TABLE OF CONTENTS
HANC ANNOUNCEMENTS
NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
HANC PROGRAM UPDATES
CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
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Brian Minalga, HANC Deputy Director, participated in AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. In addition to participating in myriad sessions and symposia, Brian took advantage of the gathering to engage in:
- A think tank meeting, organized by AVAC, to develop improved guidelines on and approaches to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
- A meeting with Merck, in collaboration with AVAC, to advocate for equitable access to Alimatravir (MK-8527), an investigational drug undergoing testing as once-monthly oral PrEP
- A stakeholder consultation on person-centered care with the IAS Person-Centered Care Research Collaborative
- A person-centered care research lab with IAS to develop a global research agenda for person-centered HIV care.
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Stay tuned for more reporting on AIDS 2026 as Brian continues to reflect on the experience.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...
Check out these engaging webinars!
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Pressing ‘Pause’ on HIV Treatment:
Examining ‘Analytical Treatment Interruptions’ for HIV Research
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“Drug holidays” have long been controversial when it comes to HIV medication. Recently, however, analytical treatment interruptions (ATIs) have become more common in HIV clinical research. ATIs involve medically monitored pauses in antiretroviral therapy for the research purpose of testing another HIV intervention – for example, investigational HIV cure-related strategies. But ATIs are not without challenges, either. The Second Consensus Statement on ATI Recommendations was recently published in
Lancet HIV. Learn about the updated recommendations, community reactions, and a discussion on the implications for the future of HIV research with a focus on the NIH-funded HIV clinical trials networks.
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Speakers
Thumbi Ndung'u, Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)
Karine Dubé, University of Pennsylvania
Gail Graham, Johns Hopkins University ACTG
Ernest Moseki, Botswana CRS
Moderator
Jeff Taylor, HIV+Aging Research Project-Palm Springs
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Closing the Gap:
Why Women Are Still Underrepresented in HIV Research
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This seminar will begin with a brief overview of the factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women, particularly Black and Latina women, in HIV research, including low perceived risk, limited awareness, and inadequate funding. It will then present specific examples from our research that highlight barriers to participation among Black and Latina women in the United States and the Dominican Republic, as well as our experiences with recruitment. Finally, the seminar will examine strategies to improve women’s representation in HIV research, including increased funding, the development and strengthening of community partnerships, and the provision of social services.
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Speakers
Liesl Nydegger, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Tahilin Sanchez Karver, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Clifford T. Castleberry, MS
Founder
ONE26 Consulting
Rodessa, LA
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Clifford Castleberry has been a warm and welcome presence in the world of HIV advocacy. Founding his own public health consultancy, he drives the work towards equity and compassion in HIV services and philanthropy. Clifford also serves on HANC's Minority-Serving Institutions Working Group, championing for HIV resources and education for underserved populations. HANC is also lucky to see Clifford's friendly face at various conferences and HIV advocacy spaces - his positive outlook and willingness to roll up his sleeves and do the work is paramount. Learn more about this longtime collaborator and friend to HANC.
Describe your current work in HIV research.
I am a public health consultant with a background in direct services and HIV philanthropy. I founded ONE26 Consulting to help public health and human service organizations operate more efficiently and equitably. My work centers on improving systems, applying data and technology more strategically, and designing approaches that strengthen community impact. At the heart of it, my consulting work focuses on engineering impact for those who serve.
What goals do you have for the coming year?
This year, I am focused on growing my consulting practice and, in doing so, expanding the capacity of public health and human service organizations. The goal is simple: help these organizations spend less time on operational friction and more time serving their communities effectively. I am also developing experiences at the intersection of joy, art, and public health that engage non-traditional populations in HIV care and prevention. My aim is to reduce stigma and create new pathways for engagement as we work collectively to end the HIV epidemic.
Share a career highlight.
One of the most meaningful chapters of my career came during my time as a philanthropic funder, when I had the opportunity to support Southern organizations, particularly Historically Black Colleges and Universities, through grants and sponsorships. Giving back to my two alma maters, Xavier University of Louisiana and Texas Southern University, along with Grambling State University, which is local to me, meant a great deal. These institutions hold a special place in my heart. Supporting their engagement in HIV care and prevention was a privilege, especially given their direct access to student populations whose identities reflect the realities of the HIV epidemic.
Outside of grant making, another fulfilling moment working with HBCUs came while I was leading an HBCU Fellowship, through which I had the opportunity to enhance the professional skillset of four HBCU students with aspirations to enter the public health workforce. Investing in their professional growth and knowing they will carry that expertise into ongoing efforts to end the HIV epidemic, remains one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
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Collaborating with these institutions allowed me to intersect my professional career with my personal life in a way few opportunities do. These unique partnerships, through grant making and leading a fellowship, have deepened my commitment to finding innovative ways to bring new partners to the table while developing the next generation of leaders entering this work. It is work I am truly passionate about, and it continues to shape how I show up in every partnership that follows.
