Co-Chairs' choice

Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn is an infectious disease physician and researcher with over 30 years of dedication to HIV prevention and care. She is the Head of the Fiocruz STI/AIDS Clinical Research Laboratory and the Fiotrials Prevention and Therapeutic Clinical Trials Unit, where she leads research focused on advancing the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV, STIs, and emerging infections. Under her leadership, the CTU is affiliated with major international networks. Dr. Grinsztejn has served in leadership roles in cutting-edge HIV prevention studies, including HPTN 052, HPTN 083, and implementation research of long-acting  injectable agents such as CAB-LA and LEN. She is also the current President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). With a strong foundation in public health and a commitment to social justice, her work focuses on addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for populations at higher vulnerability, including men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn is an infectious disease physician and researcher with over 30 years of dedication to HIV prevention and care. She is the Head of the Fiocruz STI/AIDS Clinical Research Laboratory and the Fiotrials Prevention and Therapeutic Clinical Trials Unit, where she leads research focused on advancing the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV, STIs, and emerging infections. Under her leadership, the CTU is affiliated with major international networks. Dr. Grinsztejn has served in leadership roles in cutting-edge HIV prevention studies, including HPTN 052, HPTN 083, and implementation research of long-acting  injectable agents such as CAB-LA and LEN. She is also the current President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). With a strong foundation in public health and a commitment to social justice, her work focuses on addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for populations at higher vulnerability, including men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Dr. Moiana Uetela is a physician and public health researcher with a Master’s in Health Sciences and a PhD in Implementation Science. She coordinates the research program on high-burden diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, at Mozambique’s National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Saúde). Her work focuses on strengthening health systems and evaluating public health programs to generate evidence that informs policy and improves population health.

Dr Jack Stone is an Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling at the University of Bristol. His research focuses on the use of mathematical modelling to help understand the transmission of different infectious diseases and the impact and cost-effectiveness of prevention measures. Specific expertise focuses on the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C amon g people who inject drugs and other key population groups. 

Dr. Adeodata R.  Kekitiinwa, an Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Clinical Research Site Leader at Baylor Foundation Uganda. With over 30 years of experience in pediatric medicine, particularly in HIV/AIDS research, she currently serves as Investigator of Record for MPAACT P1115 & 2028, Chief Investigator for the Breather Plus trial, and Principal Investigator for the NOD, D3, and LATA studies. Dr. Kekitiinwa has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous global awards recognizing her leadership in maternal, child health, and HIV research. Her current research interests include HIV CURE and ART strategies for children and adolescents.

Fiona is a clinical academic specialising in HIV and TB therapeutics in East and Southern Africa and is a post-doctoral researcher at MRC/UVRI-LSHTM Uganda Research Unit in Entebbe Uganda. Her research on long-acting therapuetics is supported through Wellcome. Fiona is Clinical Associate Professor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a practicing Physician specialising in HIV and Sexual Health at University Hospitals Sussex, UK. Fiona is the Chair of the British HIV Association Education and Scientific Committee and co-Chair of the African Workshop on Women and HIV. Fiona contributes to clinical guidelines on TB and HIV and she enjoys supervising PhD students in Uganda and UK. 

Dr. Mayer trained in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital and in Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. As the founding Medical Research Director of Fenway Health, he created a community health research program that has developed an international reputation for its capability to conduct community-based research, focusing on sexual and gender minority health and biobehavioral approaches to HIV and STI prevention. He is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a Professor in Global Health and Population at the Harvard TC Chan School of Public Health, and he is an Attending Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Starting in 1994, he has been a site Principal Investigator of NIH-funded clinical trials units, focusing on bio-behavioral HIV prevention research, and is a member of the scientific leadership of HPTN. He has co-authored more than 1000 peer-reviewed publications, co-authored the first text on AIDS for the general public and has co-edited 5 academic texts. He has served on the governing boards of amfAR, HIVMA and IAS, CDC/HRSA HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee, the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board, and is an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the International AIDS Society.

Dr. Beatriz Grinsztejn is an infectious disease physician and researcher with over 30 years of dedication to HIV prevention and care. She is the Head of the Fiocruz STI/AIDS Clinical Research Laboratory and the Fiotrials Prevention and Therapeutic Clinical Trials Unit, where she leads research focused on advancing the prevention, treatment, and care of HIV, STIs, and emerging infections. Under her leadership, the CTU is affiliated with major international networks. Dr. Grinsztejn has served in leadership roles in cutting-edge HIV prevention studies, including HPTN 052, HPTN 083, and implementation research of long-acting  injectable agents such as CAB-LA and LEN. She is also the current President of the International AIDS Society (IAS). With a strong foundation in public health and a commitment to social justice, her work focuses on addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for populations at higher vulnerability, including men who have sex with men and transgender people.

Dr. Mayer trained in Internal Medicine at Beth Israel Hospital and in Infectious Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. As the founding Medical Research Director of Fenway Health, he created a community health research program that has developed an international reputation for its capability to conduct community-based research, focusing on sexual and gender minority health and biobehavioral approaches to HIV and STI prevention. He is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a Professor in Global Health and Population at the Harvard TC Chan School of Public Health, and he is an Attending Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Starting in 1994, he has been a site Principal Investigator of NIH-funded clinical trials units, focusing on bio-behavioral HIV prevention research, and is a member of the scientific leadership of HPTN. He has co-authored more than 1000 peer-reviewed publications, co-authored the first text on AIDS for the general public and has co-edited 5 academic texts. He has served on the governing boards of amfAR, HIVMA and IAS, CDC/HRSA HIV/AIDS Advisory Committee, the PEPFAR Scientific Advisory Board, and is an Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the International AIDS Society.

Dr. Adeodata R.  Kekitiinwa, an Emeritus Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and Clinical Research Site Leader at Baylor Foundation Uganda. With over 30 years of experience in pediatric medicine, particularly in HIV/AIDS research, she currently serves as Investigator of Record for MPAACT P1115 & 2028, Chief Investigator for the Breather Plus trial, and Principal Investigator for the NOD, D3, and LATA studies. Dr. Kekitiinwa has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous global awards recognizing her leadership in maternal, child health, and HIV research. Her current research interests include HIV CURE and ART strategies for children and adolescents.

Dr Jack Stone is an Associate Professor in Infectious Disease Modelling at the University of Bristol. His research focuses on the use of mathematical modelling to help understand the transmission of different infectious diseases and the impact and cost-effectiveness of prevention measures. Specific expertise focuses on the transmission of HIV and hepatitis C amon g people who inject drugs and other key population groups. 

Dr. Moiana Uetela is a physician and public health researcher with a Master’s in Health Sciences and a PhD in Implementation Science. She coordinates the research program on high-burden diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, and diarrheal diseases, at Mozambique’s National Institute of Health (Instituto Nacional de Saúde). Her work focuses on strengthening health systems and evaluating public health programs to generate evidence that informs policy and improves population health.

Fiona is a clinical academic specialising in HIV and TB therapeutics in East and Southern Africa and is a post-doctoral researcher at MRC/UVRI-LSHTM Uganda Research Unit in Entebbe Uganda. Her research on long-acting therapuetics is supported through Wellcome. Fiona is Clinical Associate Professor at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a practicing Physician specialising in HIV and Sexual Health at University Hospitals Sussex, UK. Fiona is the Chair of the British HIV Association Education and Scientific Committee and co-Chair of the African Workshop on Women and HIV. Fiona contributes to clinical guidelines on TB and HIV and she enjoys supervising PhD students in Uganda and UK.