV Testing Week, which begins today [9 February]. The stars, including Charlene White from Loose Women, TV doctor Dr Ranj, and I Kissed a Boy’s Adam Williams, are encouraging the public to order a free HIV home test kit and know their HIV status.
The push comes as new polling data has revealed only 20% of adults in England say they have ever tested for HIV. One in five women (21%) said they had not tested because they had never been offered a test, while nearly three in ten men (29%) said that they had not tested because, although they had had condomless sex, they did not think their partners could have HIV.
Stopping Nipah Before It Spreads
Newswise - 9-Feb-2026 - By Tufts University - Tufts University - Following a recent outbreak in India, two Tufts University experts explain how Nipah virus moves from animals to people—and how smarter prevention can reduce future risk
In a world still feeling the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, news of a potential new viral threat can quickly raise alarm. That was the case following reports in India of a recent outbreak of Nipah virus, which causes an often-fatal disease with no approved vaccines or treatments.
Nipah virus is carried by fruit bats (Pteropus species), which do not become ill but can pass the virus to people or livestock through contaminated food or close contact. Once humans are infected, the virus can spread from person to person, usually through direct contact with bodily fluids while caring for someone who is seriously sick. In people, Nipah most often causes severe brain swelling, known as encephalitis, and sometimes respiratory illness.
Community spread drives ongoing measles transmission in Europe
9 Feb 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - Preliminary data for 2025 show a significant drop in the number of reported measles cases across European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries compared with 2024. However, these figures are still twice as high than those reported in 2023. As the number of measles infections typically peaks during late winter and early spring, now is the time for everyone to check their measles vaccination status.
The latest monthly report from ECDC for December 2025 shows that between January and December 2025, 7 655 measles cases were reported by 30 countries. Eight of these individuals died following measles infection: four in France, three in Romania, and one in the Netherlands. While the total number of infections in 2025 represents a significant decrease compared with the more than 35 000 cases in 2024, it is almost double the cases reported in 2023.
The BC-CfE observes African, Caribbean and Black Canadian HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
February 7, 2022 - BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) - Today, February 7th, is the eighth annual African, Caribbean and Black Canadian HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This commemorative day helps raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS within Canada’s ACB communities and is also an opportunity to combat HIV-related stigma and fear.
Canada’s marking of this day was inspired by the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day observed in the U.S. since 1999.
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD)
February 7, 2026 - CDC | National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention - At a glance
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to highlight the progress of HIV testing, prevention, and treatment efforts and consider our ongoing challenges to preventing HIV transmission among Black or African American people (hereafter referred to as Black people) in the United States. This year's theme, Engage, Educate, Empower: Uniting to End HIV/AIDS in Black Communities.
Sustained Funding & Combating HIV/AIDS in Comoros
February 7, 2026 - The Borgen Project - HIV/AIDS in Comoros: A Fragile Success
HIV prevalence in Comoros remains below 1%, one of the lowest rates in sub-Saharan Africa. This success is largely due to early prevention strategies, cultural factors and donor-supported health programs. However, limited domestic health financing means that HIV/AIDS services depend heavily on external support for antiretroviral treatment (ART), testing services and public awareness campaigns. Any reduction in funding risks service disruption, increased transmission and setbacks to national health goals. Donor-supported programs have included nationwide HIV awareness campaigns, voluntary counseling and testing services and integration of HIV services into primary health care, all of which have contributed to maintaining low prevalence levels. Here is why sustained funding matters.
Ending the AIDS crisis is within reach – but the UK has to lead the way by not cutting key funding
07 February 2026 - The Independent - Aid cuts by the US, and planned cuts by the UK, risk undermining decades of progress and could put millions of lives in danger, writes Beccy Cooper
For more than three decades, the United Kingdom has stood at the forefront of the global fight against HIV and AIDS. At a time when the world faced one of the deadliest public health crises in history, UK development policy, funding, and diplomacy became a backbone of the international response.
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National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day: a time for action on many fronts
With Black Americans disproportionately affected by HIV, it's a day to encourage testing, prevention, and treatment but also to talk about systemic barriers.
Feb 07, 2026 - By Trudy Ring - ADVOCATE - Today, February 7, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The day, observed annually since 1999, highlights the importance of HIV prevention, routine testing, and early care for a population still disproportionately affected by the disease. Here’s what to know about HIV in the Black community.
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Black Women’s HIV Stories Have Long Been Undertold. This Magazine Hopes To Change That.
Feb 7, 2026 - By Njera Perkins - HuffPost - Still Here is on a mission to re-center the voices and experiences of Black women who have been disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS.
There was a time in the ’90s when it was pretty commonplace to hear a mention of HIV or AIDS in regular, everyday conversations. It wasn’t out of the ordinary for the subjects to come up in pop culture either — especially after public figures like Magic Johnson and Eazy-E came forward about their positive diagnoses, forcing many to confront an alarming crisis that had been unfolding since the early 1980s.
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From Measles to STIs: Infectious Diseases Winter Olympians Should Prepare For
February 6, 2026 - By Tayler Shaw - CU Anschutz News | University of Colorado Anschutz - CU Anschutz infectious diseases physician Shelley Kon, MD, explains how Olympians and fans can best protect themselves from illnesses.
At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, set to take place in northern Italy from February 6-22, it’s not just excitement and anticipation that can be contagious. With around 2,900 athletes competing and more than a million tickets sold, this global phenomenon can also pose a heightened risk of catching an infectious disease.
The flu, COVID, measles, norovirus, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the top conditions to look out for, warns Shelley Kon, MD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Medicine and medical director of infection prevention and control at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center. This is especially true for athletes who are temporarily living in Olympic Villages, she explains.
Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day — February 7
Ottawa - February 6, 2026 - AIDS Committee of Ottawa - Our Health. Our Voices. Our Future.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
19 Main Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Join us as we centre Black communities, lived experience, and collective care at our Canadian Black HIV & AIDS Awareness Day event.
This gathering is about connection, dialogue, and action—building a future where Black voices lead the conversation on HIV, health equity, and wellness.
We’re honoured to be joined by an incredible group of panellists
Congresswoman Waters Introduces Resolution to Honor National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 6, 2026 - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) - Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a congressional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, introduced H.Res.1039 in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is observed every year on February 7. Her resolution is cosponsored by 29 of her congressional colleagues and endorsed by several HIV/AIDS advocacy organizations.
But what is Nipah virus, and how concerned should we be?
“National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a day set aside to increase HIV awareness and enhance prevention, testing and treatment among African Americans,” said Congresswoman Waters. “It is a day to commemorate the impact of HIV/AIDS on Black Americans and encourage continued efforts to reduce the incidence of HIV, eliminate health disparities, improve access to care and treatment, and show support for all those who are living with HIV/AIDS.”
Black Americans are disproportionately criminalized for living with HIV. Here’s how
Through “heightened surveillance, arrest, and conviction,&rdquol Black Americans are more likely to be criminalized for their HIV.
February 6, 2026 - By Ryan Adamczeski - ADVOCATE - Black people in the U.S. aren’t just more likely to have HIV — they're more likely to be criminalized for it.
Black Americans accounted for about 38 percent of new HIV diagnoses and 39 percent of people living with HIV in 2023, according to a report from the Williams Institute, despite making up around 12 percent of the population.
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National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2026
February 6, 2026 - By Trent Straube - POZ - #NBHAAD amplifies the facts that Black Americans are more likely than others to be affected by HIV as well as HIV criminalization.
Saturday, February 7, marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) 2026. It’s a time to recognize that Black Americans, notably those living in the South, face higher rates of HIV diagnoses than any other race or ethnic group.
The awareness day also amplifies efforts around HIV education, prevention, care and treatment. For example, the Williams Institute released a report on the disproportionate effects of HIV criminalization on Black Americans.
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As US cash dries up South Africa’s fight to stop Aids gets harder
February 6, 2026 - By Mayeni Jones - BBC - The impact of a flourish of the US president's pen in Washington a year ago continues to be felt on individual lives some 13,000km (8,000 miles) away in South Africa.
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How “invisible” vaccine scaffolding boosts HIV immune response
LA JOLLA, CA - 5-Feb-2026 -Scripps Research - Scripps Research scientists designed a DNA scaffold that carries HIV vaccine proteins into the body and sharpens the immune response against the virus.
One of the biggest hurdles in developing an HIV vaccine is coaxing the body to produce the right kind of immune cells and antibodies. In most vaccines, HIV proteins are attached to a larger protein scaffolding that mimics a virus. Then, a person’s immune system produces a range of antibodies that recognize different bits of those proteins. Often, however, some of those antibodies react not to HIV itself—but to the scaffold used to deliver the vaccine.
New approach to HIV treatment offers hope to reduce daily drug needs
February 05, 2026 - By Patty Zamora - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - Enhanced immune cells show promise in targeting viral reservoirs that current medications can’t eliminate
More than 30 million people with HIV must take antiretroviral therapy (ART) medications daily to keep the virus under control, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The drugs are effective but don’t eliminate the virus; HIV remains hidden in “reservoirs” throughout the body, ready to reactivate if treatment stops.
But researchers at Case Western Reserve University, in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh, have made a significant breakthrough in HIV treatment. They’ve shown that NK (Natural Killer) cells—specialized immune cells that naturally target virus-infected and tumor cells—can be enhanced to better fight HIV infections.
What the World Needs to Know About Honoring Survival, Protecting Our Futures, and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Feb 4, 2026 - by Waheedah Shabazz-El - THE REUNION PROJECT - Each year on February 7, we observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day—a day that calls us not only to raise awareness, but to tell the truth about HIV in Black communities. For The Reunion Project, this day is deeply personal. It is about survival. It is about remembrance. And it is about honoring the leadership of those who have lived through the epidemic and are still here.
Black communities continue to experience a disproportionate impact of HIV in the United States. These disparities did not happen by accident. They are the result of structural racism, inequitable access to healthcare, poverty, stigma, medical mistrust, and decades of neglect. Too often, the story is reduced to statistics, while the humanity of Black people living with HIV—especially long-term survivors—is overlooked.
Could these two genes make T cells unstoppable?
LA JOLLA - February 4, 2026 - Salk Institute for Biological Studies - Scientists discover “recipe” for reversing T cell exhaustion and restoring tumor-killing abilities
A multi-institutional study led by researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and UC San Diego has uncovered new genetic rules that determine how immune cells, known as CD8 “killer” T cells, choose between becoming long-lasting, protective defenders or slipping into exhausted, dysfunctional states. Turning off just two of these genes allowed exhausted T cells to regain their tumor-killing capacity.
