What we're reading (and watching)

DGHI article: Can AI Spark New Progress Against HIV?

• A quote we love: "AI is here to stay, and while we can't stop its advancement, we have the power to shape it. The integration of AI into global health efforts offers a promising pathway to more effective, efficient and equitable healthcare solutions. This powerful technology can break down silos, eliminate inequities and increase access to care for more people. We must ensure it does."

EDI Spotlight: Lance Okeke, MD, MHS

• A quote we love: "I think of the intrinsic value added to everything that we do if we do a better job incorporating people from diverse perspectives into how we make decisions, how we shape our mission and vision. To me, the evidence of this added value is unequivocal, especially in a profession like health care, one that is predicated on the mandate that we provide our services equitably to all people."

Unexpected, a short film on Hulu documenting the stories of Black women living with HIV in the South (recommended to us by one of our D3C members)

• A quote we love: Lampe, of CDC, has aspirations for the public-health impact of the film. "I would like public health professionals to watch the documentary, particularly persons working in maternal and child health," she said. "I would like to see support for peer-support programs for pregnant women with HIV."

News from the CFAR

Remembering Dr. Kawango Agot

The Duke CFAR is saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Kawango Agot, a visionary leader and HIV prevention researcher. Dr. Agot founded and led the Impact Research and Development Organization, contributing over 20 years to biomedical, epidemiological, and behavioral research. Her work, including nearly 60 research studies and numerous programs, significantly influenced HIV prevention policies in Kenya and especially the lives of adolescent girls and young women. For example, she founded the Nyanza Initiative for Girls' Education and Empowerment (NIGEE), which helps girls who dropped out of school due to pregnancy, early marriage, or female genital mutilation return to their education. Her research also included studies on PrEP, focusing on increasing its use among young women. She was also a dedicated mentor, creating opportunities for many young researchers in the field, as evidenced by the heartfelt tributes made in her honor. Duke Professor Amy Corneli has collaborated with Dr. Agot on numerous HIV prevention studies since 2006 and shared her own words:

"Kawango was a compassionate researcher whose work was driven by a deep desire to improve the lives of those around her, particularly girls and young women, without seeking recognition for herself. I have always admired her energy and ability to create innovative and meaningful ways to engage and support others in her community, outside of her research studies. I will miss her great insights, camaraderie, and vibrant personality.”

As shared by local news, “The community is grieving the loss of Prof. Kawango Agot, a remarkable leader and dedicated researcher who recently passed away. Prof. Agot was the Executive Director of RHAY Africa, an organization focused on reducing HIV among adolescents and young people. Her life was devoted to improving health outcomes in Kenya and beyond, making a profound impact on countless lives. Her unexpected departure has left a significant void, particularly among those who worked closely with her. Prof. Agot’s dedication extended beyond her professional achievements. She was a beloved figure in her community, both in Kenya and the United States, where she leaves behind her daughter, Gift, and two grandsons. Her adopted children in Kenya and many others who relied on her love and support are also deeply affected by her passing.”

Dr. Agot will be profoundly missed, and her legacy will continue to inspire. The Duke CFAR sends our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Agot's family, friends, and colleagues.

Duke CFAR at AIDS 2024

Duke CFAR colleagues met up in Munich, Germany at AIDS 2024 throughout the week and at a Duke CFAR and Duke HIV Global Initiative mixer attended by Sheron Lewin (IAS president) and several colleagues.

Dana Chow, a 3rd year medical student at Duke-NUS in Singapore, won the Prize for Excellence in HIV Research Related to Children and Adolescents. Dana spent her third year conducting research with mentor Dorothy Dow and her team in Moshi, Tanzania on the Sauti ya Vijana (SYV) project evaluating and implementing the mental health care referral system linking youth living with HIV with moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or trauma to additional support within the local standard of care. Congratulations, Dana!

Chinenye Agina, another of Dr. Dow's mentees on the SYV project, presented her work in an oral abstract session. Chinenye presented on the peer group leader experience delivering the SYV intervention in the session Mental Health Matters.

Other Duke CFAR members took to the stage and presented posters throughout the week:

Wilton Williams presented his talk “Using mRNA technology to improve the pace of HIV vaccine discovery” during the plenary Developments in Eliciting Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Vaccination. His talk discussed ongoing efforts to address the key question: Can we use mRNA technology used in COVID19 vaccines to make HIV-1 vaccines that can generate highly effective antibodies, i.e. capable of preventing the infection of our cells, along with cellular responses to eliminate the cells where the virus is hiding?  

Chris Beyrer moderated two plenaries: Addressing structural barriers: How can we do better? and Under threat: Findings and recommendations from the IAS–Lancet Commission on Health and Human Rights

Jirair Ratevosian moderated the session No retreat! No surrender! The urgency of aligning investments where they are needed most in the global HIV response with special guest, Congresswoman Barbara Lee who has been a long-term HIV activist and PEPFAR supporter.

Poster presenters included: Dana Chow; Mehri McKellar, Charlie Burns, & Justin Frye; Lance Okeke & Meredith Clement; Kelly Seaton; Valerie Yelverton, and Roberto Orellana (presenting on behalf of Dirk Davis). Philippe Rascale participated in the ANRS MIE-DZIF HIV Cure satellite.

Survey request from Providence/Boston CFAR

Please see the following request from a Providence/Boston CFAR Developmental Award recipient: We are writing to let you know about an anonymous Center for AIDS Research study being conducted at Boston University Medical Campus entitled “HIV care provider cannabis-related education experiences, perceived knowledge of and competence regarding medical cannabis, content of cannabis-related discussions with patients” (Principal Investigator: Danielle F. Haley, PhD; dfhaley@bu.edu). 

