Advancing HIV prevention science and access - Session 4: Maintaining the momentum: From scientific innovation to real-world choice

I am a Senior Program Officer on the HIV Vaccines team at the Gates Foundation.

I am a Senior Program Officer on the HIV Vaccines team at the Gates Foundation.

Dr. Melo is an immunologist with two decades of experience in Basic and Translational Sciences, spanning academia and biotech. As a seasoned immunologist, she has expertise in infectious diseases and vaccine development using diverse vaccine platforms, notably mRNA and nanoparticles. Mariane commenced her journey at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she spent 10 years helping translate scientific discoveries into prospective vaccines and therapeutics, successfully working on several projects that spined off to biotech. Subsequently she briefly ventured through small biotechs, leading Translational Research teams before rejoining academia at The Scripps Research Institute. Mariane has contributed significantly to the field, authoring 50+ high-impact papers in esteemed peer-reviewed journals.

I am a Senior Program Officer on the HIV Vaccines team at the Gates Foundation.

Dr. Melo is an immunologist with two decades of experience in Basic and Translational Sciences, spanning academia and biotech. As a seasoned immunologist, she has expertise in infectious diseases and vaccine development using diverse vaccine platforms, notably mRNA and nanoparticles. Mariane commenced her journey at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she spent 10 years helping translate scientific discoveries into prospective vaccines and therapeutics, successfully working on several projects that spined off to biotech. Subsequently she briefly ventured through small biotechs, leading Translational Research teams before rejoining academia at The Scripps Research Institute. Mariane has contributed significantly to the field, authoring 50+ high-impact papers in esteemed peer-reviewed journals.

Director of Fundación Huésped; advisor to the WHO, UNAIDS, PAHO. He contributed to the development of two-drug ARV regimens. More than 190 publications (PubMed) and 20 book chapters. Former Professor at the University of Buenos Aires. Member of the WHO ART Guidelines Panel and former IAS President.

Dr. Max Lataillade is an internationally recognized leader in HIV research and drug development, bringing decades of experience spanning academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. He is currently Head of HIV Drug Development at the Gates Foundation, where he leads HIV drug development strategy with a focus on advancing innovative antiretroviral therapies to address unmet needs in low- and middle-income countries.

Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Dr. Lataillade served as Vice President and Head of Development and Global Research Strategy at ViiV Healthcare, where he led the global R&D strategy for an innovative HIV pipeline spanning prevention, treatment, and cure. He co-led the establishment of a center of excellence for HIV discovery and early drug development and oversaw end-to-end R&D activities for novel HIV programs designed to address critical unmet needs for people living with HIV.

Dr. Lataillade joined ViiV Healthcare in 2016 as Vice President and Head of Clinical Development. During his tenure, he played a key role in the development of breakthrough therapies, including the HIV-1 attachment inhibitor fostemsavir, and advanced multiple early-stage pipeline assets. He is recognized for building efficient early development capabilities that accelerated the translation of innovative antiretroviral agents, including long-acting small molecules, broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs), and novel drug classes such as maturation, capsid, and integrase inhibitors from discovery into clinical development.

Before joining ViiV Healthcare, Dr. Lataillade was Vice President and Head of Global Development for HIV at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he contributed to the development and global registration of several landmark antiviral therapies for HIV and hepatitis C. Throughout his career, he has received multiple industry and academic awards recognizing his contributions to advancing innovative HIV medicines.

Dr. Lataillade earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed residency training at Temple University and Crozer-Chester Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine at Yale University. He continues to serve as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University, where he mentors trainees and volunteers at the West Haven VA HIV Clinic.

At the Gates Foundation, Dr. Lataillade is focused on accelerating the development of next-generation HIV prevention and treatment options to expand equitable access to innovative medicines and help end the HIV epidemic globally.

Nittaya Phanuphak is Executive Director at the Institute of HIV Research and Innovation in Bangkok. She is interested in Key Population-Led Health Services which empower key community members to design and co-deliver sexual and mental health, rights, and other harm reduction services to their peers.