The findings, published in Nature on January 28, 2026, establish a predictive framework that can help scientists intentionally program T cells to sustain immune memory while preserving their ability to fight cancer and infections, with broad implications for cancer immunotherapy and infectious disease research.
Landmark HIV study shows scalable model for integrating depression care into HIV services in Uganda
ENTEBBE, UGANDA 3 February 2026 - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine - A major study published in The Lancet HIV has shown that integrating structured depression care into routine HIV services can significantly and sustainably reduce depression among adults living with HIV in Uganda using a model designed for resource-constrained health systems.
The cluster-randomized controlled trial, conducted across 40 public HIV clinics in central and southwestern Uganda, evaluated the HIV+D intervention: a collaborative stepped-care model coordinated by trained lay counsellors and comprising psychoeducation, behavioural activation, antidepressant medication, and referral to a mental health worker when needed. Adults receiving HIV+D experienced substantially greater reductions in depression severity than those receiving enhanced usual HIV care.
LOLA YOUNG TO PERFORM AT 34TH ANNUAL ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION ACADEMY AWARDS® VIEWING PARTY
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION - Hosted by Elton John and David Furnish along with Co-Hosts Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, the Legendary Oscar Night Event Will Raise Funds to Support the Foundation’s Efforts to end AIDS
The Elton John AIDS Foundation today announced that GRAMMY® Award-winning, double-platinum selling British artist Lola Young will take the stage for a live performance at the 34th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards® Viewing Party in West Hollywood, CA on March 15, 2026.
Fresh off her GRAMMY® win for Best Pop Solo Performance and five Brit Awards nominations, Young will perform some of her biggest hits during Hollywood's biggest night, bringing her raw storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and unmistakable edge to one of the most iconic events on the Oscars calendar.
Florida Health Department Retreats on HIV/AIDS Drug Cuts
CHICAGO--(FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- February 3, 2026 - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - In a notice published earlier today, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) retreated on its decision to make cuts to the State’s AIDS drug program, which provides life-saving medications and health insurance support to over 30,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS. Alleging that an undocumented $120 million budget shortfall necessitated the cuts, the cuts to the program, originally scheduled to be enacted on March 1st, would adversely impact the life-saving care for over 16,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS.
The State will now go through formal rulemaking to make changes to the program. This comes after AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) brought suit alleging the Department violated the law by not going through this process.
Wistar Scientists Demonstrate First-Ever Single-Shot HIV Vaccine Neutralization Success
PHILADELPHIA — (TUESDAY, FEB. 3, 2026) - The Wistar Institute -Scientists at The Wistar Institute have developed an HIV vaccine candidate that achieves something never before observed in the field: inducing neutralizing antibodies against HIV after a single immunization in nonhuman primates. The innovative approach, published in Nature Immunology, could significantly shorten and simplify HIV vaccination protocols, making them more accessible worldwide.
The research, led by Amelia Escolano, Ph.D., assistant professor in Wistar’s Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center and the senior author of the study, centers on an engineered HIV envelope protein, WIN332, that challenges scientific assumptions about how to design an effective HIV vaccine.
93 Countries Worldwide at Risk of Losing Nearly 23 Million More People by 2030
BARCELONA, NEW YORK | February 2, 2026 - The Rockefeller Foundation - ISGlobal, supported by Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed impact of severe global aid cuts in 38 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, 21 in Asia, 12 in Latin America, 12 in MENA, and 10 in Europe
New study published in The Lancet finds slashing global aid, particularly by U.S. and European countries, will reverse decades of progress in fighting diseases
The Lancet Global Health published a new peer-reviewed study today by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which warns that a precipitous drop in global aid could lead to 22.6 million additional deaths by 2030 across 93 low- and middle- income countries, including 5.4 million children under the age of five. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation’s public charity RF Catalytic Capital, the analysis demonstrates that Sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for 38 of the 93 countries analyzed, is particularly at risk, and with 21 of the countries in Asia, 12 in Latin America, 12 in the Middle East and North Africa, and 10 in Europe, including Ukraine, severe cuts to official development assistance (ODA) could be felt globally. ISGlobal’s research also reveals that over the course of 2002-2021, ODA helped reduce child mortality by 39%; prevent HIV/AIDS deaths by 70%, with a 56% reduction in deaths from both malaria and nutritional deficiencies; and increased additional global health outcomes in these 93 countries, which are home to 75% of the world’s population.
ACTION ALERT: Urge the House to Pass 2026 Spending Bill to Fund HIV Programs
February 1, 2026 - By Save HIV Funding- POZ - Also demand that your representative limit funding of the Department of Homeland Security. Here’s how to call and what to say.
On Friday evening, January 30, the Senate passed a 5 bill Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) spending package that includes funding for global and domestic HIV programs! As a result of substantial pressure from constituents and advocacy groups nationwide, the White House, Senate Republican Leadership, and Senate Democrats agreed to limit the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding to two weeks. During this two-week period, the White House and Congress are expected to develop an agreement on DHS oversight and policy changes related to ICE and immigration enforcement.
The Senate bill must now go back to the House of Representatives for final passage, with a vote in the House maybe as early as Monday, February 2. We need your help now!
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Cambodia reports 30% drop in AIDS-related deaths as kingdom pursues 2030 target
February 1, 2026 - Khmer Times - The report detailed that 697 people died from the disease in 2025, comprising 688 adults and nine children. This downward trend marks a milestone for the Southeast Asian nation as it intensifies efforts to eliminate the virus as a public health threat by the end of the decade.
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New Out of the Closet Thrift Store Increases HIV/AIDS Services in Chicago’s Southside
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- January 31, 2026 - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will open its new Out of the Closet Thrift Store location on Saturday, January 31, 2026 in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Local leaders will join AHF executives for a ribbon cutting at 1:00pm at 1709 E. 53rd Street, Chicago, IL.
Out of the Closet Thrift Store (OTC), the nation’s largest nonprofit thrift store chain supporting HIV/AIDS healthcare and advocacy, announces the opening of its newest location in Hyde Park. The store will offer affordable, high-quality clothing, furniture, and home goods, with $0.96 of every dollar earned supporting lifesaving HIV/AIDS services provided by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). The OTC will also offer a non-judgmental, stigma-free, environment to receive confidential, free HIV testing.
Local elected officials and other dignitaries will join AHF leadership for a ribbon-cutting at 1:00pm, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 1709 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615
Pakistan: National Assembly meeting reports whopping 3,00,000 cases of HIV; only 34,000 patients under treatment
Islamabad [Pakistan], January 31 (ANI) - The Tribune - The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) has made shocking revelations that there are a staggering 3 lakh cases of HIV in the country, with only 34,000 patients being treated, Dawn reported on Saturday
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STAR 2.0: Miller School to Host Continuation of Multi-center Study of HIV and Young Women in American South
January 30, 2026 - By Robert Benchley - University of Miami - - The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is hosting a kickoff of the second five-year phase of STAR (Study of Treatment and Reproductive Outcomes), a multi-center, longitudinal investigation of HIV and women of reproductive age in the southern region of the United States. -
- The first phase of STAR launched in 2019 and investigated lifestyles and HIV exposure, pregnancy and reproductive health, oral health, novel antiretrovirals, HPV, sexually transmitted infections and mental health. -
- STAR 2.0 is intentionally longitudinal, which will allow researchers to see how events like pregnancy and perimenopause impact study participants. -
February 6 will mark the kickoff of the second five-year phase of STAR (Study of Treatment and Reproductive Outcomes), a multi-center, longitudinal investigation of HIV and women of reproductive age in the southern region of the United States. The meeting, to be hosted by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, will gather researchers and medical leaders from the University of Miami, as well as representatives from 10 other universities, five of whom are co-investigators and five of whom are on an expert advisory panel.
Joining virtually will be representatives of the National Institutes of Health, which has provided $38 million in funding support through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with supplemental funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Nipah virus disease cases reported in West Bengal, India: very low risk for Europeans
Stockholm, 29/1/2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - Two confirmed cases of Nipah virus disease have been reported in West Bengal, India. Based on current information, the risk of infection for people from Europe travelling to or residing in the area is assessed as very low.
uOttawa launches medical hub to accelerate AI-driven health breakthroughs
January 30, 2026 - By David McFadden - University of Ottawa - The Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) will empower responsible medical AI advances to strengthen healthcare systems and improve patient care.
OMARI will raise awareness about the power of commercialization and next-gen innovation.
The University of Ottawa is launching a new center for research, education and innovation in medical Artificial Intelligence (AI) to facilitate cross-cutting collaborations while sharpening the university’s competitive edge in the this rapidly changing landscape.
Led by Canada Research Chair in Medical Artificial Intelligence Dr. Khaled El Emam, the Ottawa Medical Artificial Intelligence Research Institute (OMARI) will serve as a resource hub for harnessing and scaling medical AI to expedite new research discoveries, enhance education, and help achieve better health equity with data-driven tools.
Ontario study finds gaps in hepatitis C care during pregnancy and after birth
January 29, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Researchers reviewed data on 16,888 pregnant people who were screened for hepatitis C
Less than 10% who had active hepatitis C infection started treatment within five years of testing
The researchers call for additional efforts to link people to care during pregnancy or after birth
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects the liver and causes inflammation in this vital organ. As chronic HCV infection sets in, healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced with scar tissue. Over time, the liver becomes increasingly dysfunctional, and a variety of problems ensue. Some people develop persistent fatigue. Later, they can develop internal bleeding, fluid buildup in the abdomen and serious abdominal infections. Eventually, difficulty thinking clearly and problems with memory occur. As the liver becomes increasingly unable to filter waste products from the blood, the skin and whites of the eyes gradually turn yellow (jaundice). The risk of liver cancer increases as the amount of scar tissue expands. If HCV is left undiagnosed and untreated, it can result in death.
AstraZeneca plans to invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to pioneer the next-generation of innovative medicines
29 January 2026 - AstraZeneca - Investment will support delivery of AstraZeneca’s 2030 ambition
AstraZeneca today announced $15 billion investment in China through 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and R&D. This investment will leverage the country’s scientific excellence, advanced manufacturing, and China-UK healthcare ecosystem collaborations to deliver cutting-edge treatments to patients across China and globally.