We welcome participation from a wide range of licensed clinical care providers working with people who have HIV (e.g., medical doctors, nurses, social workers). The aim of this survey is to understand HIV care providers’ cannabis-related education experiences, comfort surrounding medical cannabis provision, and content of cannabis-related discussions with patients. 

Follow this link to the anonymous online survey: Take the Survey

Today! CFAR Seminar - Addressing HIV Inequities in Transgender Populations: Intersectional Approaches to Community Engaged Research

Thursday, August 22, 2024 | 4pm ET | MSRBIII Room 1125 & Zoom

Please join us for a CFAR Seminar on Thursday, August 22^nd at 4pm with Tonia Poteat, PhD. This will be a hybrid meeting on Zoom and in MSRBIII Room 1125.

”Addressing HIV Inequities in Transgender Populations: Intersectional Approaches to Community Engaged Research”

Dr. Poteat is a professor in the Duke University School of Nursing and co-director of the Duke SGM Wellness Program. Her research, teaching, and clinical practice focus on HIV and LGBTQ health with particular attention to the health of transgender communities. Her research attends to the role of intersectional structural stigma in driving health inequities and seeks to identify strategies to advance health justice. Certified as an HIV Specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine and Gender Specialist by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, she is an expert in HIV research and care with transgender persons. She is an associate editor for the journal LGBT Health and serves on the Department of Health and Human Services Adolescent and Adult HIV Treatment Guidelines panel. She founded and co-leads the Inter-CFAR Transgender Health Scientific Working Group.

Zoom Information

https://duke.zoom.us/j/95549153522?pwd=gg8rTEyoOft2bgIjf24FEOzBbbAYMR.1

Meeting ID: 955 4915 3522

Passcode: 259421 

Webinar: Community & Stakeholder Input to Inform the Future of HIV Research

Wednesday, September 4, 2024 | 10-11 am ET | Zoom

Every seven years, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) engages in a process that will help determine the focus and priorities of its global HIV clinical trials research networks. As part of this process, the NIH also reviews the structure and funding of its HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Units (CTUs), which provide the infrastructure to conduct clinical trials within the HIV clinical trials networks. In 2020, the NIH awarded grants to 35 US and international institutions selected as HIV/AIDS CTUs. The current process will determine the CTU awards for the next seven-year cycle. A critical part of this process involves community and stakeholder input to help inform future CTU/CRS structure and priorities.

The Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination invites you to join conversations with Division of AIDS leadership and decision-makers about the future of NIAID HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Units and Clinical Research Sites. Dr. Carl Dieffenbach, Manizhe Payton and Bola Adedeji from the Division of AIDS (DAIDS) at the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will present.

Register for the webinar.

Inter-CFAR Transgender Health Working Group Panel: Intersection of Transgender Research and policy

Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 3:30-5 pm ET | Zoom

Please join the inter CFAR Transgender Health Working Group and invited panelists as they discuss and address both how to use research to inform policy and to conduct research with trans communities in challenging policy environments. Registration is required.

Register for the panel.

Register by August 31st for the 28th West Coast Retrovirus Meeting

October 3-5, 2024 | Palm Springs, CA

Please join us this fall for the 28th West Coast Retrovirus Meeting in Palm Springs, California! This workshop-style meeting recognizes historical achievements and milestones in the field of retrovirology, while providing a forum to discuss new and unpublished information across relevant areas including antiviral drug development, viral evolution, structural virology and virus-host interactions. Invited speakers include the Duke CFAR's very own Priyamvada Acharya.

To attend the meeting, please register by August 31, 2024. After August 31, we will continue to accept registrations until the meeting is fully subscribed. The abstract deadline is September 1 for poster presentations.

Learn more and register.

Apply by August 30th for the Annual Mentoring the Mentors Workshop for HIV Researchers

October 22-23, 2024 | San Francisco, CA

Investigators interested in attending the workshop are asked to complete the Registration Form. The application process for participation in the workshop will close on Friday, August 30, 2024. Registrants accepted to participate in the workshop will be notified by email the week of September 9, 2024. The two-day workshop is an intensive and interactive meeting designed to provide faculty in HIV research with the tools for more effective mentoring, especially of mentees of diversity (defined mainly as those from underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities).

Inter-CFAR URM in HIV Research Meeting

We are also hosting the 3rd annual Inter-CFAR Meeting for CFAR-affiliated Underrepresented Minorities in HIV Research on the Thursday and Friday of that week (October 24th and 25th). This facilitated strategy meeting will work to build off findings from the first and second Inter-CFAR URM meetings held in 2022 and 2023 and help build new research collaborations in line with key HIV research needs and gaps. Prior attendees are encouraged to come.

Learn more and apply.

Applications due September 15th for the IDA Symposium & Flow Cytometry Workshop

African Flow Cytometry Workshop:

January 27-February 1, 2025 | Cape Town, South Africa

Infectious Diseases in Africa Symposium:

February 3-7, 2025 | Stellenbosch, South Africa

Information

• Interested individuals may apply to attend the IDA Symposium and/or the Flow Cytometry Workshop
• Applicants must be working in African countries to be eligible
• Participants will be selected based on the scientific merit of their submitted abstracts
• Selected participants will be awarded a full scholarship to attend (travel and accommodation)
• Selected participants are required to complete an Immunology Pre-Course on www.immunopaedia.org.za

Important Dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 15 September 2024
• Notification of awards: 15 October 2024
• Immunopaedia Pre-Course: 1 December 2024 – 21 January 2025
• Flow Cytometry Workshop: 27 January – 1 February 2025
• 12th IDA Symposium: 3 – 7 February 2025

Learn more and apply.

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