What are your hopes for the future of HIV research?
I hope the future of HIV research centers all populations disproportionately impacted by the epidemic. Researchers have a responsibility to educate the communities they study, not only about the research itself, but about how people can participate and how findings will be communicated back to them in clear, accessible terms. Research should begin with community, include community throughout, and ultimately remain accessible to community. As new advances in HIV research emerge, they must be developed with, and for, the people at the forefront of the epidemic, so that progress genuinely reaches those who need it most.
What are your passions outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy traveling the world, discovering new artists, and making time to celebrate life with friends and family. Traveling allows me to step into new cultures and expand my worldview, and I always make a point of sampling the local cuisine along the way. Music is a constant presence in my life, and I am often searching for new artists to add to my rotation. Spending time with family and friends is a tradition I was raised on. Now that I am older, I take pride in hosting and creating memories built around good food, meaningful conversation, and music.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
If
I were not working in public health and preparing for medical school, I would want to explore experiential marketing and branding. I am fascinated by the ability to build an entire immersive world from a single concept, blending branding, marketing, and psychology into an experience that resonates fully with its audience. In an ideal scenario, I would merge my passion for health and wellness, research, and community-driven work with the world of branding and marketing to create something innovative and immersive that moves us closer to advancing overall health and wellness for communities everywhere. At its core, this passion is about using the tools of experiential branding and marketing to design immersive experiences that reduce stigma and increase awareness at the intersection of health and culture. Culture leads the way, through decor, branding, food, and drink, while health is
woven throughout so the experience never feels clinical, allowing Black and other marginalized communities to take charge of their wellness while engaging in the culture and fellowship that bring them together.
Tell us something that most people wouldn’t know about you.
Given the nature of my work and how I present professionally, most people would be surprised to learn that I consider myself an introvert. I love being in community and in fellowship with others, but at my core, I recharge through solitude. That quiet time is where my creative ideas take shape, whether I am developing a professional concept, curating an experience for friends and family, or weaving together a playlist that captures my current mood. I could not be even a fraction of the outgoing person people perceive me to be without those moments of stillness.
We're lucky this secret introvert devotes so much of his energy to the cause! Clifford's passion and myriad of experiences through travel, food, and hosting clearly impact his insightful communication and interaction with the community at large. We're grateful Clifford has chosen the path of advocacy and wellness for the HIV community, but recognize his ability to blend his passion for health and wellness, research, and community-driven work into a pretty fantastic personal brand. Clifford is a concept HANC can get behind. Thank you, Clifford, for your spark!
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ACTG is pleased to announce that A5432 is now enrolling!
This behavioral health and implementation study aims to optimize long-acting HIV treatment among people who have struggled to maintain HIV suppression. A5432 will assess factors that may affect how long-acting antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used and researched among people living with HIV who have previously been unable to maintain viral suppression on a daily oral ART regimen. A5432 is an exploratory study that utilizes several qualitative methods to better understand the experiences of participants and staff who were part of the LATITUDE study (also known as A5359), in order to design future studies and implement broader uptake of long-acting ART among this population. To learn more, please check out our recent
press release!
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The HVTN had a booth in the Global Village at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Scenes from our experience...
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HVTN booth "Help End HIV"
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Bob Eisinger and Cesar Boggiano joined Louis Shackelford for a Meet the Sponsors conversation.
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Adrienne Shapiro, Seattle VTU; Susan Buchbinder, San Francisco Bridge HIV; Jorge Sanchez, CITBM Lima, Peru joined Rafael Gonzalez for a Meet the Clinical Research Site Investigators conversation.
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Patricia Segura presented an Introduction to HIV Vaccines in Spanish.
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Louis Shackelford led a Meet the Network Leaders conversation with co-PIs Larry Corey and Glenda Gray, along with Executive Management Team members Hyman Scott and Lindsey Baden.
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Patricia Segura led a Meet the Local Research Team conversation with Luciana Kamel and Maria Pia Diniz of the Fiocruz CRS held in Portuguese.
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Larry Corey and Hyman Scott, real life HIV superheroes!
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Gail Broder presented an overview of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies.
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IMPAACT at AIDS 2026 and the 18th International Workshop on Pediatrics & HIV 2026
Researchers from the IMPAACT Network presented data at AIDS 2026 and the 18th International Workshop on Pediatrics & HIV 2026, held 24 – 31 July in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and virtually. Five abstracts were presented at AIDS 2026, one as an oral presentation and four as posters; three were presented as posters at the Pediatrics Workshop. IMPAACT data came from PROMISE, IMPAACT 2010/VESTED, and P1078. Notably, five IMPAACT Early Career Investigators presented their research. In addition, members of the IMPAACT 2036 team presented at the ViiV Symposium at the Pediatrics Workshop: Beyond Efficacy – What Children and Families Tell Us About Long-Acting Injectable Treatment.
