Prizes and awards

AIDS 2026 Implementation Science Research Prize in HIV Prevention

Three USD 3,000 prizes will honour the highest‑scoring abstracts on HIV prevention service delivery at AIDS 2026. The three prizes will spotlight outstanding implementation science advancing global HIV prevention. Eligible candidates are presenting authors whose abstracts are accepted for oral or poster presentation and whose HIV prevention implementation science research demonstrates innovation, originality, sound rationale and quality.

Barbara Lee Political Leadership Award

The Barbara Lee Political Leadership Award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of elected officials who have demonstrated significant political leadership and commitment to the HIV response.

CIPHER Research Grant Programme

The CIPHER Research Grant Programme provides a unique opportunity for early-stage investigators to address critical research gaps in paediatric and adolescent HIV settings where HIV resources are limited by providing funding and unique opportunities for professional development. The intention is to promote evidence-based HIV policies and programmes in these settings. The grants are for up to USD 140,000 for two years. The Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CIPHER) is an initiative of the IAS, and it is made possible through support from CIPHER Founding Sponsor ViiV Healthcare.

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Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award

The Elizabeth Taylor Human Rights Award recognizes the efforts of individuals who have achieved major breakthroughs or shown exceptional courage in their efforts to advocate for human rights in the field of HIV. The award is supported by the IAS, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). 

IAS President’s Award

The IAS President’s Award aims to recognize the achievements of an individual who demonstrates a history of leadership and excellence as a pioneer or advocate at the forefront of the response to HIV and AIDS. The award highlights an individual’s contribution that results in increased knowledge, skills, creative solutions or evidence-based policies and programmes to enhance the global response to HIV.

IAS/ANRS Lange/van Tongeren Prizes for Young Investigators

The six USD 2,000 IAS/ANRS Lange/van Tongeren Prizes for Young Investigators are jointly funded by the IAS and the National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) (France) to support young researchers who demonstrate innovation, originality, rationale and quality in the field of HIV research. In 2015, the Young Investigator Prize was permanently renamed in memory of Joep Lange and Jacqueline van Tongeren.

JIAS Impact Awards

The Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS) Impact Awards acknowledge high-impact publications from the previous year, as determined by the journal’s Editors, Board members and Deputy Editors. Selections are made based on a combination of public health importance, full-text views and citations. Three Impact Awards will be announced at AIDS 2026. They will go to the manuscript’s first authors and will cover the registration fee for a future conference (IAS 2027 or AIDS 2028). The IAS sponsors the JIAS Impact Awards.

Me and My Healthcare Provider

The Me and My Healthcare Provider Campaign is driven by key populations affected by HIV, giving them an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of healthcare providers who have made a tangible difference in their lives. By highlighting their stories, the campaign encourages replication and empowers other healthcare providers to raise their voices against stigma. At AIDS 2026, the IAS, in partnership with MSD, will announce the Me and My Healthcare Provider Champions from Brazil. This distinguished award celebrates frontline healthcare workers who deliver stigma-free HIV prevention, treatment and care services.

Prize for Excellence in HIV Research Related to Children and Adolescents

The aim of the Prize for Excellence in HIV Research Related to Children and Adolescents is to draw the attention of the scientific community to children living with and affected by HIV. The USD 1,000 prize is jointly offered by the IAS and the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS. Two prizes are awarded to investigators whose abstracts demonstrate excellence in research that is likely to lead to improved services for children affected by HIV.