Keir Starmer, UK Prime Minister, said: “Unlocking opportunities for British businesses across the globe and delivering for working people back home is always the driving force behind my international engagements. AstraZeneca’s expansion and leadership in China will help the British manufacturer continue to grow - supporting thousands of UK jobs. The multi-billion pound investment announced today from AstraZeneca, alongside partnerships from some of our country’s leading universities, furthers research and development in the UK which is helping to power our world class life sciences sector.”
What is Nipah virus? And what makes it so deadly?
January 29, 2026 - By Allen Cheng - The Conversation - An outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus in India has put many countries in Asia on high alert, given the fatality rate in humans can be between 40% and 75%. Several countries, including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, have introduced new screening and testing measures, after at least two people died of Nipah virus in the Indian state of West Bengal this month.
But what is Nipah virus, and how concerned should we be?
Here’s what you need to know.
ECDC and WHO/Europe renew joint commitment to strengthen European health security and collaboration on public health
Stockholm, 29 January, 2026 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - MoU signed in Stockholm at ECDC-WHO/Europe Annual Coordination Meeting
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) have today signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner welcomes the Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Hans Kluge, and his team of experts to Stockholm.
The revised agreement builds on two decades of close cooperation and updates and reinforces this long- standing collaboration within the field of public health, strengthening joint action and coordination between the two organisations.
Ending neglected diseases requires partners willing to go where markets won’t
January 29, 2026 - IAVI - International AIDS Vaccine Initiative - ~ An IAVI Statement on World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day 2026 ~
For three decades, IAVI has worked to develop vaccines and antibodies for diseases that lack the commercial incentives to attract private investment, yet these diseases still cause immense suffering and hold back entire communities from realizing their potential.
On this World NTD Day, we stand in solidarity with the researchers, health workers, advocates, and communities working to end the burden of neglected tropical diseases. Their work, often underfunded and underrecognized, remains essential to global health security and human dignity.
Scientists say these two viruses may become the next public health threats
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - January 28, 2026 - By Jill Pease - UF Health - University of Florida Health - Two emerging pathogens with animal origins — influenza D virus and canine coronavirus — have so far been quietly flying under the radar, but researchers warn conditions are ripe for the viruses to spread more widely among humans.
If surveillance and diagnostics continue to lag, influenza D virus and canine coronavirus have real potential to trigger outbreaks, a team of infectious disease experts and authors write in an article in the January issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Future of Home for People With HIV Is at Risk
PROVINCETOWN - Jan 28, 2026 – By Paul Benson - The Provincetown Independent - Provincetown Housing Authority and AIDS Support Group at odds over Foley House
Since February 1996, the Alice Foley House, a bright yellow congregate living home with 10 bedrooms and two kitchens in Provincetown’s East End, has been unique on Cape Cod as the only housing dedicated to low-income people living with HIV.
Housing Works Marks 35 Years of Service as Housing Works Cannabis Co Celebrates 3 Years as New York's Only 100% Charity Dispensary
Jan 28, 2026 – Housing Works - Nonprofit Born out of the AIDS Crisis Becomes Nation's Largest Provider of Housing and Services for the HIV/AIDS Community
Founded in response to the AIDS crisis and widespread government inaction, Housing Works has spent over three decades and multiple political administrations redefining how nonprofits can drive sustainable impact—pairing direct services, advocacy, and innovative retail models to fund life-saving programs. Through donations and innovative methods like auctioning off artwork from Banksy, the organization has raised millions dollars with notable accomplishments including advocating for HASA for All, which ensures low-income New Yorkers with HIV have access to lifesaving services including housing and benefits assistance, earning a Federally Qualified Health Center designation, creating "hotels" for the unhoused during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is currently working on The Lirio, its largest housing project to date in Hell’s Kitchen.
“In the early days, our evidence-based advocacy positions were often met with political resistance. As a result, traditional funders were not inclined to support our life-saving HIV/AIDS work. And, while we are now almost 40 years into the AIDS pandemic, we continue to experience budget cuts and lack of access to capital as city, state and federal administrations shift,” said Matthew Bernardo, President of Housing Works, Inc. “But when people are fighting for their lives, it forces innovation to support them. Housing Works is proof that nonprofits can create real, measurable impact for those who need it most.”
AHF Sues Florida DOH Over Rules Cutting HIV/AIDS Treatment for Thousands
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (January 27, 2026) - by Ged Kenslea - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - Press Teleconference, Wednesday, January 28, 10:15 am ET
Legal petition filed with Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings seeks expedited hearing and ruling against the state’s Department of Health, asserting that DOH illegally drafted cost-saving rules bumping as many as 16,000 Floridians off the state’s lifesaving AIDS Drug Assistance Program
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), which cares for over 21,000 people in Florida, 17,543 of whom are living with HIV, filed a petition with Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings over rules that the state’s Department of Health (DOH) illegally enacted which will cut off access to lifesaving HIV medications for 16,000 Floridians. AHF is seeking an expedited hearing and a favorable administrative determination on the rules against the DOH.
Trump Administration’s Inhumane Global Gag Rule Expansion and new Gender and Equity Foreign Aid Restrictions Will Cost Lives
January 27, 2026 – Health GAP - Trump Administration’s Inhumane Global Gag Rule Expansion and new Gender and Equity Foreign Aid Restrictions Will Cost Lives
Health GAP today warned that the Trump Administration’s new foreign aid rules grossly expanding the Global Gag Rule and imposing new funding restrictions regarding “Combating Gender Ideology” and “Combating Discriminatory Equity Ideology” will threaten the lives, well-being, and human rights of communities around the world while undermining the effectiveness of U.S. global health assistance.
“These restrictions are an affront to human rights, particularly for transgender and gender diverse people who face worse health outcomes, such as higher rates of HIV infection, because of the very same bigotry and discrimination endorsed by these rules,” said Bellinda Thibela, Health GAP’s Coordinator for Health Justice and Human Rights. “They also contradict decades of evidence showing global health programs must be built to redress disparities in order to deliver real results.”
High prevalence of polypharmacy and nervous system medications in people with HIV: a cross-sectional analysis
27 January 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Polypharmacy is increasingly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH), especially as they age and manage multiple comorbidities. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 268 PLWH in Vigo, Spain (2020–2023), revealing an aging cohort (mean age 49.8 years) and a 51.9% prevalence of multimorbidity. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Polypharmacy, defined as the chronic use of ≥ 5 non-antiretroviral drugs, was observed in 35.7% of participants, increasing among older adults (≥ 50 years, 50.7%; p < 0.001) and those living with HIV for > 10 years (43.0%; p = 0.004). Nervous system medications (47.0%), alimentary tract/metabolism drugs (36.2%), and cardiovascular drugs (34.3%) were the most common. Psychotropic drugs were frequent, particularly anxiolytics (24.8%) and antidepressants (22.9%). In multivariable analysis, anxiolytic use was associated with older age (OR = 1.03; p = 0.038), female sex (OR = 1.97; p = 0.042), current smoking (OR = 3.74; p = 0.002), and past cocaine use (OR = 2.52; p = 0.008); antidepressant use with past (OR = 3.46; p = 0.015) and current smoking (OR = 4.46; p = 0.001). These findings highlight the complexity of managing polypharmacy in aging PLWH and underscore the need for strategies to optimize medication use.
Minister refuses to say if UK HIV funding will be fully protected from aid cuts
27 January 2026 - By Chris Stevenson - The Independent - Jennifer Chapman, the minister of state for international development and Africa, says the UK will still work with organisations that have ‘proved themselves effective’
A minister has refused to say whether UK funding for the global HIV response will be protected when the government announces significant cuts to international aid.
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The Wistar Institute Announces Dr. Dario Altieri Leadership Transition
PHILADELPHIA — (Jan. 26, 2026) - The Wistar Institute - Board of Trustees conducting president & CEO search process
The Wistar Institute, a biomedical research leader in cancer, immunology and infectious disease, announces Dario C. Altieri, M.D., Wistar’s president and CEO, director of the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, and Robert and Penny Fox Distinguished Professor, will step down from his leadership role effective December 2026. In the interim, the Board of Trustees will undertake a comprehensive national search process to identify his successor.
What’s on the Treatment and Cure Horizon for HIV and Cancer?
January 26,2026 - By Andrea Gramatica - amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research - - Scientists are making steady progress toward better treatments for cancer and HIV. New research focuses on using the immune system to fight these diseases in smarter and faster ways. -
- One major area of progress is cell therapy, especially CAR T cells. These are immune cells changed to attack cancer or HIV. Researchers are now trying to modify these cells directly inside the body, which could make treatment faster, cheaper, and easier to use around the world. -
- Personalized mRNA technology is also advancing. These treatments are designed for each person and have already shown success in some cancer patients. The same tools are now being used in HIV research to help find and target hidden virus in the body. -
- Antibody and vaccine technologies are also progressing. Special antibodies can block many types of HIV, and new vaccine strategies aim to train the immune system to make strong, long-lasting protection. -
Looking at what’s happened in immunotherapy and HIV virology over the past couple of years, there are real reasons to be excited. The science is moving incredibly fast, and we’re seeing game-changing shifts in how we approach treatment, especially for cancer and HIV.
Doctors are ignoring new federal vaccine recommendations
January 26, 2026 - By Jen Christensen - CNN - The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday released its updated recommendations for what vaccines children should get. It’s a routine revision, hardly different from last year’s recommendations, but it carries more significance this year: More states and doctors are relying on it instead of a controversial new schedule from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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King Mswati applauds United States (US) for new HIV prevention drug, advises eMahaja to prioritize health even after taking Lenacapavir.
25th January 2026 – By Musa Mdluli - The Swaziland News - ENGABEZWENI: King Mswati has expressed appreciation to the Government of the United States (US) for the ongoing HIV prevention program after the launching of Lenacapavir.
The Lenacapavir drug is a twice-yearly injectable HIV prevention (PrEP) medication, Eswatini became the first African country where the drug was officially launched.
Addressing thousands of eMajaha on Saturday at Engabezweni Royal Residence marking the end of the annual Incwala ceremony, the King applauded the United States for thinking about Eswatini when launching the HIV prevention drug.
Scent stories: Hong Kong art exhibition destigmatises, humanises living with HIV through personal fragrances
January 25, 2026 - by Kelly Ho - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP - “Emanate,” a show organised by the NGO AIDS Concern, showcased fragrances crafted by patients, carers, and healthcare workers to reflect their personal histories.
