NOTABLE QUOTE

“Inaction will further erode hard-won progress. Bold, decisive leadership can protect it and move us forward as we rethink how the HIV response is financed, delivered and led.”

- International AIDS Society

from Annual Letter 2026: Rethinking the HIV response 

Dear D-CFAR Community,

Although you may not know my name, you have been reading my words in these newsletters since the center’s inception. And now, it is with a heavy heart that I must announce my imminent departure from my role as Midwest D-CFAR communications director. It has been an incredible journey, and I have cherished every moment spent contributing to our mission and connecting with such a dedicated and passionate community.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all of you for your support, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to our cause. Though I may no longer be part of the team, my belief in the vital work of D-CFAR remains steadfast, and I will always advocate for its success from afar. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this endeavor, and I wish you all continued success and breakthroughs in the important work that lies ahead.

For those who are interested, I would love to stay in touch. Connect with me on LinkedIn or over email. 

Thank you again,

April Houston, MPH, MSW

Drumroll please… We are excited to announce the awardees selected for the 2026 Investigator and Partner Pilot Awards. These awards aim to support emerging and established researchers who are expanding their focus to HIV-related studies. Meet the outstanding awardees and learn about their groundbreaking projects on our website.

Our grant-writing bootcamp for emerging HIV investigators offering rapid, expert feedback through one-on-one consultations. Open to WashU, SLU, HSSU, and Mizzou researchers (PI from WashU or SLU).

Submit your concept paper before February 25!

Midwest D-CFAR faculty will present exciting new work at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Denver, spanning global HIV treatment and prevention, care delivery and funding, aging and NeuroHIV, basic HIV biology, and data science approaches including AI.

Find the list here.

Midwest D-CFAR offers Pilot Plus and Just in Time (JIT) Enhancement Funds to help investigators expand pilot projects or quickly access ICTS core services. These rolling opportunities support WashU and SLU investigators in strengthening impact and advancing HIV-focused research.

Visit our website for details.

The Florida Department of Health has announced new eligibility limits to their AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), restricting direct HIV medication coverage to individuals at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. The International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC) has released a statement opposing these changes.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Beau Ances

This month’s special video spotlight features Beau Ances, MD, PhD, WashU neurologist and director of the Midwest D-CFAR Clinical Science Core, sharing his path into HIV care and what he’s looking forward to learning at CROI in Denver. Watch the interview on our website.

Sebla Kutluay offers a preview of her HIP talk

Our February HIV Works-in-Progress virtual seminar will feature presentations by Dr. Sebla Kutluay and Dr. Octavio Mesner. Are you curious about what will be discussed? Click for a sneak preview of Dr. Kutluay's talk!

(Details and registration link are below)

Insights from Elvin Geng's Substack

Lenacapavir could transform HIV prevention, but only with better implementation. Geng argues for targeted universalism—universal goals with tailored strategies—to reduce stigma and maximize impact. Read his perspective on Substack.

(all events listed in central time)

NIH Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council Meeting
11:30am-3:30pm | Virtual (Zoom)

HIV Works-in-Progress Seminar
2-3:15pm | Hybrid (St. Louis and Zoom)

Presentations:

Predicting HIV seroconversion in Black and Latino LGBTQ youth, Octavio Mesner, PhD

Luck favors the prepared mind - a lesson learned from a multifunctional HIV-1 enzyme, Sebla Kutluay, PhD

SWG Research Community Collaborative Monthly Meeting
12-1pm | Virtual (Zoom)

DISIRN Event: Implementation Science and the Public Health Ecosystem
9am-12:30pm | Hybrid (St. Louis and Zoom)

HIV Proposal Bootcamp
Hybrid (St. Louis and Zoom)

See full listing of events on midwestdcfar.org

NYC CFAR Symposium | February 9, 2026 | New York City, New York, USA
Abstracts are currently being accepted. Deadline: January 15.

Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) | February 22-25, 2026 | Denver, Colorado, USA 

AIDSWatch | March 16-18, 2026 | Washington, DC, USA

SYNC 2026 | March 18-20, 2026 | Washington, DC, USA

Consortium of Universities in Global Health Annual Conference | April 9-12 | Washington, DC, USA

International Workshop on Women & HIV | April 10-11 | Prague, Czech Republic (hybrid)

HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Health Science of Implementation Conference (VISTA) | June 1-3 | Cape Town, South Africa
Abstracts are currently being accepted. Deadline: March 6.

AIDS 2026 | July 26-31 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (hybrid)

Have news, events, or opportunities to share? Email admin@midwestdcfar.org to request it be included in a future issue of HIV HAPPENINGS!

Follow and engage with the Midwest D-CFAR on LinkedIn, X, and BlueSky