NIH Activities at AIDS 2024

Leadership from NIH OAR and NIAID discuss the NIH HIV research program with attendees at AIDS 2024. Photo: HIV.gov

The 25th International AIDS Conference, or AIDS 2024, was held July 22-25 in Munich, Germany. This event brought together researchers, policymakers, health practitioners, civil society leaders, advocates, and other partners working to end the HIV pandemic.

Attendees included representatives from the U.S. government, including the White House Office of National AIDS Policy (ONAP), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP), the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) was pleased to hear from attendees and share the latest highlights from the NIH HIV research program. 

NIH “Ask the ‘HIV/AIDS’ Experts” Session

On Tuesday, July 23, NIH representatives held an “Ask the ‘HIV/AIDS’ Experts” session on NIH HIV research priorities. The session was part of a broader engagement opportunity at the HIV.gov and PEPFAR booth, which featured sessions with representatives from a variety of domestic and global HIV-related federal programs. 

Attendees at this informal session had the opportunity to learn more about the NIH HIV research program from NIH representatives and ask questions. Audience queries ranged from early career investigator resources to aging-related HIV research to featured moments at the conference. Speakers included:

• Diana Finzi, Ph.D., M.P.H., Acting Associate Director for AIDS Research and Acting Director, OAR
• Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., M.P.H., Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Carl Dieffenbach, Ph.D., Director, NIAID Division of AIDS
• CAPT Mary Glenshaw, Ph.D., M.P.H., Acting Deputy Director, OAR

NIH at AIDS 2024

NIH had a broad presence at AIDS 2024, from new research to poster presentations to participation in several sessions—including preconference sessions—related to HIV and aging, interventions to address HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and the application of global health innovations across low/middle- and high-income countries.

OAR Participation 
Dr. Finzi moderated the final conference plenary, “Preparing for the Future,” featuring HIV transcription to achieve remission, new artificial intelligence technologies for HIV, and the economic impact of the HIV response.

In addition, OAR presented a poster, “The NIH OAR Data Hub: Enhancing Transparency and Information Dissemination of the NIH HIV Research Portfolio,” during the conference. View the poster abstract, or learn about the Data Hub.

NIH Research
NIAID research was the focus of more than 20 abstracts presented at the conference, and the institute issued press announcements about three studies:

• An Isolated Viral Load Test May Generate False Positive Results for People Using Long-Acting PrEP
• Exploratory Analysis Associates HIV Drug Abacavir with Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Large Global Trial
• Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for HIV Prevention Is Safe in Pregnancy

In a video interview with HIV.gov, Dr. Marrazzo discussed HIV research highlights, including the finding that cabotegravir is safe during pregnancy, with Kaye Hayes, M.P.A., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease and Director of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy.

In a separate HIV.gov video interview, Dr. Dieffenbach and Michele Andrasik, Ph.D., of the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and the COVID-19 Prevention Network, discussed new discoveries in HIV prevention research presented at AIDS 2024.

Watch these videos and other HIV.gov coverage of AIDS 2024 on the NIAID Now Blog.

Sessions With NIH Participation 
NIH representatives participated in the following sessions at AIDS 2024:

• Towards a Truly Global HIV Cure
  Sunday, July 21, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
   
• Exploring the Intersection of HIV and Aging: A Geroscience Perspective 
  Sunday, July 21, 3-7:30 p.m.
  National Institute on Aging (NIA) 
  NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
   
• 10th Symposium on Children and Adolescents With Perinatal HIV Exposure 
  Sunday, July 21, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
   
• Impact of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies on HIV CNS Reservoirs: Potential Benefits, Challenges, and Risks
  Monday, July 22, 7:30-9 a.m. 
  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
   
• HIV-Related Anti-Intersectional Stigma and Discrimination Intervention: Findings From NIH Promoting Reductions in Intersectional StigMa (PRISM) Clinical Trials
  Monday, July 22, 9:30-11 a.m. 
  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 
  NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR)
   
• NIAID: HIV Science for the Future 
  Wednesday, July 24, 1:30-2:30 p.m. 
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
   
• NIMH: Navigating neuroHIV: Approaches and Treatment Strategies
  Wednesday, July 24, 6-7:30 p.m.
  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
   
• NIH/HRSA: Global Health Reciprocal Innovation (GHRI): Optimizing the Global Impact of Health Interventions Through Novel Research Partnerships and Knowledge Exchange
  Thursday, July 25, 6-7:30 p.m.
  NIH Fogarty International Center
  NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) 
  National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Read the related series of articles on reciprocal innovation published as a supplement in BMJ Global Health.

2024 OAR Highlights

Find additional information and resources from OAR related to our activities at AIDS 2024 at the following links:

• NIH HIV Strategic Plan
  OAR leads the planning and development of the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research. The next plan will span fiscal years 2026-2030 and will include input from over 200 researchers, clinicians, and community members.
   
• Early Career Investigators (ECIs)
  OAR is committed to supporting the next generation of HIV investigators through funding, resources, and mentoring, including an annual workshop that demystifies NIH grant processes for new researchers and trainees.
   
• HIV & Women Research
  OAR partners with the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health and others to advance women-centered HIV research through intersectional, equity-informed, data-driven approaches.
   
• HIV & Aging Research
  OAR works with people with lived experience and other partners to research the clinical, behavioral, and psychosocial needs of people aging with HIV, including long-term survivors and people who acquired HIV perinatally.
   
• NIH OAR Data Hub 
  OAR hosts interactive data dashboards online to promote greater understanding of the NIH HIV research portfolio. These tools enable researchers, clinicians, advocates, and the general public to identify research relevant to their specific interests.
   
• HIV Clinical Guidelines
  OAR supports Clinicalinfo.HIV.gov, which includes U.S. federally approved HIV/AIDS clinical practice guidelines. The guidelines are developed by panels of HIV experts and are used around the world as the global standard of care.