Wing – a Hongkonger in his 60s – has been living with HIV for 18 years. One of his greatest regrets is not having been able to share his condition with his parents, who passed away about a decade ago.
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HIV treatment cascade and associated factors among men who have sex with men in Brazil:
a cross-sectional study
January 24, 2026 – Nature - Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic.
The HIV treatment cascade is an important clinical monitoring strategy that involves the number of MSM living with HIV in health
services. This study aimed to analyze the HIV treatment cascade in the MSM population in Brazil and to identify factors
associated with different cascade stages. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 Brazilian capitals and included 4,176
MSM recruited through respondent-driven sampling in 2016. Factors associated with each stage of the HIV treatment cascade
outcomes), i.e., HIV diagnosis, use of antiretroviral therapy, and achievement of undetectable viral load, were identified via
logistic regression. Approximately 18.3% (95% CI: 15.4–21.7) of the MSM were diagnosed with HIV at the time of the survey.
Among those living with HIV, only 55.5% (95% CI: 46.2–64.4) had previous knowledge of their serologic status, and 98.4%
(95% CI: 96.3–99.3) of those aware of their status used antiretroviral therapy. Among those reporting using antiretroviral
therapy, 80.0% (95% CI: 64.8–89.7) had a suppressed viral load, whereas 79.4% (95% CI: 64.4–89.2) had an undetectable
viral load. Age > 25 years, having completed high school or higher, having a previous diagnosis of another sexually transmitted infection,
and not being identified as bisexual were positively associated with all outcomes. Once enrolled in HIV treatment programs, most MSM achieve viral suppression. The challenge for HIV control is that fully half of our
sample or men who tested positive did not know their HIV status. Regardless of the reason for this lack of testing, Brazil faces a continuing HIV epidemic.
The CDC Lost a Queer Icon in Dr. Demetre Daskalakis
January 24, 2026 – By Chris Azzopardi - QSaltLake Magazine - After years of fighting for queer health from inside the system, Daskalakis says he had to walk away — and speak out — when politics started rewriting science
In the world of queer health advocacy, few figures are as instantly recognizable — or as unapologetically committed — as Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. Whether he’s shaping public health policy, calling out institutional failures, or guiding the LGBTQ+ community through the mpox outbreak, Daskalakis leads with both expertise and authenticity. He doesn’t just understand that who you are is inseparable from how you serve — he’s been living it.
Military ban on HIV-positive enlistees could set dangerous precedent, experts warn
The Pentagon has ordered officials not to train new recruits who are HIV-positive despite a pending court ruling.
Jan 24, 2026 - By Ryan Adamczeski - ADVOCATE - The Trump administration's fight to prevent HIV-positive people from enlisting in the military will soon be settled, but not before upending the lives of those who want nothing more than to serve.
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Statement from AIDS United in Response to Trump Administration’s Public Health Priorities
Washington, D.C. - January 23, 2026 - AIDS United - AIDS United welcomes the HIV-focused investments included in the conference agreement covering the FY 2026 Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD (THUD) appropriations bills. At a moment when communities are working to sustain hard-won momentum, these bills reflect the enduring, bipartisan understanding that ending the HIV epidemic is achievable, and that Congress has a responsibility to support and uphold the programs that make that goal real.
This agreement maintains critical federal commitments across prevention, treatment, and housing stability, all cornerstones of HIV outcomes. It underscores why the U.S. Senate must continue to serve as a firewall against efforts that would undermine care and prevention infrastructure.
Letting 10K+ Floridians go without HIV drug access is reckless, especially in Miami | Opinion
January 23, 2026 - By the Miami Herald Editorial Board - Miami Herald - Believe Republican lawmakers and Florida’s surgeon general when they say cuts to Florida’s HIV treatment program are “a big deal” and “a serious issue,” as they did earlier this month during a hearing before a Senate committee.
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Impact of Delayed HIV Diagnosis and Treatment on Dementia Risk in Later Life
Background
22 January 2026 – Open Forum Infectious Diseases | Oxford Academic - Abstract
Background
Delayed HIV diagnosis and treatment may increase the risk of developing dementia later in life. We evaluated whether low CD4 count (<200 cells/µL) prior to first known use of antiretroviral therapy (ART)—a proxy for delayed HIV diagnosis or treatment—was associated with risk of age-associated dementia.
U.S. completes withdrawal from World Health Organization, hampering global response to outbreaks
January 22, 2026 - CBS News - The U.S. has finalized its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, one year after President Trump announced — on the first day of his second term — that America was ending its 78-year-old commitment, federal officials said Thursday..
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DNA found in an ancient Colombian skeleton may hold answers to origin of syphilis
22 Jan 2026 - By Brianna Morris-Grant - ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) - A previously unknown strain of syphilis bacteria has been discovered in human remains in Colombia, dating back 5,500 years.
The ancient sample is more than 3,000 years older than the earliest known record of Treponema pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis.
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United States Completes WHO Withdrawal
WASHINGTON — January 22, 2026 – HHS - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State today announced the United States’ completion of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the organization's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a joint statement on the termination of U.S. membership in the WHO.
Feel Stronger, Live Better: The Role of Exercise in HIV Wellness
January 22, 2026 – HIV.gov - Summary:
Exercise offers powerful benefits for people with HIV, from boosting heart health and energy to supporting mental well-being. This blog post explores how physical activity can fit into HIV care and how to get started safely—no matter your fitness level. Learn how even small steps can help you feel stronger, more confident, and more in control of your long-term health.
Movement supports more than just your body—it can improve mood, boost heart health, and help you feel stronger at every stage of HIV care.
IAS 2027: Top HIV science meeting comes to global health hub of Geneva
22 January 2026 (Geneva, Switzerland) – IAS - International AIDS Society - IAS 2027, the 14th IAS Conference on HIV Science, will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, and virtually from 11 to 15 July 2027, IAS – the International AIDS Society – announced. Around 5,000 people from more than 130 countries are expected to attend.
“We now have a game-changing toolkit that includes long-acting treatment and prevention options that could end the HIV pandemic,” IAS 2027 International Co-Chair and IAS President-Elect Kenneth Ngure said. Ngure is an Associate Professor of Global Health and immediate former Dean of the School of Public Health at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya. “But for many of the people who need them the most, these innovations remain behind a door locked by abiding access issues and shrinking funding.
Africa moves closer to an HIV Vaccine as first-in-human BRILLIANT 011 Clinical Trial launches in Cape Town
Background
22, Jan 2026 – South African Medical Research Council | SAMRC - South Africa has taken a historic step toward contributing to the development of an HIV vaccine, aimed at HIV vaccine strains circulating in Southern Africa, with the launch of the BRILLIANT 011 first-in-human clinical trial at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) site at Groote Schuur Hospital.
The first participant was enrolled this week.
The trial is being conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in partnership with DTHF and the Wits Health Consortium, marking a major milestone in African-led HIV vaccine research. BRILLIANT 011 brings renewed hope that an HIV vaccine developed through African science, for African populations, is becoming increasingly possible.
Delayed treatment of HIV linked to greater risk of dementia
January 22, 2026 - by Jan Greene - Kaiser Permanente Division of Research - Kaiser Permanente analysis underlines importance of early identification, treatment of HIV
Waiting to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) can have long-term health implications for people diagnosed with HIV — specifically, increased risk of dementia in later life, according to new Kaiser Permanente research.
A study published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases reported that patients treated for HIV who had a low CD4 count before they started ART were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia years later. The CD4 count is a measure of the strength of the immune system.
Jane Darville fought stigma at height of AIDS crisis, with a little help from Princess Diana
Jan 22, 2026 - The Current - CBC Radio - CBC - Jane Darville helped to bring care and comfort to people dying of AIDS in the late 1980s &mdash a time when stigma, homophobia and fear made that work so much harder.
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Lithium study yields insights in the fight against HIV
January 21 2026 – McGill University - Study in human cells finds low-cost drug keeps virus dormant through an unexpected pathway, pointing the way to new treatments
Lithium, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorder and other mood disorders, has shown early promise in suppressing HIV, McGill University researchers report.
A new study published in iScience found lithium can prevent infected cells from reactivating, and that it does so through an unexpected biological mechanism.
The findings point toward future treatments designed to mimic lithium’s beneficial effects while avoiding its broader impacts on the body.
SA marks another historic step in battle against HIV/AIDS
21-Jan-2026 - Cape Times - THE launch of a first-in-human clinical trial at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) site at Groote Schuur Hospital has been hailed as a historic step toward contributing to the development of an HIV vaccine, aimed at HIV vaccine strains circulating in Southern Africa.
The first participant in the BRILLIANT 011 trial was enrolled this week.
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Jane Darville fought stigma at height of AIDS crisis, with a little help from Princess Diana
‘I just needed to do it,’ Darville says of her work with people living with HIV/AIDS
21 Jan 2026 - The Current - CBC Radio - Jane Darville helped to bring care and comfort to people dying of AIDS in the late 1980s — a time when stigma, homophobia and fear made that work so much harder.
“It was very hard to raise money and in some cases, even to get staff,” said Darville, who was a founding board member and once the executive director of Casey House, a downtown Toronto hospital for people with HIV/AIDS.
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Solving Long COVID: How Decades of HIV Research Paved the Way
January 21, 2026 - By Victoria Colliver - UCSF - University of California, San Francisco - UCSF’s rapid shift to uncover the virus’s hidden effects and seemingly unconnected symptoms put its researchers at the forefront of the field.
n the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, UC San Francisco researchers were already seeing signs of lingering symptoms in some who had been infected. Importantly, this was when experts still viewed the illness as a transient respiratory virus and before long COVID even had a name, let alone a diagnosis.
Clinicians were hearing young, previously healthy people with no other medical problems talk about how they couldn’t shake the virus. They had bone-crushing fatigue, respiratory issues that wouldn’t go away, difficulty thinking, dizziness, and other problems that persisted well after the acute phase of the disease was over.
Florida Senate leaders review options for $120M deficit faced by AIDS drug program
TALLAHASSEE, Florida - 01/21/2026 - By Arek Sarkissian - POLITICO Pro - The state program provides a wide spectrum of financial assistance options for more than 30,000 residents who are living with HIV and AIDS
Florida Senate leaders on Wednesday said they are considering ways to address a $120 million budget deficit faced by the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program, potentially leaving 10,000 people without access to costly, life-saving drugs.
