HIV prevention at a crossroads: why we still need an HIV vaccine

Jacob Osborne is senior advocacy specialist at IAVI’s European office in Amsterdam. He works across multiple countries and the European Union to advocate for increased support for HIV vaccines and other issues relating to global health research and innovation. Jacob has experience working in community-based organizations, HIV testing and prevention counseling, and social science research.

Marlène Bras brings over 14 years of experience in public health, research, and programme management within the HIV field. She is the Director of HIV Programmes and Advocacy at IAS - the International AIDS Society and also serves as the Executive Editor of the Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS). Marlène is strongly committed to supporting the IAS’s efforts to strengthen research capacity and leadership in HIV vaccine and cure research; improve treatment and care for infants, children, and adolescents in resource-limited settings; and promote the adoption of evidence-informed, person-centred, stigma-free, differentiated and appropriately integrated approaches to HIV prevention and treatment.

Nyaradzo Mgodi is a clinical trials specialist with almost two decades of experience conducting HIV clinical trials in diverse populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. She is the lead investigator in multiple clinical trials assessing various biomedical HIV prevention interventions, like vaginal rings, oral PrEP, injectable PrEP, novel drug delivery systems, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and HIV vaccines.

Nyaradzo Mgodi is a clinical trials specialist with almost two decades of experience conducting HIV clinical trials in diverse populations in Sub-Saharan Africa. She is the lead investigator in multiple clinical trials assessing various biomedical HIV prevention interventions, like vaginal rings, oral PrEP, injectable PrEP, novel drug delivery systems, broadly neutralizing antibodies, and HIV vaccines.

Yvette Raphael is currently the Executive Director of Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa. Yvette is a Member of the African Women’s Prevention Community Accountability Board and also Serves on the Board of Trustees of MTV Base Staying Alive. Yvette Alta Raphael is a consummate leader in the fight against HIV. And is committed to HIV Prevention Research and Development Advocacy. As a woman who has been living with the virus for over 20 years, she has experienced first-hand what HIV stigma, insufficient prevention education, and reduced access to healthcare can do.

Professor Glenda E. Gray is a globally recognized scientist, medical researcher, and leader in infectious diseases and public health. She is the Director of the Infectious Disease and Oncology Research Institute (IDORI) at Wits University and was the first female President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), where she spearheaded South Africa’s scientific strategy and medical research priorities. A leading figure in HIV vaccine research, Prof. Gray is the Co-Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) Her influence extends to global health governance, serving as:Chair of the Global Antibiotic R&D Partnership (GARDP) Board,Board Member of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Council Member at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Mitchell has been AVAC’s executive director since 2004. He previously led Vaccine Preparedness at IAVI; directed international programs at Female Health Company; and directed PSI social marketing programs in South Africa and Europe. He is co-chair of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition; a member of the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory, the IAS Governing Council and the IAS Towards an HIV Cure Initiative, and co-chair of the IAS Industry Liaison Forum; President of the TB Alliance Stakeholder Association; and Past President of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.

Fergus (Gus) Cairns is currently co-chair of the Combination Prevention Programme of the European AIDS Treatment Group and an Editorial Consultant for Aidsmap.com.

Originally a youth worker, Gus’s own encounter with HIV led him into a second career as a community HIV activist. He edited the UK’s magazine for people with HIV, Positive Nation, then worked for 14 years as an editor at the HIV/AIDS information site Aidsmap. He is a longstanding advocate for biomedical HIV prevention, helping to found the U=U campaign and co-chairing the PROUD clinical trial of PrEP, among other activities.

Kundai Chinyenze (M.D, MPH) leads IAVI’s Africa program in the development of affordable, globally accessible vaccines and other prophylactic biomedical interventions. She leads IAVI’s capacity strengthening initiatives in the region and has led large consortia focused on HIV vaccine R&D.