This content originally appeared on TargetHIV. View the full article here.

Summary:

The kick-off of a five-part webinar series in a HRSA aging and HIV initiative will be held May 13th.

The series is part of the HRSA Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part F SPNS Aging with HIV Initiative that supports and evaluates emerging interventions to comprehensively screen and manage comorbidities, geriatric conditions, behavioral health, and psychosocial needs of people with HIV aged 50 years and older.

SPNS Aging with HIV Initiative – Part F

The Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV (Aging with HIV Initiative) supports and evaluates groundbreaking interventions that seek to improve the well-being of people with HIV ages 50 and older served by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP).

Funded by HRSA’s RWHAP Part F: Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS), the interventions being tested at each Aging with HIV Initiative demonstration site employ the HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) implementation science framework to:

• Implement emerging strategies that comprehensively screen and manage comorbidities, geriatric conditions, behavioral health, and psychosocial needs of people 50 years and older with HIV.
• Assess the uptake and integration of emerging strategies.
• Understand implementation processes, including assessing specific implementation strategies.
• Understand and document broader contextual factors affecting implementation.
• Evaluate the impact of the emerging strategies.
• Document and disseminate the emerging strategies.

Learn more: https://targethiv.org/spns/aging

HRSA Aging and HIV Webinar Series

This session, “Enhancing Workforce Capacity for Care in HIV and Aging Populations,” is the first webinar in a five-part series, which will focus on enhancing workforce capacity in HIV and aging care. Experts from University of Chicago and Yale University will discuss effective strategies for training healthcare providers, addressing workforce gaps, and implementing best practices in HIV and aging care.

Learning objectives:

• Understand the essential workforce competencies for providing quality care to aging adults with HIV.
• Learn about successful training initiatives from demonstration sites.
• Explore strategies to bridge workforce gaps and sustain quality care services.

Healthcare professionals, community health workers, social workers, policymakers, educators & researchers in public health, gerontology, and social work, and others interested in aging and HIV care are strongly encouraged to attend the first webinar session.

Register for the May 13 webinar.

This content originally appeared on TargetHIV. View the full article here.

From CROI (Excerpts)

Dear Colleague:

The Abstract eBook, session recordings (webcasts), and additional materials from the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) are now publicly accessible at CROI 2025 Resources – CROIconference.org.

In the coming months, key research highlights from CROI 2025 will be featured through a variety of formats, including webinars, podcasts, CME-accredited in-person and on-demand courses, and journal articles in Topics in Antiviral Medicine™.

Below is an overview of the available CROI 2025 resources. Sign up for upcoming events and explore the content to deepen your understanding of the latest data and its clinical implications. Many of these resources are available at no cost.

Our Voices: Video Testimonials, Podcasts, and YouTube

In addition to showcasing more than 1000 presentations of the latest and most impactful research, CROI 2025 amplified many powerful voices in support of scientific progress. These special features are now available as podcasts and on YouTube. Watch, listen, and help spread the word—whether by sharing individual episodes or the full collection at Our Voices – CROIconference.org.

Going anti–Viral Podcasts

Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections produced by IAS–USA. Several current and upcoming episodes were recorded live from CROI.

CROI Review Articles for CME

Review articles will be published in Topics in Antiviral Medicine™, the journal of the International Antiviral Society–USA, this spring. See the CROI 2025 Review Articles page to access the articles ahead of the issue (as they become available).

CME Courses (On-Demand)

The IAS–USA CME courses from New York and Atlanta feature new data and exclusive highlights of important clinical updates from CROI. These are exciting opportunities to stay at the forefront of the latest information on HIV management. Visit On-Demand HIV Courses (2025) – IAS-USA.org

March 10, 2025 – Today, CHIPTS joins partners across the country in observing National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day when we reaffirm our commitment to addressing the barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment for women and girls. In honor of #NWGHAAD, CHIPTS CAB Co-Chair Natalie Sanchez shares a reflection of todays’ awareness day and highlights the Confessions: HIV Positive Women podcast. Learn more below.

UCLA Los Angeles Family AIDS Network is once again partnering with Christie’s Place in San Diego for a new season of Confessions: HIV Positive Women, launching on March 10 in recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD). This day serves as a crucial reminder of the impact of HIV on women and girls, while emphasizing the importance of education, prevention, and access to care.

In the U.S., nearly 23% of people living with HIV are women, with Black and Latina women disproportionately affected due to systemic barriers in healthcare, stigma, and lack of access to early testing and treatment. Young women, in particular, face challenges in receiving timely diagnoses and navigating the complexities of living with HIV. NWGHAAD sheds light on these disparities and encourages conversations that empower women and girls to prioritize their health and well-being.