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The State of Our HIV Union in 2026 Is Stronger Than You Think
Jan 21, 2026- By Ace Robinson - TheBody - 2025 was a year in public health that I’m sure none of us wants to repeat. But we, as an HIV Community, remained steadfast in holding control of our here-and-now existence. Our future, and our health, demand that we continue that momentum in 2026.
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Predictors of opportunistic infections among people living with HIV: a prospective cohort study from a tertiary care setting in India
21 January 2026 - Nature - Abstract
Opportunistic infections (OIs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Early identification of high-risk individuals is vital to guide the preventive measures and the efficient use of healthcare resources. We conducted a prospective longitudinal cohort study involving 223 PLHIV at a tertiary care center in Western India. Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, including CD4 count, nutritional status, serum albumin, and ART (antiretroviral therapy) history. Patients were followed for the development of OIs. Logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of OIs. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess OI-free survival across different groups. Out of 223 patients, 97 (43.5%) developed at least one OI. The maximum duration of follow-up was 36 months for OI development. Tuberculosis (41.2%), candidiasis (16.5%), and NTM (Non-tuberculous mycobacteria) infections (11.3%) were the most common OIs. On multivariable analysis, low body mass index (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2; OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–4.2, p = 0.037), hypoalbuminemia (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–3.5, p = 0.011), and CD4 count < 250 cells/µL (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–4.2, p = 0.043) were identified as independent predictors of OIs. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed significantly reduced OI-free survival among patients with albumin < 2.5 g/dL (adjusted HR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1–2.9; p = 0.017) and BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 (adjusted HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.2; p = 0.001). Low BMI, hypoalbuminemia, and CD4 count < 250 cells/µL are independent predictors of OIs in PLHIV. Integrating these markers can mitigate the OI-related adverse outcomes, particularly in low-resource healthcare settings.
An HIV breakthrough is here. Let’s not let it go to waste
Opinion: “While the obstacles we face may be significant, Lenacapavir represents a monumental breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS, one we can not afford to squander,” write Dr. Kelly Gebo and Dr. Amanda Castel.
Jan 21, 2026 - By Kelly Gebo, Kelly GeboSee - ADVOCATE - As Congress nears a January deadline to pass a continuing resolution and avert a government shutdown, critical health programs hang in the balance. The now-expired Affordable Care Act subsidies and proposed cuts to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program could undermine access to lifesaving services and medications, including Lenacapavir, a breakthrough drug offering new hope in the fight against HIV.
Nearly 40 million people worldwide, and more than one million people in the United States, are living with HIV, with more than 30,000 Americans newly infected each year.
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‘A cash advance on your death’: the strange, morbid world of Aids profiteering
In Oscar-shortlisted documentary short Cashing Out, a little-known industry that saw dying LGBTQ+ people sell their life insurance policies is remembered
21 Jan 2026 - By Shrai Popat - The Guardian- During the summer of 2020, at the onset of the Covid pandemic, the documentary director Matt Nadel was back home in Boca Raton, Florida. He remembers one particular evening walk that he took with his father, Phil, as they weathered out those early months.
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Early initiation of HIV treatment reduces subsequent risk for cancers unrelated to AIDS
January 20, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Dutch researchers compared data between people who started HIV treatment early and late
Over 22 years, people who started HIV treatment early had a 40% reduced risk for many cancers
This study adds more evidence for the benefits of starting HIV treatment early
When taken as directed, HIV treatment (antiretroviral therapy; ART) helps to reduce the amount of HIV in the blood. Over time, continued use of ART is usually able to suppress HIV to the point where it cannot be detected in blood samples with routine laboratory tests. This suppression of HIV allows the immune system to mostly repair itself. The result is that with continued care and monitoring, and all other things being equal, many people with HIV who use ART are living well into their senior years.
The profile of cancers that people with HIV are at risk for developing has largely changed since 1996, when ART first became available in Canada and other high-income countries. Studies have found that the strengthening of the immune system caused by ART has led to a significant reduction in the risk for AIDS-related cancers.
Malcolm Reid Leans Into His Maturity as an HIV Leader
Jan 20 2026 - By Mark S. King - My Fabulous Disease - Malcolm Reid has the X Factor, a compelling way about him that attracts your attention but which you can’t quite put your finger on. Saying so about him would probably make him grin and even blush, which only makes the case for his charms even stronger.
Malcolm is 68 years old and lives in Decatur, Georgia. Diagnosed with HIV in 1996 (but knowing his status for years; more on that soon), Malcolm entered the HIV arena as an advocate in 2015. His maturity and the easy way he parcels out wisdom might lead you to believe he has been in the trenches much longer.
Iraq blames overseas travel and tattoos for rise in HIV cases
Baghdad - 20 January 2026 - By Mohammed Bassim Rashid - The New Arab - Iraq has recorded a slight rise in HIV cases, with health officials warning that overseas travel and unregulated tattooing are key risk factors.
Iraqi health authorities have reported a rise in HIV infections, with officials blaming new cases on overseas travel and exposure at unlicensed tattoo and cosmetic centres.
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58% of patients affected by 2022 mpox outbreak report lasting physical symptoms
19 January 2026 - American College of Physicians - A cohort study of over 300 adults either diagnosed with mpox between May 2022 to January 2023 (post-MPX) and or who were at risk but never infected (no-MPX) found that more than half of those diagnosed with mpox during the 2022 outbreak still had lingering physical effects 11 to 18 months later. Most reported appearance-related changes, and some continued to experience anorectal or urinary problems. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Javier Muñoz: Pentagon's message to troops living with HIV is ‘rooted in bigotry’
January 19, 2026 - CNN - HIV/AIDS activist and Broadway actor Javier Muñoz: weighs in on the Pentagon's order to pause initial trainingHIV/AIDS activist and Broadway actor Javier Muñoz weighs in on the Pentagon's order to pause initial training for military recruits who are living with HIV. He tells CNN’s Danny Freeman that the decision sends a message “rooted in bigotry and discrimination” about the virus. for military recruits who are living with HIV.
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ECDC issues guidance on doxycycline for STI prevention
Stockholm, 19 January 2025 - European Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC) - As sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to surge across the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), a new report published today by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals a complex landscape of national responses. Though most countries have strategies in place, significant barriers to preventative measures and testing, and a lack of data are hindering efforts to curb the epidemics of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis.
For more than a decade, a concerning increase in bacterial STIs has been seen in the EU/EEA, as notifications for gonorrhoea, syphilis, and chlamydia have risen sharply, with men who have sex with men being disproportionately affected. In 2023, notification rates increased by 16% for chlamydia, 138% for gonorrhoea, and 53% for syphilis compared to 2019 levels.
Pentagon pauses HIV-positive recruit training while signaling it may soon reinstate a ban on their enlistment
Jan 17, 2026 - By Haley Britzky,and Devan Cole - CNN - The Pentagon has ordered the military command that processes new recruits to hold off on initial training for people who are HIV-positive and recently joined the military, CNN has learned, saying that a decision on reinstating a Defense Department ban on their enlistment is “expected in the next few weeks.”
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The near death — and last-minute reprieve — of a trial for an HIV vaccine
January 17, 2026 - By Ari Daniel - NPR - Everything had been leading to the meeting early last year in Zanzibar, a tropical archipelago off the east coast of Africa.
A hundred researchers, clinicians and other experts on HIV from across Africa and beyond were there to discuss big plans — the development of an innovative vaccine on the continent that could prevent the disease, which continues to infect and kill people disproportionately in sub-Saharan Africa.
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R.I.P. Mark Milano, a Fierce and Tireless HIV Activist and Treatment Educator
January 16, 2026 - By Kate Ferguson - POZ - Living with HIV since 1981, Mark Milano fought for LGBTQ and AIDS issues. His radical activism helped shape global and national policies.
A relentless activist, dedicated HIV treatment educator and POZ 100 honoree (and longtime contributor to the magazine), Mark Milano died January 3, 2026, in New York City. The cause of death was complications of cancer, according to an obituary posted on EverLoved.com. He was 69. Born on April 28, 1956, in Milwaukee, Milano contracted HIV in 1981 and was formally diagnosed in 1985, the year that the first blood tests came out, making him one of the longest-known long-term survivors.
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Controversial US study on hepatitis B vaccines in Africa is cancelled
Fri 16 Jan 2026 - Melody Schreiber - The Guardian - $1.6m project drew outrage over ethical questions about withholding vaccines proven to prevent disease
The controversial US-funded study on hepatitis B vaccines among newborns in Guinea-Bissau has been halted, according to Yap Boum, a senior official at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Campaign raises awareness of anal cancer in men living with HIV
15 January 2026 - Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance - Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has partnered with HIV charity George House Trust to launch a new awareness campaign focused on the early signs and symptoms of anal cancer among men living with HIV who have sex with men.
The campaign aims to empower communities to understand their increased risk, break down taboos, and encourage men who have sex with men (MSM) to seek help early if they have symptoms.
Flu cases surging in California as officials warn of powerful virus strain
Jan. 15, 2026 - By By Karen Garcia - Los Angleles Times - California officials are issuing warnings about a new flu strain that is increasing flu-related cases and hospitalizations statewide, with public health experts across the nation echoing the alerts.
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Matt Nadel on History & Morality in“Cashing Out” and the Relevance of a Film about the AIDS Crisis
Jan 15, 2026 - Awards Buzz - Abe Friedtanzer chats with Matt Nadel about ‘Cashing Out.’
Thousands in Florida could lose access to affordable HIV medication due to cuts
January 15, 2026 - By Lawrence Mower and Romy Ellenbogen - Miami Herald - At least 10,000 Floridians could lose access to life-saving HIV medication because Congress didn’t extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits last fall, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.
The Florida Department of Health is justifying deep cuts to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides medication to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS, by saying it will prevent a dramatic $120 million funding shortfall.
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BC-CfE Update Spring 2026
JANUARY 15, 2026 - Bristish Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) - BC health care providers interested in HIV & Syndemic Conditions
We are pleased to invite you to the Spring 2026 BC-CfE Update; the focus of this event will be on HIV/AIDS… This is an open educational event sponsored by the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS.
