4:30 - 6:00pm [CEST]
An effective HIV vaccine remains one of the most important and elusive goals in biomedical research. HIV’s extraordinary ability to evade the immune system has pushed the field toward increasingly sophisticated approaches, from mapping how antibody-producing B cells mature to engineering immunogens designed to steer the immune system toward the rare, broadly neutralizing antibodies capable of preventing HIV acquisition.
Central to this effort is germline targeting: a rational vaccine design strategy that aims to activate and train the right B cells from the very first immunization. As this science moves toward later-stage clinical trials, it warrants closer attention from the researchers, advocates and implementers who will carry it forward.
Convened by the IAS HIV Vaccine Research Network, this 90-minute virtual session brings together three leading scientists for short presentations and an extended, interactive discussion. It is designed to build foundational scientific literacy and foster genuine exchange between early- to mid-career researchers and established investigators ahead of AIDS 2026, the 26th International AIDS Conference.
The session is aimed at early- to mid-career researchers planning to attend AIDS 2026, as well as anyone who wants to learn about the latest HIV vaccine science.
Speakers:
- Gabriel Victora, Rockefeller University
- Bill Schief, Moderna, Scripps Research, and IAVI
- Catarina Mendes Silva, Amsterdam UMC