This season of Confessions: HIV Positive Women will explore the deeply personal journeys of women at different life stages, each navigating the realities of living with HIV. Listeners will meet a young woman who was recently diagnosed at just 21 years old, a lifelong survivor who has lived with HIV since birth, and women who are now facing the unique challenges of aging with the condition. Their stories are a powerful testament to resilience, strength, and the evolving experiences of women living with HIV.

Marilynn Ramos, a participant from Season 1 and now a Peer Educator, reflects on her experience:

“Participating in the Confessions Mujeres VIH+ podcast has been a life-changing experience. I went from being a caterpillar, unsure of where to go or how to move forward, to transforming into a butterfly, free to embrace my story and share it with others. Telling my truth has been an act of liberation, and through it, I have found my voice. This podcast has not only healed me, but it has also given me the chance to offer other women a glimpse of hope they might need to keep going. It has changed my life, and I am honored to be part of something that can help change the lives of others.”

Through open and honest storytelling, Confessions: HIV Positive Women continues to break down stigma, amplify women’s voices, and foster a supportive community for those impacted by HIV. As we recognize NWGHAAD, let us reaffirm our commitment to raising awareness, advocating for equitable healthcare, and ensuring that all women and girls – regardless of their circumstances – have access to the resources and support they need to live full, healthy lives.

Links to Podcast:

Confessions

Confessions Podcast – Apple Podcasts

The 32nd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) is being held on March 9 -12, 2025, in San Francisco, California. Learn more about CROI 2025 and the exciting work of our CHIPTS scientists featured at the conference below.

 

What is CROI 2025?

CROI 2025 provides a forum for scientists and clinical investigators to present, discuss, and critique their investigations into the epidemiology and biology of human retroviruses and associated diseases. CROI is the preeminent HIV research meeting in the world and includes up to 4,000 HIV research and care leaders internationally. CROI has facilitated the presentation of important discoveries in the field, thereby accelerating progress in HIV and AIDS research.

 

CHIPTS at CROI 2025

Several CHIPTS scientists will be sharing exciting research findings and project updates at CROI 2025, contributing to the dissemination of crucial information that advances HIV prevention and treatment initiatives globally. We are delighted to highlight workshops, oral abstracts, and poster abstracts featuring the important work of our CHIPTS scientists.

 

Sunday, March 9, 2025

Raphael Landovitz (Moderator)

Workshop 01 – Scott M. Hammer Workshop for New Investigators and Trainees

Session Start: 8:30 AM (San Francisco Ballroom B)

 

Monday, March 10, 2025

Kara Chew

Poster Session H1 – HIV Resistance to bNAbs, Cabotegravir, GS 1720, and Other Agents

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

725 – Effect of SNG001, Inhaled IFN-β1a, on SARS-CoV-2 Diversity and Evolution

 

Raphael Landovitz

Poster Session K2 – Hypertension

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

820 – No Increased Risk for Hypertension With CAB-LA Compared to TDF/FTC for PrEP: Results From HPTN 084

 

Kara Chew

Poster Session-M1 – PASC: Natural History and Classification Systems

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

921 – Assessing the Burden of Long COVID in Persons With HIV Using the RECOVER Scoring System

 

Dvora L. Joseph Davey

Poster Session T1 – Still Here: Syphilis

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1249 – Risk Factors for Incomplete Treatment for Syphilis in Pregnant Oral PrEP Users in South Africa

 

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Kara Chew

Oral Abstract Session 06 – Immunology and Vaccines

Session Start: 10:00 AM (San Francisco Ballroom C)

142 – Profiling Therapeutic Vaccine-Driven HIV-Specific CD8 T Cells With Single-Cell TCR Sequencing Assays

 

Dvora L. Joseph Davey, Kathryn L. Dovel, and Thomas Coates

Oral Abstract Session 08 – New Frontiers in STI Prevention

Session Start: 10:00 AM (San Francisco Ballroom D)

166 – Impact of Urine TFV Testing on PrEP Adherence in South African Pregnant and Postpartum Women: An RCT

 

Kathryn L. Dovel

Poster Session Q01 – The HIV Care and Prevention Cascades: Novel Insights

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1086 – High Burden of Untreated HIV in Malawian Fishermen: Prospective Data From a Cluster Randomized Trial

 

Dvora L. Joseph Davey

Poster Session T4 – Global STI Epidemiology

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1265 – Diagnostic Screening and Treatment of Curable STIs in Pregnancy and Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes

 

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Steve Shoptaw

Oral Abstract Session 11 – Gaps and Solutions in the HIV Response

Session Start: 10:00 AM (San Francisco Ballroom A)