THE EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY
Friday, June 12, 2026
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Large and long French study explores changes in cancer risk among people with HIV
January 15, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - A study of more than 150,000 people with HIV found cases of some cancers are declining
Researchers credit the decline from 1997 to 2018 to HIV treatment improving immune function
Cancer risk still remained higher for people living with HIV than HIV-negative people
If left untreated, HIV can impair the functioning of the immune system, leading to its gradual decline and the appearance of life-threatening infections and cancers. Since 1996, effective treatment for HIV (ART; antiretroviral therapy) has been increasingly available in Canada and other high-income countries. When used as directed, ART can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood to the point where it usually cannot be detected with routine laboratory tests. This suppression of HIV allows the immune system to mostly repair the injury caused by HIV. The result is that for most adherent ART users, the risk of AIDS-related complications declines dramatically. In fact, many studies project that a large proportion of ART users will have a life expectancy similar to that of the average HIV-negative person.
Powerful AIDS documentary Cashing Out shortlisted for Oscar
14 January, 2026 - By Sarah Creighton Keogh - GCN (Gay Community News) - Matt Nadel’s short film earns Academy Awards attention as celebrity supporters shine a spotlight on a forgotten chapter of queer history.
Matt Nadel’s Cashing Out is emerging as one of the most talked-about documentary shorts of awards season, blending deeply personal storytelling with timely star power. Recently shortlisted for Best Documentary Short at the 98th Academy Awards, the film has gained further attention thanks to the involvement of RuPaul’s Drag Race favourite Angeria, who joined the project early on as a producer alongside actor Matt Bomer.
The documentary explores the controversial rise of viatical settlements during the height of the AIDS crisis, when people living with HIV were routinely failed by governments and healthcare systems. At a time when an HIV diagnosis was widely regarded as a death sentence, viaticals allowed policyholders to sell their life insurance for immediate cash, offering short-term financial relief in exchange for long-term moral unease. While the subject matter is heavy, Cashing Out’s growing awards recognition has brought renewed cultural attention to this complex and often overlooked history.
When on-target misses the mark: Lessons from HIV immunogens
January 14, 2026 - By H Lewis - Fred Hutch Cancer Center - From the McGuire Lab, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division
Despite 40 years of intense research, the urgently-needed vaccine for HIV still eludes us.
The target of the HIV vaccine is the surface glycoprotein Env, which initiates viral entry into host cells and is blocked by neutralizing antibodies. Due to immense immune pressure and the high error rate of HIV’s reverse transcriptase, Env has exceedingly high levels of sequence diversity. It is estimated that Env can vary by 30-35% between HIV lineages.
New Clues to Understanding HIV-related Cognitive Impairment
JANUARY 14, 2025 - Weill Cornell Medicine - Using participant skin cells reprogrammed into neurons, Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have identified genetic signatures associated with HIV infection that may contribute to the cognitive impairment that often occurs in people living with the disease, even when the virus is controlled.
The study, published Dec. 1 in JCI Insight, collected cells called fibroblasts obtained with informed consent from the skin of six virologically suppressed people living with HIV and seven age- and sex-matched people without HIV. Applying cell-identity reprogramming techniques, they induced the fibroblasts to become neurons and found that those from the people with HIV had key differences in gene activity patterns, compared with those from people without HIV.
Fauci Urges Medical Students to See Public Health as Core to Clinical Practice
January 13, 2026 - GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences - At GW’s annual Clinical Public Health Summit on HIV, former NIAID director Anthony Fauci traced the epidemic’s history and challenged future physicians to shape policy beyond the exam room.
Anthony S. Fauci, MD, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), delivered the keynote address to open the 12th annual George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Clinical Public Health (CPH) Summit on HIV, Dec. 17, 2025. The three-day summit brought together GW SMHS first-year medical students, public health leaders, and senior HIV/AIDS officials from across the country to examine the evolving challenges of the HIV epidemic and the role physicians can play beyond the clinic.
The HIV summit is part of a broader clinical public health curriculum at GW SMHS designed to prepare future physicians for a rapidly changing health care landscape. “This unique opportunity offers members of the Class of 2029,” organizers said, a chance to learn directly from senior HIV/AIDS officials and experts working at the federal, state, city, and community levels to develop innovative proposals to address the epidemic.
History of Skin Disorders Is Still Common Among People With HIV, U.S. Study Finds
Jan 13, 2026 - Larry Buhl - TheBodyPro - Dermatological conditions were significant markers for advanced HIV disease in the 1980s and 1990s within the U.S. Their prominence has greatly lessened in the decades since, thanks to the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. However, a recently published longitudinal study concluded that despite our substantial progress in HIV treatment, almost half of people living with HIV in a major urban center have had at least one dermatological diagnosis, including infectious and inflammatory conditions. Even in the modern era, these conditions continue to occur—albeit at considerably reduced rates—and are driven by immune, demographic, structural, and behavioral factors, according to the study authors.
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Landmark findings from Vietnam: A tailored implementation improves HIV interventions for people who inject drugs
January 13, 2026 - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health - A UNC Vietnam team led by Vivian Go, PhD, professor of health behavior, and Bill Miller, MD, PhD, professor of epidemiology — both researchers with the Gillings School for Global Public Health and the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases — found that tailoring implementation strategies to local clinic needs significantly improved the delivery of a proven HIV intervention for people who inject drugs.
Thousands to lose AIDS drugs under Florida cuts
13 January 2026 - Keith Alcorn - aidsmap - “It’s a really, really serious issue,” the state surgeon general said.Taking an integrase inhibitor as part of an HIV treatment regimen significantly reduced the risk of a major cardiovascular event or coronary artery disease when compared to other forms of HIV treatment, a study in people with HIV in the United States has found.
The study took place in a cohort of people with HIV who may reflect the reality of HIV care in the United States – racially and ethnically diverse with a history of variable access to health care.
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CATIE: Scientists in France assess antibiotic resistance in people who use doxyPEP
January 13, 2026 - CATIE NEWS - Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) - Taking doxycycline after sex (doxyPEP) reduces the risk of some sexually transmitted infections
A French study found gonorrhea less susceptible to some antibiotics for those taking doxyPEP
Antibiotic resistance was not found for the drug classes typically used to treat gonorrhea
Clinical trials have found that doxycycline taken after sexual exposure—called doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis, or doxyPEP for short—significantly reduces the risk of developing chlamydia and syphilis. In some cases, doxyPEP can also reduce the risk of gonorrhea. However, in the past, a class of antibiotics called tetracyclines (of which doxycycline is a member) was used to treat gonorrhea, and the bacteria that cause this infection have acquired the ability to resist tetracyclines (and, therefore, doxycycline). As a result, doxyPEP is not always effective at reducing the risk of gonorrhea.
Integrase inhibitors reduce heart risks in people with HIV in the US
13 January 2026 - Keith Alcorn - aidsmap - Taking an integrase inhibitor as part of an HIV treatment regimen significantly reduced the risk of a major cardiovascular event or coronary artery disease when compared to other forms of HIV treatment, a study in people with HIV in the United States has found.
The study took place in a cohort of people with HIV who may reflect the reality of HIV care in the United States – racially and ethnically diverse with a history of variable access to health care.
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Harvard Chan researchers win $100 million MacArthur grant for infectious disease surveillance system
January 13, 2026 - By Maya Brownstein - Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health - In November, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation awarded its $100 million “100&Change” grant to the Sentinel project, an infectious disease surveillance system designed to help communities identify outbreaks and prevent potential pandemics. Based in West Africa, Sentinel is a collaboration between the Broad Institute and the Institute of Genomics and Global Health in Nigeria, and works in close partnership with national public health agencies there and in Sierra Leone. Its co-founders and directors are also faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Pardis Sabeti, professor of immunology and infectious diseases, and Christian Happi, adjunct professor of immunology and infectious diseases.
Below, Sabeti and Happi share more about Sentinel, their plans for expanding the project, and why they’re determined to use their grant to uplift the global public health community.
The Wistar Institute Announces the Recruitment of Jianliang Xu, Ph.D., to the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center
PHILADELPHIA — (Jan 13, 2026) - The Wistar Institute - Xu specializes in antibody research & engineers nanobodies—tiny, effective tools against HIV & emerging pandemics
The Wistar Institute, an international biomedical research leader in cancer, immunology, and infectious disease, is pleased to announce the recruitment of Jianliang Xu, Ph.D., to Wistar’s HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center. Xu is a molecular biologist, trained in fundamental immunology, specializing in antibody and nanobody engineering. Xu engineers antibodies and nanobodies (smaller versions of antibodies) through binding and fusing them to create chimeric molecules—hybrids made from two sources—or nanobody cocktails that are new, enhanced, cutting-edge tools which can be rapidly deployed drug development or diagnostic technologies for HIV and emerging pathogens.
HIV antibody opens up new approaches for vaccine development and combination therapies
January 12, 2026 - University of Cologne - An international research team has identified a novel HIV antibody that targets the virus at a particularly vulnerable site and overcomes previous limitations of known antibodies. This study, led by Professor Dr Florian Klein, opens up new perspectives for the development of vaccines and therapeutics against HIV-1 and was published in the journal „Nature Immunology“.
HIV-1 can be neutralized by antibodies which bind to vulnerable structures on the virus surface. One such vulnerable site is the so-called V3 glycan site of the viral envelope protein. This target structure plays a central role in virus entry into human cells and has therefore long been an important focus for the development of new immunotherapeutic and preventive approaches. However, to date, most identified antibodies have been able to effectively recognize the V3 glycan site only in a subset of HIV variants circulating worldwide.
FHS professor Angela Kaida named CRC in HIV and Sexual & Reproductive Health Equity
January 12, 2026 - Simon Fraser University (SFU) - In late October, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) announced that FHS professor Angela Kaida would become the new Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in HIV and sexual & reproductive health equity.
Kaida, a renowned global health and HIV researcher, is the current Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research’s Institute of Gender and Health. The new research program that she is undertaking as the Tier 1 CRC will continue to deeply explore issues that lie at the intersection of global health, HIV, and gender and health.
“Despite the significant advances in HIV prevention and treatment that has seen the once deadly disease evolve into a manageable chronic condition for those with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART),” says Kaida, “there have not been significant shifts in the social and structural determinants of health that influence and shape the risk and consequences of HIV.” The lack of progress in changing the contexts that shape HIV risk and consequence strongly suggests that a health equity lens and approach is needed at the population level.
