HANC Goes to Peru for HIV R4P
October 6 - 10, 2024 | Lima, Peru
The colors, the flavors, the science, the people! HIV R4P in Lima, Peru was an affair to remember. It was the first HIV R4P for Brian Minalga, who represented HANC at the conference. Brian had the opportunity to present during a training for the IAS Journalist Fellows on Day 1 of the conference—the fellows were very interested in responsible reporting on issues faced by sexual and gender minorities. Later in the conference, Brian supported Dr. Carl Dieffenbach in AVAC's Advocates Corner, where folks engaged in dialogue about the future of HIV research. Brian also hung out with HANC collaborator, Dr. Lance Okeke, who was presenting a poster in collaboration with HANC on engaging with HBCUs.
Brian's big day came on the last day of the conference, where they presented the Trans Inclusion Scorecard on a panel titled, "Policy and Legal Barriers to HIV Services." This presentation was particularly dynamic; Brian was updating the presentation in real time at R4P as new data came in from the Impower-24 and PURPOSE 2 studies, which increased trans and gender-diverse representation in milestone HIV studies from 0.96% to 1.4%! Colleagues and friends at AVAC were there in full support, quoting Brian in their own reporting on the conference. AVAC had quite a presence of their own, including launching The People's Research Agenda, which calls for more meaningful community involvement in the future of HIV prevention research.
When they weren't on stage or at a mic, Brian was found soaking up the science of long-acting HIV prevention drugs, bnAbs (so many bnAbs!!), the continued relevance of HIV vaccine research, choice in prevention, and HIV molecular epidemiology—including a focus on the SESAME Study, of which Brian is a member of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
Outside of the conference, Brian found some time to enjoy oodles of ceviche (more leche de tigre, por favor!), seafood rice, several thousand varieties of potatoes (mmm, causa!), and the best chocolate. As it was said in the conference closing plenary, we left with full minds, full hearts, and full stomachs.
“Trans people are giving our blood, our bodies, our time, and we need to make sure that findings from clinical trials-the right to science-right to benefit from science comes back to us when we participate."
Brian Minalga, HANC Deputy Director
Compelling Science at HIV R4P 2024









Brian Minalga and Friends at HIV R4P 2024

Pyramid Huaca Pucllana, an ancient temple near the conference venue.

Brian reunites with Lisa Rossi from the Microbicide Trials Network.

Friends enjoy bebidas!

Llamas!

We love the idea of a PrEP playlist! We yearn to see the day when there’s a form of PrEP for every occasion.