183 – Preliminary Efficacy for HPTN 094: 26-Week RCT of Integrated Strategies for People Who Inject Drugs

 

Kathryn L. Dovel and Thomas Coates

Oral Abstract Session 11 – Gaps and Solutions in the HIV Response

Session Start: 10:00 AM (San Francisco Ballroom A)

185 – Low-Cost Counseling Achieves Positive Outcomes for Malawi Men Disengaged From Care: Randomized Trial

 

Raphael J. Landovitz

Oral Abstract Session 12 – Expanding the Prevention Toolbox

Session Start: 10:00 AM (San Francisco Ballroom D)

192 – ImPrEP CAB Brasil: Enhancing PrEP Coverage With CAB-LA in Young Key Populations

193 – Estimation of Prevention-Effective CAB-LA Concentrations Among MSM/TGW in HPTN 083

197 – Response to HIV Treatment After Long-Acting Cabotegravir Preexposure Prophylaxis in HPTN 083

 

Raphael J. Landovitz

Poster Session F3 – Pharmacokinetics in the Real World: Long-Acting Drugs, Alternative Matrices, and Adherence

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

653 – TFV-DP Is Associated With Baseline Virologic Suppression in PWH on TAF: Results From ACTG A5359

 

Raphael J. Landovitz

Poster Session G3 – ART in Vulnerable and Treatment – Experienced Populations

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

692 – A5359: Decreasing Oral Induction Duration in Support of LAI ART Use With Hardly Reached Populations

 

Kara Chew

Poster Session G5 – Antiviral Therapy for SARS-CoV-2

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

713 – SARS-CoV-2 Ensitrelvir Resistance-Associated Mutations in Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial

 

Dvora L. Joseph Davey and Kathryn L. Dovel

Poster Session O5 – HIV Acquisition and Prevention During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1009 – PrEP Adherence and Acceptability of Urine Tenofovir Testing in Pregnant and Postpartum Women

 

Steve Shoptaw and Pamina M. Gorbach

Poster Session Q10 – HIV and Substance Use

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1145 – Unstable Housing, Methamphetamine Use, and HIV Incidence Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Men

1146 – Substance Use Is Associated With Higher HIV Viral Load and Reduced Viral Suppression in 6 US Cohorts

 

Raphael J. Landovitz

Poster Session R3 – Challenging and Innovative HIV Testing

Session Start: 2:30 PM (Poster Hall)

1193 – Use of DNA Profiling to Resolve Discrepant HIV Tests in the Setting of Injectable Cabotegravir PrEP

The 2025 CHIPTS HIV Next Generation Conference welcomed over 150 attendees from academic institutions, community-based organizations, health care institutions, and other organizations working to end the HIV epidemic at the California Endowment on Friday, January 31, 2025. The conference included engaging oral and poster presentations, lively discussions, and networking opportunities to support the next generation of HIV researchers and service providers.

CHIPTS Development Core Co-Director Dallas Swendeman, PhD, facilitated this year’s conference and provided a warm welcome to participants. CHIPTS Director Steve Shoptaw, PhD, followed with opening remarks setting the tone for an exciting conference. He echoed the conference’s goals with a powerful statement: “Today is to talk about science and solutions that helps our communities, and to use this conference as a way to link and work together.”

Jerry John Ouner, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, University of California San Francisco, offered an engaging and insightful opening plenary exploring how water insecurity and extreme weather events such as droughts, precipitation anomalies, and floods may influence HIV treatment. He highlighted how these factors could affect ART adherence, viral load suppression, and the prevalence of opportunistic infections among people living with HIV.

Throughout the day, there were four sets of oral presentations with panel discussions. The first panel was moderated by CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Affiliate Michael Li, PhD, and centered on projects aimed at improving treatment adherence and viral suppression. The second set of oral presentations moderated by CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Scientist Laura Bogart, PhD, focused on linkage and retention among people living with HIV. CHIPTS Methods Core Director Sung-Jae Lee, PhD, moderated the third panel on HIV testing, prevention, and PrEP. The fourth panel moderated by CHIPTS Policy Impact Core Co-Director Ayako Miyashita Ochoa, JD, led a discussion on the impact of local California policies and ballots on communities affected by HIV. The conference further featured a fantastic group of poster presentations highlighting innovative research and evaluation projects to support efforts to end the HIV epidemic.