Not a ‘super flu’ but plenty bad: Stanford Medicine expert’s tips for staying safe
January 12, 2026 - By Mark Conley - Stanford Medicine - Stanford University - Holiday season was disrupted by a nasty flu bug for many around the country, and others aren’t out of the woods. What to know about ‘subclade K.’
From living rooms to emergency rooms, flu season is hitting the United States hard.
It mirrors what has already happened during winter elsewhere around the globe, and there are no signs of it letting up anytime soon. For those of who managed to survive the holiday season upright, this is no time to let your guard down.
That’s why we asked Stanford Medicine’s Yvonne Maldonado, MD, the Taube Professor in Global Health and Infectious Diseases and a professor of pediatrics, to shed light on what everyone should know right now.
Five years left to #endAIDS by ensuring zero new infections and all people with HIV live healthy
January 11, 2026 - By Shobha Shukla - Modern Ghana - The year 2026 marks an important milestone with only 5 years left for world leaders to deliver on the promise of ending AIDS by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 3). With zero new HIV infections and ensuring all people living with HIV are healthy (virally suppressed) and supported we can end AIDS now!
We can #endAIDSnow!
Thanks to communities of people living with and affected by HIV, a lot of scientifically proven tools and approaches have made it possible to offer HIV combination prevention to those who are HIV negative - as well as ensure that all people living with HIV remain healthy and lead fulfilling lives.
If people with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy with sustained viral suppression, then people with HIV live normal and healthy lives (comparable to those without the virus). In addition, there is zero risk of any further HIV transmission as per the WHO - this is commonly referred to as undetectable equals untransmittable or #UequalsU.
According to UNAIDS, in 2024, around 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally but not everyone was on lifesaving treatment - 31.6 million people were receiving the treatment by 2024. We need to bridge this gap.
Ending AIDS Is Possible—but Only If the World Acts Now
JANUARY 11, 2026 - Africa science News - The global fight against HIV and AIDS has reached a critical moment. Decades of community leadership, scientific breakthroughs and policy advances have made it possible not only to prevent new HIV infectios, but also to ensure that people living with HIV can lead long, healthy and fulfilling lives. Yet, despite these tools, AIDS-related deaths and new infections continue–raising urgent questions about political will, funding and equity.
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40 years not out… How Kangausaru took HIV out of the shadows
January 11, 2026 - Sundaymail - Herald - When Donnance Kangausaru (60) looks back on nearly four decades of living with HIV, he does not see a life defined by illness.
Instead, he sees a journey of resilience, faith, discipline and courage – a journey that transformed him from a frightened patient at the height of Zimbabwe’s AIDS crisis into one of the country’s most recognisable and longest-serving HIV advocates.
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What does cannabis ‘rescheduling’ mean for science and society?
January 9, 2026 - U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation - Federal change could mean more research on a substance that has reached widespread use for self-medication but hasn’t had its benefits or risks examined scientifically
Tens of millions of Americans turn to cannabis products every week to try to ease their pain, calm their anxiety, get more sleep, help them cope with the side effects of chemotherapy, or just relax and unwind.
Even as many get relief, some experience side effects from today’s more potent cannabis.
Jane Darville (MPA'93) appointed to the Order of Canada
Jan 09, 2026 - Queen’s University - Jane Darville is a health care leader known for her compassionate approach and dedication to patients. She helped establish Toronto’s HIV AIDS hospital Casey House and led Vancouver’s Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, shaping two organizations recognized around the world for their care.
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Replicate Bioscience Awarded Grants to Develop New srRNA Vaccines for HIV and Malaria
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Replicate Bioscience - Company to receive approximately $7 million in funding from the Gates Foundation to use its srRNA platform to develop malaria and HIV candidates to address two of the world's most persistent public health burdens, subject to humanitarian licensing terms
Replicate Bioscience, a clinical-stage company pioneering novel self-replicating RNA (srRNA) technology for applications across infectious disease, immunology, and other therapeutic areas, today announced that it has been awarded two research grants from the Gates Foundation. A grant of approximately $3.5 million will be awarded to support the development of a low-dose, multigenic RNA-based malaria vaccine platform, with the goal of expanding access to effective malaria prevention tools in low- and middle-income countries. A second grant of approximately $3.5 million will support the development of a novel self-replicating RNA-based HIV vaccine candidate to help accelerate progress toward effective and accessible HIV prevention.
ACTG Launches IPACE-HIV to Study Frailty Intervention
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ACTG - ACTG, a global clinical trials network focused on HIV and other infectious diseases, today announced the opening of the IPACE-HIV study (Improving Physical Ability and Cellular Senescence Elimination in HIV), also known as A5426. IPACE-HIV is a phase 2, double-blind, randomized study evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of dasatinib and quercetin in improving physical function outcomes in people living with HIV who are frail or exhibit symptoms that they may become frail.
People living with HIV often experience diseases and conditions, including frailty, that are associated with aging at younger ages than people who are not living with HIV. This is true even among individuals whose HIV is well-controlled on antiretroviral treatment (ART). Current treatment for physical function impairment and frailty in people living with HIV focuses on non-pharmacologic interventions such as exercise, nutritional support, and management of the comorbidities that can contribute to frailty. Dasatinib and quercetin are senolytics, drugs targeting the cells that play a role in biologic aging. Clinical trials involving this regimen have shown promise in reversing some of the symptoms and signs of frailty, but to date these studies have not included people living with HIV.
What to know about Sask. expanding its free self-testing program for HIV
Jan 08, 2026 - By Nykole King - Regina Leader Post - “It's one more piece of getting more people talking about HIV, getting tested for HIV and getting treated for HIV.”
As Saskatchewan continues to battle high rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the province has announced plans to roll out more sites that offer free self-administered testing kits.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) currently has 45 distribution sites that offer HIV tests across 28 communities. Another 22 sites are to be added once training is completed and stock is available, according to the SHA.
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HIV/AIDS in Tunisia
January 8, 2026 - The Borgen Project - HIV/AIDS in Tunisia is still a challenge, but the country is making steady progress through better testing, treatment and community support. New data highlights the need for continued action to protect vulnerable groups and expand access to care.
Recent studies show that HIV/AIDS in Tunisia is shifting with new infections and AIDS-related deaths rising in recent years. In 2024, researchers estimated that 9,750 people were living with HIV in the country with more than 1,000 new cases recorded. Although national prevalence remains low, the epidemic is concentrated among key populations who face higher risks and significant barriers to care.
The Current Situation in Tunisia
Tunisia’s HIV epidemic remains relatively small, but recent data shows a worrying upward trend. In 2024, an estimated 9,750 people were living with HIV, and more than 1,030 new infections were reported. AIDS-related deaths also reached around 485 people, highlighting gaps in early detection and consistent treatment.
CLINICAL TRIAL SUPPLY MARKET: KEY INNOVATIONS, CHALLENGES, AND MARKET OUTLOOK, 2025
January 8, 2026 - MarketsandMarkets™ - The clinical trial supply chain is experiencing its profound transformation in a decade. The increasing number of decentralized trials, personalized medicines, and the increased global patient recruitment increased pressure on clinical trial supply leaders to deliver speed, precision, and compliance in this volatile environment. The shift to patient-centric supply from site-centric supply, the growth of temperature-sensitive products, and increasingly complex regulatory pathways force sponsors and CROs to reappraise traditional models. In 2025, success is dependent upon real-time visibility, digital intelligence, and robust networks capable of supporting high-variability protocols across diverse geographies. We have spotlighted the most influential trends shaping trends in the clinical trial supply landscape below, informed by current industry research and global thought leadership.
WHO releases updated recommendations on HIV clinical management
Geneva - 7 January 2026 - World Health Organization (WHO) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated recommendations on HIV clinical management providing new and revised guidance on antiretroviral therapy, management of vertical HIV transmission, and tuberculosis (TB) prevention for people living with HIV. These recommendations support an evidence-based, cost-effective approach to improving treatment outcomes, reducing HIV-related mortality and accelerating progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat.
The guideline reflects significant advances in HIV treatment since the last consolidated WHO guidelines published in 2021 and responds to emerging evidence on optimized antiretroviral regimens and simplified options to TB preventive treatment for people living with HIV.
Sunsetting UNAIDS is a Global and Domestic HIV Threat
January 7, 2026 - By Harold Phillips - POZ - Global health faces yet another unprecedented threat, as UN Secretary-General has proposed a closure of UNAIDS by the end of 2026.
At NMAC, global health infrastructure remains a critical priority to protecting our communities and ending the epidemic. Now, global health faces yet another unprecedented threat, as United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed a closure of UNAIDS by the end of 2026.
This sudden and misguided dismantling would put countless lives in danger, risking increased transmissions and growing death rates from an epidemic that we are so close to ending. As such, we are happy to stand alongside our partners, including Representative Mark Pocan, Chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, and the NGO Delegation to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board in urging the United Nations to reject this proposal and others like it.
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Viral outbreaks are always on the horizon – here are the viruses an infectious disease expert is watching in 2026
January 7, 2026 - By Patrick Jackson - The Conversation - A new year might mean new viral threats.
Old viruses are constantly evolving. A warming and increasingly populated planet puts humans in contact with more and different viruses. And increased mobility means that viruses can rapidly travel across the globe along with their human hosts.
As an infectious diseases physician and researcher, I’ll be keeping an eye on a few viruses in 2026 that could be poised to cause infections in unexpected places or in unexpected numbers.
McMaster Discovery Could Lead to New Treatments for Drug-Resistant Fungal Infections
January 7, 2026 - By Blake Dillon - McMaster News - McMaster University - Fungal infections kill millions of people each year, and modern medicine is struggling to keep up. But researchers at McMaster University have identified a molecule that may help turn the tide — butyrolactol A, a chemical compound that targets a deadly, disease-causing fungi called Cryptococcus neoformans.
Infections caused by Cryptococcus are extremely dangerous. The pathogen, which can cause pneumonia symptoms, is notoriously drug-resistant, and it often preys on people with weakened immune systems, like cancer patients or those living with HIV. And the same can be said about other fungal pathogens, like Candida auris or — both of which, like Cryptococcus,have been declared priority pathogens by the World Health Organization.
The Government of Canada announces the theme for Black History Month 2026
CHERRY BROOK, Nova Scotia, January 7, 2026 - Government of Canada | Canadian Heritage - Each year, Black History Month honours the experiences, achievements and enduring contributions of Black communities in Canada, while deepening our collective understanding of their history and impact on Canadian society.
Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, unveiled this year’s theme: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” This theme celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians, whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present, and will inspire future generations.
Remembering Mark Milano, a committed activist in the fight against HIV/AIDS
January 6, 2026 - By Asia Russell - Mark Milano, a relentless activist, deeply committed HIV treatment educator, and a beloved and inspiring AIDS warrior who fought against injustice his entire life, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 69.
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Mayor of New York City Proclaims Day in Honor of Dr. Mason Blake Pimsler MD His Dedication to Underserved Citizens
NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, January 6, 2026 - EINPresswire.com - Mayor of New York City Proclaims Day in Honor of Dr. Mason Blake Pimsler MD for His Dedication to HIV/AIDS and Homeless Communities, woman’s health, safe haven.
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IAVI announces first vaccinations in IAVI G004, a Phase 1 clinical trial of a promising HIV vaccine approach
NEW YORK, NY — January 6, 2026 - IAVI - International AIDS Vaccine Initiative - Study will examine safety, immune response, and dose of three promising immunogens
- In 2024, 40.8 million people were living with HIV, and 1.3 million people newly acquired HIV -
- The IAVI/Scripps Research HIV vaccine development strategy aims to coach the immune system to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies that could provide broad protection against HIV -
IAVI, a global nonprofit scientific research organization, announces that the first doses of experimental HIV vaccine antigens were administered on December 15, 2025, at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit in Soweto, South Africa, initiating the IAVI G004 clinical trial. IAVI G004 is designed to advance the IAVI/Scripps Research strategy for HIV vaccine development. The hypothesis being tested is that highly specialized vaccine immunogens, delivered in a specific sequence, can target certain B cells within the immune system and coach them toward the production of broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV. Scientists widely believe that a vaccine inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) could provide broad protection against many strains of HIV. Using three immunogens developed by IAVI/Scripps Research delivered on Moderna’s mRNA platform, this study will examine safety, mmune responses, and dose levels.
The Flu Is Surging Across the U.S.
Newswise - 5-Jan-2026 - by George Washington University - The George Washington University - Flu is surging across the U.S. at a faster-than-usual pace, with hospitalizations nearly doubling in a single week and young children among those hit hardest — and doctors warn the season is nowhere near peaking.
New CDC data show flu activity at “high” or “very high” levels in 32 states, up from just 17 the week before. Since October, at least 7.5 million people have been sickened, more than 19,000 have been hospitalized, and roughly 3,100 have died, including a growing number of children.
The Columbia-Educated Priest Fighting Peru’s AIDS Epidemic
Winter 2025-2026 - Arlene Schulman '22JRN - COLUMBIA MAGAZINE - Columbia University - Father Joseph Fedora ’96JRN offers hope, prayers, and healing for Lima’s most vulnerable citizens.
Father Joseph Fedora ’96JRN doesn’t have a traditional pulpit. The shantytowns of Lima, Peru, are his parish. Here the poor live in flimsy houses along unpaved roads, with inadequate sanitation, health care, and food — a stark contrast to the nearby gated communities of mansions overlooking the Pacific, not far from bustling boardwalks lined with tourists.
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HIV disrupts the lung molecular clock, leading to lung inflammation and features of emphysema
05 January 2026 - Nature - Abstract
In the aging HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)-infected population, comorbid diseases are important determinants of morbidity and mortality. People living with HIV (PLWH) demonstrate increased lung inflammation and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even after adjusting for smoking status. Disruption of the lung molecular clock has been implicated in the increased lung inflammation observed in COPD and smokers. We hypothesize that the expression of HIV TAT protein in the lungs of PLWHpromotes lung inflammation and features of emphysema due to dysregulation of lung circadian rhythm, determined by the lung molecular clock genes. We demonstrate that HIV TAT upregulates miR-126-3p in primary bronchial epithelial cells and suppresses Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), resulting in downstream effects on core circadian genes such as BMAL1 and PER2, leading to dysregulation of the lung molecular clock. This study identifies TAT/miR-126-3p/SIRT1 axis as an important mediator of HIV-induced lung inflammation in primary human bronchial epithelial cells, SPC-TAT transgenic mice with lung-specific TAT expression, and lungs from HIV-positive donors. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of lungs from 4-month-old SP-C TAT mice, we further show that these mice already exhibit significant alterations in clock gene expression and elevated expression of proinflammatory markers in their young adult stage. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms by which HIV disrupts the lung molecular clock and promotes inflammation may help identify therapeutic strategies to mitigate HIV-associated COPD.
What are the biggest vaccine breakthroughs coming in 2026? We asked five experts
5 January 2026 - By Linda Geddes - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance - From mRNA to HIV, we asked five vaccine leaders to share the advances they believe will shape global health in 2026.
As we move into 2026, the vaccine development landscape is entering a period of remarkable transformation driven by scientific breakthroughs and global collaboration.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) platforms are expanding beyond their initial applications, opening new possibilities for neglected and emerging infectious disease prevention and even therapeutic interventions. At the same time, recombinant protein technologies and viral vectors continue to be prioritised, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions.
Gender-focused training for HIV providers reduces stigma but implementation proves challenging
5 January 2026 - By Edith Magak - aidsmap - “You have to take time with the patient, listen to them, all their stories and baggage…I don’t think we have that environment here. When you have a long line of clients, you aren’t going to give everyone 30 minutes [to] 1 hour listening to all their problems and challenges.”
A gender-sensitivity training programme for HIV healthcare providers in Uganda reduced stigma among clients but failed to improve treatment adherence or satisfaction with care, according to a pilot study published in PLOS Global Public Health.
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HIV funding still falls short of targets after pledges: what’s at stake
January 4, 2026 - The Conversation - The US government paused all foreign assistance in January 2025. This abrupt decision affected the delivery of life-saving HIV medicines and the provision of HIV prevention services to millions of people. A UNAIDS report estimates there could be an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million Aids-related deaths by 2029 if the world does not act.
In November 2025, a global health initiative, The Global Fund, raised US$11.34 billion for HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria. Melanie Bisnauth, a public health professional in healthcare systems strengthening and HIV/Aids leadership, discusses how far this latest funding could go and how African nations can tackle the dwindling funding for HIV/Aids control.
What is the funding status for HIV/Aids?
Raising US$11.34 billion is significant but it falls short of the US$18 billion target. The Global Fund is trying to raise US$18 billion for its work from 2027 to 2029. The Global Fund is a worldwide partnership to end the epidemic of HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria and ensure a healthier, safer and more equitable future for all.
It is only a partial response to the global funding gaps.
Early detection is key to managing HIV—DOH
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) - January 3, 2026 - Department of Health (DOH) - Philippine Information Agency - The Department of Health (DOH) is urging vulnerable groups to undergo Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) screening to prevent Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Medical Officer IV Rheuel Bobis of the DOH Ilocos Center for Health Development (CHD) noted that early diagnosis is vital for managing HIV. It allows for prompt antiretroviral therapy (ART) to prevent the immune system from weakening.
“It is important for every individual to know their HIV status, especially the most vulnerable population, including sexually active individuals and sex workers,” Bobis said over an episode of the Philippine Information Agency’s Kapihan sa Ilocos.
First Ancient Human Herpesvirus Genomes Document Their Deep History with Humans
Newswise - 2-Jan-2026 - by University of Vienna - Genomic data confirm that certain human herpesviruses became part of the human genome thousands of years ago
For the first time, scientists have reconstructed ancient genomes of Human betaherpesvirus 6A and 6B (HHV-6A/B) from archaeological human remains more than two millennia old. The study, led by the University of Vienna and University of Tartu (Estonia) and published in Science Advances, confirms that these viruses have been evolving with and within humans since at least the Iron Age. The findings trace the long history of HHV-6 integration into human chromosomes and suggest that HHV-6A lost this ability early on.
Meet Monique Carry, a New Leading Voice in the Global HIV Movement U=U
January 2, 2025 - By Trent Straube - POZ - “U=U reminds us that ending the HIV epidemic happens when we pair biomedical advances with truth and compassion,” says Monique Carry, the new acting executive director of Prevention Access Campaign.
The new year definitely means a new start for Monique Carry, PhD, MA, who on January 1 became the acting executive director of Prevention Access Campaign (PAC). The powerhouse nonprofit helped confirm and then broadcast the fact that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain viral suppression through adherence to treatment don’t transmit HIV to others through sex, a fact better known as Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U.
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New HIV stigma report to guide South Africa’s fight against discrimination
January 2, 2026 - Soweto Urban - The Citizen - The HIV Stigma Index 2.0 report will highlight experiences of over 5 000 South Africans and provide recommendations to reduce stigma and discrimination, informing policy and community-led initiatives.
A landmark study examining HIV stigma and discrimination in South Africa is set to be launched on Tuesday, December 9, offering insights into persistent challenges and opportunities for positive change.
The HIV Stigma Index 2.0 draws on the experiences of more than 5 000 participants across all nine provinces, covering 18 urban and rural districts.
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How infectious diseases spread and how to stop them?
Jan 02, 2026 - By TOI Lifestyle Desk - Times of India - Dr. Sameer Bhati, Public Health Analystn says that infectious diseases have been with us forever, together with the Common cold and COVID-19. Even though new and advanced treatments and vaccines have come into the picture, the threat of epidemics is still around. To make all people and communities safe, the very first step to take is to figure out how these diseases are spread.
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The scary measles complication that makes your body forget how to fight other infections — as cases rise to highest in 30 years
Jan. 2, 2026 - By By McKenzie Beard - New York Post - In 2025, the US saw a dramatic spike in cases, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting the highest levels of the highly contagious disease in over 30 years.
Now, health experts are sounding the alarm about a little-known complication that can make your body forget how to fight off future infections — putting you at risk for years after your initial symptoms fade.
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How AIDS Helps Cure Cancer
Jan. 1, 2026 - By Ryan Crisman - The Wall Street Journal - Scientists learned to treat deadly diseases by using viruses to deliver cutting-edge genetic therapies.
For most of human history, viruses have been our unseen enemies—particles of RNA and DNA that hijack our cells. Yet a more astonishing truth lies quietly within us: Nearly 8% of the human genome is viral in origin. Evolution repurposed ancient infections into essential parts of human biology, including the placenta and adaptive immunity. Now scientists are using viruses to treat previously deadly diseases.
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