You may view the presentation materials here.
Request for Proposals: Use of Data and/or Specimens Collected in IMPAACT 2028
The IMPAACT Network is now accepting proposals for use of data and/or specimens collected in IMPAACT 2028, Long-Term Clinical, Immunologic, and Virologic Profiles of Children who Received Early Treatment for HIV. Per protocol, data and specimens collected in IMPAACT 2028 will be used for research related to HIV remission or cure via a proposal-based process. A solicitation for proposals is now open, with applications due by 21
August 2026. Please visit the Research and Study Opportunities page for additional information and application materials.
Study Updates
IMPAACT 2050/CREATE Protocol Version 1.0 was distributed to sites on 1 May 2026. This study will characterize the pharmacokinetics of long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB) and rilpivirine (RPV) used in a clinical care setting to treat women living with HIV-1 during pregnancy and postpartum. CREATE will take place at 10 sites across the United States.
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Behavioral and Social Sciences
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Kathleen Pescasio
HANC Cross-Network
Project Manager
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The Behavioral Science Consultative Group (BSCG): no updates.
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Murph Fuentes
Project Manager
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Russell Campbell
HANC Director
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Community Partners (CP): Community Partners welcomed Gail Broder of the HVTN and benefited from a presentation of HVTN's current tuberculosis vaccine work. The Cross-Network GCAB Co-Chairs will meet again in August to discuss CAB issues across the Networks and find harmonizing solutions.
Community Partners also continues its work on a TB manuscript outlining the work and collaboration between CP and the Community Research Advisors Group (CRAG) that explores the complex relationship between HIV and TB. The working group will meet next in August.
The Community Partners Executive Committee will meet in August and continue planning for the 2026 virtual Community Partners meeting.
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Cross-Network Coordination
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Kathleen Pescasio
HANC Cross-Network
Project Manager
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The Cross-Network Site Coordinators Working Group (SCWG) discussed ongoing access issues with the DAIDS Learning Portal, particularly at international sites, and shared troubleshooting strategies while encouraging continued reporting of issues to DAIDS. The group also reviewed feedback on recent SCORE Manual updates, highlighting the need for improved communication to support implementation across sites.
The Cross-Network Communications Working Group (CWG) shared updates from recent annual meetings. Members discussed strong virtual participation, upcoming conference presentations, and future initiatives. The group also discussed HANC's proposed "60-Second Studies" social media series to showcase network research through short videos and encouraged collaboration on content development.
The Cross-Network Data Management Center Working Group (DMCWG) discussed efforts to evaluate a centralized Medidata licensing model, weighing the potential benefits of cost savings and standardized clinical research tools against concerns about operational impact on DMCs. Members also shared updates on DSUR preparedness, EHR data extraction initiatives, and preparations for upcoming grant renewals.
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Tyler Brown
HANC Laboratory
Project Manager
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The Clinical Pharmacology Quality Assurance (CPQA) Advisory Board met in July to discuss the program's annual report submission and the resulting changes to CPQA's funding options. The group also reviewed CPQA's completed validation of a lenacapavir assay and the results of its first anti-TB (ATB) test panel. During the call, the board welcomed its newest member, Kelly Dooley, Division Chief of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University.
The Lab Focus Group (LFG) met in May to discuss strategies for addressing ongoing shipping and supply disruptions, progress on a new cross-network shortage tracking system, and updates to the Cross-Network PBMC SOP.
DCLOT, the Network Laboratory Centers, and other stakeholders are currently updating the DAIDS Good Clinical Laboratory Practice Guidelines, which was last published in 2021. A new version is expected to be published later this year.
Reminder: In June, HANC, the Network Laboratory Centers, and DCLOT finalized updates to the new Cross-Network PBMC Processing SOP and published the English version, Version 8.0, on the HANC website here.
HANC plans to publish the Spanish, Portuguese, Thai, and Vietnamese versions of Version 8.0 in August. The revision history from Version 7.0 to Version 8.0 is included in Appendix I of the new document.
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Brian Minalga
HANC
Deputy Director
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Jocelyn Landazuri Vinueza
Legacy
Project Manager
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Gabriella Olague
Legacy
Project Coordinator
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July 20: The WHRC hosted a webinar titled Closing the Gap: Why Women Are Still Underrepresented in HIV Research. If you missed it live, it is available to view here!
The New Investigators Working Group (NIWG) is organizing two webinar sessions on October 7 and December 7 at 10:00 AM PT, featuring scholars from across the Networks presenting their research. Registration coming soon!
The Legacy Project Working Group (LPWG) continued discussions on shared expectations for community engagement across the Networks to inform the next funding cycle.
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Follow Legacy Project on Social Media!
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2026 U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (Anaheim, California, USA)
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Fast Track Cities 2026 (Berlin, Germany)
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HVTN's Translational Vaccine Early Stage Investigator Conference (San Antonio, Texas, USA)
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