The projects, The Intersection of Place and Health: Neighborhood and Socio-Economic Determinants of Viral Suppression (oral) and Black Feminist Strategies in HIV and Mental Health Care: A Literature Review (poster) won attendee votes for favorite oral and poster presentations respectively. To close the conference, CHIPTS Development Core Director Norweeta Milburn, PhD, congratulated this year’s outstanding presenters and encouraged participants to continue their commitment to new ideas and collaborations as we work together to end the HIV epidemic.

A complete list of oral presentations with descriptions, PowerPoint slides, and photo highlights from the conference are provided below.

Check out our photo gallery of the conference on our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/pvcp7hbz

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Opening Plenary:

Jerry John Ouner, PhD, RN, FAAN, Associate Professor, University of California San Francisco

Presentation Title: Impact Of Water Insecurity and Extreme Weather Events on HIV Treatment Outcome

Presentation Summary: The presentation will focus on the influence of water insecurity and extreme weather events such as droughts, precipitation anomalies, and flood on HIV treatment. Dr. Ouner will highlight how water insecurity and extreme weather events affect adherence to antiretroviral therapy, viral load suppression and occurrences of opportunistic infection among people living with HIV.

 

Oral Panel 1 – Adherence and Viral Suppression:

1. Brendon Chau, MS

Presentation Title: Shifting from in-person to expanded telehealth delivery of medical care coordination for people with HIV: Impact on viral suppression

Presentation Summary: We model longitudinal trends in viral suppression before and after the transition to telehealth services during COVID-19 pandemic. The expected probability of viral suppression was not negatively impacted by tele-health adoption.

2. Stephen D. Ramos, PhD

Presentation Title: Adherence Self-Efficacy as a Conditional Mediator Between Internalized Heterosexism and Antiretroviral Medication Adherence: The Role of Hazardous Alcohol Use in Young Black Sexual Minority Men with HIV (YBSMM+) 

Presentation Summary: We found that internalized heterosexism is indirectly associated with self-reported ART adherence, via adherence self-efficacy. This mediating effect is strongest among participants who showed hazardous alcohol use. This underscores a contextualized understanding of these associations among a sample of young Black sexual minority men with HIV.

3. Roxana Rezai, PhD

Presentation Title: The Intersection of Place and Health: Neighborhood and Socio-Economic Determinants of Viral Suppression

Presentation Summary: Despite the availability of resources such as Ryan White-funded clinics that offer free access to HIV healthcare, significant disparities in viral suppression rates exist. This study examines the association between neighborhood characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and viral suppression among people living with HIV in neighborhoods served by Ryan White-funded clinics in Southern California.

 

Oral Panel 2 – Linkage and Retention Among People Living with HIV:

1. Hollie David, MPH

Presentation Title: Evaluating Linkages to Care among UCLA Patients with Detectable HIV Viremia

Presentation Summary: This study examines barriers to engagement in the HIV care continuum, focusing on patients at UCLA Health with detectable viral loads. By analyzing patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and care engagement, the study identifies factors like frequent visits and adherence to ART as key to achieving virologic suppression. Results suggest that increased healthcare interactions and timely follow-ups are crucial for improving engagement and retention in care, emphasizing the need for continued outreach and support for individuals living with HIV.

2. Wanjiku Dyer, MD Candidate and Czarina Kate Igama, MSc

Presentation Title: Reviewing Retention Rates & Medication Adherence Differences Between Differentiated Service Delivery Model and the RiseUP! Enhanced Differentiated Service Delivery (EDSD) Model for HIV Care & Treatment in Sub Saharan Africa

Presentation Summary: This presentation compares traditional Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) models with the RiseUP! Enhanced Differentiated Service Delivery (EDSD) model for HIV care and treatment among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyze retention rates and medication adherence across various countries, highlighting the effectiveness of the RiseUP! model’s holistic, youth-friendly approach. The study emphasizes the importance of tailored, community-based interventions in improving HIV care outcomes for vulnerable populations.

3. Ariana Waters, BS

Presentation Title: Analyzing Complex Pathways Between Resilience, Health, and Well-Being in Kenyan Youth Aged 15-24 Living with HIV in Informal Settlements

Presentation Summary: We conducted a cross-sectional survey to examine various pathways of resilience among HIV-positive youth living within informal settlements outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Relationships between variables were modelled and evaluated using linear regression analysis and structural equational modelling. We identified unique pathways linking social support, adverse childhood experiences, and HIV stigma to general health and resilience. These results may provide valuable insights for developing targeted intervention strategies to improve treatment adherence and HIV management in this population.

