The Office of HIV and AIDS (OHA) Research Blog showcases the complex realities of HIV research through the honest, experienced perspectives and insights of OHA's strong scientific staff. We welcome your comments and feedback as we delve into research around implementation science, microbicides, vaccines, and much more.

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Building Community through HIV Treatment
by Nicholas Graff, former HIV/AIDS Implementation Science Research Intern on October 2, 2017

Discover how community health agents in Tanzania are providing a new method of delivering care and treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS

Highlights from the Field: Prepping PrEP in Lesotho and South Africa
by Allison M. McFall, Former HIV/AIDS Implementation Science Data Research Intern and Delivette Castor, Research Advisor on September 8, 2017

Discover insights from recent site visits in Lesotho and South Africa on how to enable men and women to protect themselves from HIV using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Highlights from IAS – How Optimized Antiretrovirals like Dolutegravir are Accelerating Access to Improved HIV Treatment
by Talia Dweck, Former Research Intern on July 24, 2017

During the 2017 International AIDS Society conference, scientists from all over the world will come together to map out strategies to achieve HIV/AIDS epidemic control--including antiretroviral optimization, which is critical to USAID's efforts for a sustainable HIV/AIDS response.

The Road to IAS 2017: Insights from International AIDS Society President Linda-Gail Bekker
by Linda-Gail Bekker, President of the International AIDS Society, and Benny Kottiri, Research Division Chief on July 19, 2017

In anticipation of the upcoming IAS 2017, the premier international HIV/AIDS scientific conference, Dr. Linda-Gail Bekker shares some valuable perspectives with USAID HIV/AIDS Research Division Chief, Dr. Benny Kottiri.

'But what if it falls out?' Using Human-Centered Design to Answer Questions about the Dapivirine Ring
by Elizabeth Russell, Senior Advisor for Biomedical Prevention Technologies and Emily Harris, Public Health Advisor on July 11, 2017

New research aims to discover how human-centered design can encourage uptake and effective use of the dapivirine ring, the first long-acting, woman-controlled method for reducing the risk of HIV infection.

HIV Vaccine Awareness Day: Renewed Hope and Determination
by Margaret McCluskey, RN, MPH, Senior Technical Advisor for HIV Vaccines and Giacomo Gorini, PhD Candidate in Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Viral Zoonotics, Cambridge, U.K. on May 18, 2017

May 18, 2017 marks the 20th anniversary of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. Read more and see why HIV vaccine research and development is a critical part of controlling the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

Partnering with Local Institutions to Strengthen HIV Research Capacity
by Aisha Yansaneh, PhD, Senior Research and Evaluation Advisor on May 1, 2017

Discover what "capacity strengthening" means and see why it is critical part of USAID's Office of HIV/AIDS work in partnering with countries to create effective and sustainable HIV and AIDS programs.

It Takes a Village! Meeting Multiple Health and Development Needs of Girls and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa
by Nagesh Borse, Senior Technical Advisor for Research and Evaluation on April 6, 2017

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the World Health Organization and UNAIDS recently co-convened the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Consultation to discuss ways to help keep adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa HIV-free.

Intriguing Insights from CROI 2017
by Elizabeth Russell, Senior Advisor for Biomedical Prevention Technologies on February 28, 2017

The 2017 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) covered multiple topics that influence USAID's work to develop and deliver HIV prevention products for women in sub-Saharan Africa.

ADVANCE: Stretching Development Dollars and Improving HIV Treatment
by Emily Harris, Public Health Advisor on January 18, 2017

A new study known as ADVANCE, supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and UNITAID, which launched on January 16 in South Africa, could help achieve better health and wealth for many countries combating the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

 

What Can We Accomplish When We Partner for HIV Prevention?
by Emma Burgess, Research Intern on November 3, 2016

The 2016 HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P) conference is the world's only scientific meeting dedicated exclusively to biomedical HIV prevention research. Read about the hot topics from this year's conference and learn more about USAID's prevention research efforts.

 

Implementation Science Graphic Brief in Review: Health Benefits of Linking women to Cervical Cancer Screening in Zambia
By Samantha Luffy, MPH, Program Analyst, HIV Vaccines on September 30, 2016

Every September, during Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recognizes and remembers all who have been affected by cervical, ovarian, uterine and other forms of gynecological cancer.

 

Q & A with the New OHA Director Doug Arbuckle
By OHA Communications on September 21, 2016

On September 6, 2016, OHA welcomed R. Douglass (Doug) Arbuckle, as its new Director. We had the opportunity to sit down with Doug to get his candid perspectives on OHA and what it's going to take to bring about an end to the AIDS epidemic.

 

Got Tang? A Blog Post to Honor David Stanton
By OHA's Research Division on August 31, 2016

David Stanton is transitioning as OHA's Director to its Scientific Leader and we take this opportunity to highlight a few examples of "home-runs" in OHA's research portfolio as a direct result of David's vision, leadership and mentoring.

 

 

HIV Implementation Science: What It Is and Why It Matters - Reflections from an Intern
by Iman Barré, HIV Implementation Science Intern on August 16, 2016

I've gotten used to my friends and family reacting with a slight tilt of the head, furrowed brow and curious look as I try to explain the definition of Implementation Science. Textbook definitions of Implementation Science often include overlapping and related terms such as "implementation research" or "operations research." To a layperson, this doesn't mean much.

 

USAID and Partners Persevere in the Search of an HIV Vaccine
by Margaret M. McCluskey, RN, MPH, Senior Technical Advisor, HIV Vaccines on July 15, 2016

As USAID marks 15 years of continuous dedication toward supporting the research and development of a safe and globally-effective HIV vaccine, the Agency has designed, competed and awarded two, complementary five-year Cooperative Agreements, making up a new project called the HIV Vaccine and Biomedical Prevention Research Project.

 

At the Bedside of an Epidemic
by Margaret M. McCluskey, RN, MPH, Senior Technical Advisor, HIV Vaccines on May 18, 2016

Since 1997, when President Clinton called for urgent efforts toward a vaccine to prevent HIV infection and AIDS, National HIV Vaccine Day has been an annual observance to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, and scientists who work together to find a safe and effective HIV vaccine.

 

Welcome to the Office of HIV and AIDS Blog
by Benny Kottiri, Acting Research Division Chief, Office of HIV/AIDS on May 18, 2016

Today, with the establishment of the OHA Research Blog, poignantly launched on HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, I am focused on just a single number: one. One vaccine. A safe and effective vaccine could catalyze a game-changing shift in this epidemic–preventing new HIV infections and fully tipping the precarious epidemiological balance between new HIV infections and people on treatment.