2026 Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit
April 8 - 10, 2026 | Chicago, Illinois
Murph Fuentes
The Biomedical HIV Prevention Summit made one thing unmistakably clear this year: ending the HIV epidemic requires more than biomedical tools—it demands a syndemic approach that confronts the overlapping social, structural, and political forces shaping people’s health.
Throughout the summit, conversations centered on how HIV does not exist in isolation. Issues like housing instability, stigma, aging, racism, transphobia, and access to culturally competent care are deeply intertwined with prevention and treatment outcomes. A syndemic lens pushes the field to move beyond siloed solutions and instead design strategies that reflect the full complexity of people’s lives. It’s not just about what works scientifically, it’s about who can actually access it, how, and under what conditions.
That urgency was underscored by a shared awareness in the room: the current political climate is actively threatening progress. Attendees spoke candidly about the erosion of HIV funding, the rollback of essential services, and the chilling effects of political interference on public health, especially for marginalized communities. The call to action was clear: we cannot separate science from advocacy.
Powerful remarks from Delia Ramirez, the first Latina elected to Congress in Illinois and the Midwest, grounded the moment in both history and responsibility. Alongside her, Harold Phillips, newly appointed CEO of National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC), reinforced the importance of community leadership in navigating this critical juncture.
We Demand More!
Sessions throughout the summit brought the syndemic framework to life. Russell Campbell and Dr. Kenric Ware highlighted gaps and opportunities in aging populations through presentations like Older Adults Deserve a Shot: Long-Acting HIV Injectables for Aging Populations, DoxyPEP Discrimination: A Newer STI Prevention Escaping Older Adults, and Cultural Communicators: Spanish-Speaking Pharmacy Students as Content and Communal Liaisons. Their work emphasized that innovation must reach those too often left out of the conversation.
In Reality Check: Renewing Our Commitment to Community Health in the Era of Political Interference, Brian Minalga, along with Reyna Matoaka Ortiz and Greg Millett, reflected on their lived experiences advocating for the integrity of HIV research and programs against a strong current of political ideology. Core to their workshop was a reminder that defending the truth and protecting trans lives are inseparable from ending the epidemic.
Across every session, one theme remained constant: PrEP access and delivery are crucial. Breakthroughs in prevention, especially long-acting options, mean little if they are inaccessible due to cost, stigma, provider bias, or policy barriers. A syndemic approach demands we fix those delivery systems with the same urgency as we develop new interventions.
Gabriella Olague with Russell Campbell and Dr. Kenric Ware.
Jim Pickett with Brian Minalga and Reyna Matoaka Ortiz.
"And in the midst of it all, there was joy."
Murph Fuentes, HANC Project Manager
And in the midst of it all, there was joy. Gabriella Olague and Murph Fuentes were everywhere: capturing, amplifying, and soaking in the brilliance of the summit. Even drag star Shea Couleé brought their signature energy to the space, a reminder that culture, visibility, and celebration are vital parts of this movement too.
The takeaway from BHPS is clear: to end HIV, we must meet people where they are: with care that is integrated, affirming, and fiercely protected. Science alone won’t end the epidemic. But science, paired with equity, access, and community power, just might.
Team HANC SHINES (L to R): Murph Fuentes, Brian Minalga, Gabriella Olague, and Russell Campbell.
RuPaul's Drag Race All Star Shea Couleé brings the SPARKLE to HIV prevention.