 

Oral Panel 3 – Testing, Prevention, and PrEP:

1. Katherine Lewis, MPH

Presentation Title: Violence and Coercion among Sex Workers in India: Gender Differences and PrEP Implications

Presentation Summary: We examined the relationship between violence/coercion and PrEP acceptability among cisgender female sex workers and transgender sex workers in urban West Bengal, India. We found very high rates of violence and coercion among participants, particularly among transgender sex workers. We also found that the relationship between coercion/violence and PrEP willingness was conditional on gender.

2. Dillon Trujillo, MPH

Presentation Title: Identifying Preferences for a Conditional Cash Transfer to Increase PrEP Use among MSM of Color in Los Angeles County

Presentation Summary: This study examines how to optimize a conditional cash transfer (CCT) intervention to increase PrEP use among Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM) in Los Angeles County. Findings from a discrete choice experiment reveal preferences for larger cash payments provided more frequently, with some variation in PrEP modality. These results highlight the potential of tailored CCT designs to improve PrEP uptake and advance national efforts to reduce new HIV transmissions among key populations.

3. Brian Valencia, MPH

Presentation Title: Community Health Ambassador Program (CHAP): Evaluating the Success of a CDR SNS Strategy in LAC

Presentation Summary: In Los Angeles County (LAC), we implemented a cluster detection and response (CDR) social network strategy (SNS) among HIV molecular clusters with the goal of addressing service gaps and bringing individuals into HIV prevention and care, preventing further HIV transmission. SNSs have strong evidence of effectively reaching populations who may not otherwise test. The Community Health Ambassador Program (CHAP) used this strategy to distribute HIV self-test kits among the social, sexual, and behavioral networks of communities who may be at increased risk for HIV.

 

Oral Panel 4 – Impact of Policy on Research:

1. Nina T. Harawa, PhD, MPH and Charles Vignola, MPA and Michael Li, PhD

Presentation Title: Potential Implications of Key 2024 California Ballot Measures

Presentation Summary: Panel will discuss the potential impact of California ballot propositions that passed and did not pass on the well-being of individuals and communities that are affected by HIV, with a focus on those related to the criminal legal system.

This content originally appeared on NIH OAR. View the full article here.

View the recording on YouTube.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) symposium “Emerging Topics in HIV and Aging Research: Early Career Investigator Spotlight,” was held on October 24, 2024 during the International Workshop on Aging & HIV in Washington, D.C. Organized by the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) and the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), the event highlighted the critical intersection of HIV and aging research, emphasizing the need for innovative, multidisciplinary approaches to improve health outcomes and quality of life for people living with HIV. Sustaining these efforts depends on ongoing mentoring and career development to support the next generation of investigators.

NIH representatives David Chang, Ph.D., OAR Senior Science Advisor, and Vasudev Rao, M.B.B.S. NIMH Program Director, underscored the importance of supporting early career investigators (ECIs) in this field. Dr. Chang highlighted the low percentage of NIH R01 awards to early-stage investigators (ESIs)¹ in HIV research, stressing the need for increased support and mentorship. Dr. Rao discussed NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR) initiatives for basic science and target discovery research approaches, with a focus on social and mental health challenges, epigenetics, comorbid conditions, implementation science, and integrated care models for lifetime and long-term survivors with HIV.

The symposium featured presentations from four ECIs:

• Moka Yoo-Jeong, Ph.D., NP-C, RN, OCN, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University, explored the impact of loneliness on older people with HIV, distinguishing between emotional and social loneliness and their effects on mental health.
• Kalen J. Petersen, Ph.D., Post-doctoral fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, investigated the relationship between brain aging and cognitive function, as well as epigenetic changes—i.e., changes in gene function without changing the DNA sequence—in virally suppressed individuals with HIV, revealing accelerated epigenetic aging linked to cognitive impairment.
• Jun Yeong Byun, Ph.D., M.S.N., Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, examined the mental health and quality of life in older adults with both HIV and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), highlighting the importance of resilience and social support.
• Abigail Baim-Lance, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Veterans Health Administration) presented innovative care models integrating geriatric, nursing, and community health worker support to improve outcomes for older adults with HIV.

The symposium highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing the multifaceted needs of people aging with HIV.  Presenters shared insights on the challenges faced by older people, including loneliness, accelerated biological aging, and mental health issues linked to comorbidities, such as COPD. Discussions emphasized bridging the gap between research and practical healthcare solutions, with a particular focus on community-based support and the potential of biological models in predicting health outcomes.

The symposium also stressed the need for continued mentorship, expanded NIH resources for ECIs, and platforms to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among investigators of all career stages in HIV and aging research. The event demonstrated NIH’s commitment to supporting ECIs and fostering innovation, which will be crucial for addressing the complex health needs of people aging with HIV.

Learn more about NIH research priorities related to HIV and aging, links to clinical materials, funding information, and additional resources on the OAR HIV and Aging page.

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This content originally appeared on NIH.Gov. View the full article here.

Summary: The White House Office of National AIDS Policy has published the 2024 National HIV/AIDS Strategy Progress Report, providing highlights of recent federal efforts to implement the Strategy, the latest data on the Strategy’s indicators of progress, and reflections on areas that require further attention and effort in order to achieve national HIV goals.

Today, the White House released the 2024 National HIV/AIDS Strategy Progress Report (PDF, 479KB).

Through the collaborative efforts of many federal agencies as well as the steadfast work of partners at the community, state, and tribal levels, the United States continues to make important though incremental progress in ending HIV transmission and improving health outcomes and quality of life for people with HIV.

Released days after we observed the third anniversary of the current Strategy on World AIDS Day, this report provides an update to the nation on our progress and encourages our shared work to sustain and accelerate that progress to achieve our goals. The report provides the latest data on the NHAS indicators of progress as well as high-level updates on more than 50 key actions taken by federal partners to move the nation closer to reaching the Strategy’s four goals. It also highlights contributions toward that progress as a result of implementing the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, deploying resources from the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, and enhancing efforts focused on improving quality of life among people with HIV. Finally, the progress report also highlights areas that require our further attention and effort to achieve the Strategy’s goals.

I am grateful for the efforts of federal staff across multiple departments and agencies whose dedication has contributed to the progress we have achieved. Of course, our national accomplishments could not have been realized without the essential contributions of people with and experiencing risk for HIV, community members, health care providers, researchers, public health professionals, advocates, policy makers, businesses, funders, and others. The innovation and commitment of these nonfederal partners continue to be vital in propelling our local, state, tribal, and national responses to HIV.

It is my hope that this report not only illuminates the encouraging trajectory of our collective efforts but also inspires continued efforts to accelerate our progress toward our national HIV goals. Together, let’s celebrate the unwavering determination and vital contributions of those who have driven this progress and renew our commitment to achieving our goal of ending the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere.

Access the 2024 National HIV/AIDS Strategy Progress Report (PDF, 479KB) on HIV.gov. Share the 2024 National HIV/AIDS Strategy Progress Report At-a-Glance (PDF, 195 KB).

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In observance of World AIDS Day 2024, Center Director Dr. Steve Shoptaw shares a heartfelt message and a poignant poem to honor the lives lost to HIV/AIDS. Dr. Shoptaw also highlights the continued fight for justice and improved health outcomes for those impacted by the HIV epidemic. Read more below.

It’s World AIDS Day and as in the past, I stop to put pen to paper. My mind reels when I remember that before antiretroviral therapies, there was a 72% overall mortality rate for people living with AIDS in Los Angeles County (Los Angeles Times, August 10, 1992). The overall mortality rate for people with COVID-19 never exceeded 2% – even in the early days. This duality is my reality as I listen to people argue, with passion, against treatments for and vaccines against infectious diseases.

My sister-in-law died of COVID-19. My professor died of AIDS. In the passion of the arguments against medications and vaccines that treat and prevent, the flesh and blood persons who have died gets lost. Their names forgotten.

A family member forwarded a poem to me with just one word: “WOW.” I read it all in one mental breath. It was a balm to my spirit and to my brain, renewing my resolve to continue to act. It is a privilege to share this poem with you.

As we observe World AIDS Day on December 1st, we encourage you to reflect on this invoking poem, “We Speak Your Name” by The Black AIDS Institute, written by Clarence R. Williams.

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We Speak Your Name
Clarence R. Williams and The Black AIDS Institute

We Speak Your Name

For Those who suffered in the quiet darkness Covered in Shame Not knowing what had possessed their Black Bodies A Cancer? Pneumonia? A Virus? No Name No Treatment No Chance

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who refused the first Drug of Choice AZT Opting for a Homeopathic way And lived in Faith

We Speak Your Name

For The Women at The Well Who held the hands Gave the hugs Served the healing soup And heard the last words

We Speak Your Name

For those Who penetrated the Clubs Bathhouses, Parks, Bars, Balls and Crackhouses

Sharing condoms, prevention information Clean needles and Options

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who Would Not Stand Down Joining allies to disrupt, protest Insisting on resources

for an Invisible Community

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who Made A Way Out Of No Way Rising Up Organizations to Educate, inform Lobby

and Save Black Lives

We Speak Your Name

For Those Public Figures Who lent their Celebrity Railing against the Status Quo Advocating and demanding more from our Government

We Speak Your Name

For The Mothers In the Name of Love Who buried the rejected and abandoned Sons Of some other Mother

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who served the Usher board Choir, Deaconhood Tithing beyond 10% But could Not be Eulogized in their home Church

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who left wounded from Prophetic spaces To build Liberation Ministries of inclusiveness Driven by God’s Love and Affirmation

We Speak Your Name

For the Church Sisters Who proclaimed “There is A Balm in Gilead” Demanding there be a Health Ministry An AIDS Ministry in the church To Dispense strong medicine

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who refused to be Tested Battered by Stigma Living Freely… Reckless… Cloaked in Fear and Denial

We Speak Your Name

For Those Consumed of their Youth Getting tested and Never returning For Treatment

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who Danced about it Sang about it Painted it…Photographed it Filmed it and wrote about HIV-AIDS Without Apology

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who graduated from AZT To 30 pills…to 14 pills…to 4…to 2…to 1 And now an occasional injection Partnering with Prep and Pep And live to talk about it

We Speak Your Name

For Those Who continue to Fight Shining a Light on reality That Black Bodies represent The largest account of new infections In this current Season

We Speak Your Name

For Those With War torn Clothes Tattered with badges of Trauma And unexpressed Grief Walking Boldly towards a new Dawn of Hope Hoping for a Cure A vaccination A World without HIV-AIDS

We Speak Your Name

Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, cousins, Teachers, preachers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, Clerks, salesmen, janitors, flight attendants, union leaders, Military officers, counselors, scientists, accountants, Mechanics, designers, engineers, rappers, Actors, singers, publicists, stylists, news anchors … The Countless, Faceless Black Bodies who lost their fight.

We Speak Your Name

We Speak Your Name

We Speak Your Name

(c) BAI Exclusive, Written by Clarence R Williams

CHIPTS continues to use our website and social media accounts to disseminate the latest developments in HIV research, enriching learning opportunities, Center news, and more. As we near the end of the year, CHIPTS has taken the opportunity to reflect on the content we shared that sparked the most engagement from our community. We invite you to check out some of our most popular content from 2024 as we prepare to continue our collective work to end the HIV epidemic in 2025. From all of us at CHIPTS, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and a joyous new year!

WEBSITE

In 2024, the CHIPTS website featured nearly 40 blog posts on the latest Center news as well as local, state, and national news from our research and public health partners. Our most popular blog topics included:

• CHIPTS at AIDS 2024 (Read here)
• Spotlight on CHIPTS Policy Impact Core (Read here)
• CHIPTS Director Steve Shoptaw Awarded the UCLA Public Impact Research Award (Read here)
• Statewide Skill-Building Symposium: Addressing Mental Health among Older Adults with HIV Recap (Read here)
• 2024 National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (Read here)

The resource library housed on the CHIPTS website includes a wide range of downloadable materials to support HIV researchers and community partners, from assessment tools to research project reports to policy briefs. Check out our most popular downloads of 2024 below:

• 2025 CHIPTS Mentored Pilot Grant – Call for Applications (Download here)
• Adaptation of the Mobile PrEP Implementation Strategy for Equitable Scale-Out (AMP-IT-OUT) (Download here)
• Uplifting the Voices of Black and Latino/a MSM and Transgender Women – Slides (Download here)
• A Two Decade Journey with People who Inject Drugs: Lessons from Back to the Future – Slides (Download here)
• 2024 National EHE Meeting Summary Report (PDF) (Download here)

SOCIAL MEDIA

CHIPTS continues to have an active presence across our social media platforms. In 2024, we shared relevant content with local, national, and global partners. Here is some of our most popular content posted on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube in 2024:

Twitter:  

• Today is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to reaffirm our commitment to ending the disproportionate impact of HIV on #gay and #bisexual men in the USA. In honor of #NGMHAAD, we are excited to share relevant research from our faculty. Read: https://chipts.ucla.edu/news/2024-national-gay-mens-hiv-aids-awareness-day/ (View here)
• Join in-person at the UCLA NRB Auditorium on September 5th at 11:30 AM PT! CHIPTS’ very own Drs. Raphael Landovitz, Dilara Üsküp, and Ron Brooks are among the featured presenters for this exciting learning opportunity. Register here: https://cognitoforms.com/UCLA2/CTSITranslationalScienceSeminarFall2024UCLA (View here)
• Check out the #LAI PrEP community workshop that featured a panel presentation from staff at the Division of HIV and STD Programs on current and future plans to expand #PrEP use in Los Angeles County. Watch here: https://youtu.be/apMaWe2qqOE (View here)
• Check out the recently published UCLA Rapid, Rigorous, Relevant Implementation Science Hub webpage on our @CHIPTS website. Learn more about our UCLA 3R IS Hub activities, events, and #impsci resources: https://chipts.ucla.edu/training/ucla-implementation-science-hub/#1698954723018-8bf35e45-9d26 (View here)
• Join us for the FINAL #LAI PrEP community workshop part of the Equitable Injectable #PrEP in LA County Initiative entitled “Expanding PrEP use in Los Angeles County: 2024 and Beyond,” on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 10:00 AM PT via Zoom. Register here: https://uclahs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a6vqIyThRb6RvehS34bSow#/registration (View here)

 

Facebook:

• CHIPTS very own Dr. Gabriel Edwards shared results from his mentored pilot grant, a #qualitative implementation study that looked at the role of a smartphone app as a component of a three part intervention that also included peer mentors and contingency management. (View here)
• Check out this #UCLACTSI and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA seminar on November 6, 2024, at 12:00 PM PT. Our very own Center Director, Dr. Steve Shoptaw will present on “Leveraging Research to Shift Practice, Practitioners, and Community.” Register here: https://uclahs.fyi/ctsi-seminar (View here)
• Check out our latest global health lecture featuring Dr. Dvora Davey that focused on research to address equitable delivery of #HIV and #STI interventions, in pregnant and lactating people, in South Africa. Watch here: https://youtu.be/yiD9Hz8aKw0 (View here)
• Our updated “Recordings” page is now available on our website, watch our most exciting and impactful lectures, workshops, trainings, and discussions relevant to #HIV. Visit the page here for our complete playlists with a brief description: https://chipts.ucla.edu/recordings/ (View here)
• Join us for an upcoming #impsci Beachside Chat on September 11, 2024, at 9AM PT! Hosted by Dr. Alison Hamilton, this Chat will feature an engaging discussion with expert panelists on exemplars of equity-grounded implementation science. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/56hwkju6 (View here)

YouTube:

• Expanding PrEP use in Los Angeles County: 2024 and Beyond (Watch here)
• In Case You Missed It: Key highlights from the 25th International AIDS Conference (Watch here)
• Saturation in Qualitative Methods: Considerations for Implementation Research (Watch here)
• Beachside Chat: Qualitative Research in Implementation Science: Reflections on the Last 5 Years (Watch here)
• Prioritizing Global Health Equity in Research: Lessons from South Africa (Watch here)

We look forward to bringing more relevant, engaging content to the CHIPTS community in 2025.

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This content originally appeared on CDC Newsroom. View the full article here.

The number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains high in the United States, with more than 2.4 million reported in 2023. However, the latest data from CDC show signs the epidemic could be slowing. In 2023:

• Gonorrhea cases dropped for a second year—declining 7% from 2022 and falling below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels (2019).
• Overall, syphilis cases increased by 1% after years of double-digit increases.
  • Primary and secondary syphilis cases, the most infectious stages of syphilis, fell 10%—the first substantial decline in more than two decades. These cases also dropped 13% among gay and bisexual men for the first time since CDC began reporting national trends among this population in the mid-2000s.
  • Increases in newborn syphilis (known as congenital syphilis) cases appear to be slowing in some areas—with a 3% increase over 2022 nationally, compared to 30% annual increases in prior years.

“I see a glimmer of hope amidst millions of STIs,” says Jonathan Mermin, M.D., M.P.H., Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. “After nearly two decades of STI increases, the tide is turning. We must make the most of this moment—let’s further this momentum with creative innovation and further investment in STI prevention.”

Inequities Persist

While the STI epidemic touches nearly every community, some geographic areas and populations are affected more severely, including American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino people, as well as gay and bisexual men. These health equity differences are due in part to deeply entrenched factors that create obstacles to quality health services, such as poverty, lack of health insurance, less access to health care, and stigma. Several federal efforts are underway to address these disparities. Action at the community level is also key to meaningful progress.

The new data follow important developments and innovations in STI prevention, such as CDC’s guidelines for doxy PEP to prevent bacterial STIs; newly Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized self-tests (or at-home tests) for syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia; and a nationally coordinated response to the U.S. syphilis epidemic spearheaded by the National Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Syndemic Task Force.

However, more efforts are needed to turn around the STI epidemic in this country, including:

• Prioritizing the STI epidemic at federal, state, and local levels.
• Developing new prevention, testing, and treatment solutions for more populations – including expanding the reach of doxy PEP among groups for whom it is recommended, and conducting more research to determine if it can benefit other groups.
• Investing in robust public health systems and trained workforces with capacity to provide STI services.
• Delivering STI testing and treatment in additional outreach settings, like emergency departments.
• Making STI services more accessible in local communities

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