Krishen Samuel, PhD

Conflicts and humanitarian crises create new HIV vulnerabilities Garnering a standing ovation at IAS 2025, Sameer Sah, from Medical Aid for Palestinians, provided a devastating first-hand account of what’s been happening for nearly two years in Gazan healthcare set...

I write about real-life heroes facing unimaginable horrors while trying to provide #HIV care in conflict settings.

We cannot stop speaking about atrocities taking place in areas like #Gaza and elsewhere.

@iasociety.bsky.social @msf.ca
@medicalaidpal.bsky.social

www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-202...

‘Coming from the most affected region, I’ve let go of the single story that paints people living with #HIV as helpless and tragic…

It’s time we become the authors of our own story.’

Powerful & pertinent remarks from Nomonde Ngema at the closing of #IAS2025.

@iasociety.bsky.social

‘Conflict disrupts not just lives, but destroys health infrastructure… Just imagine that you have no functioning hospital, healthcare workers are being killed & you still find the courage to serve.’

Xavier Biggs refers to a powerful session from #IAS2025 in his summary.

@iasociety.bsky.social

‘Communities are never hard-to-reach; they are underserved.’

Great takeaway message from rapporteur summary for #HIV prevention, by Rayner Kay Jin Tan.

@iasociety.bsky.social

#IAS2025

#IAS2025 first ever lenacapavir PrEP implementation study will be in Brazil! Will include a mobile PrEP unit in Sao Paolo to best reach communities who will benefit
@iasociety.bsky.social

‘We no longer stand at a crossroads: we now find ourselves at a precipice,’
@linda-gailb.bsky.social shared in Kigali at #IAS2025 this week.

#HIV experts, including community, are resolute.

We will not go back.

@aidsmap.bsky.social

@iasociety.bsky.social

www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-202...

Impact of PEPFAR cuts on HIV care in Mozambique #IAS2025 with 3rd highest no of PWH & 2nd highest new diagnoses, 67% of funding from PEPFAR in 2022.
- 14% reduction in ART initiations
- 39% increase in ART interruption
- reduced VL testing & viral suppression, esp children
@iasociety.bsky.social

The goal is not just to centralize data; it is to integrate perspectives. • Monitoring systems must evolve to match the reality of integrated service delivery. • Al and DHIS2 are not enough without community-generated signals. • CLM is not a separate stream; it's a grounding layer for real-time course correction (early warning) and systems feedback. • If communities don't live in silos, our data systems shouldn't either.

From @solangebap.bsky.social of @itpc.bsky.social, a timely reminder that #artificialintelligence systems in health systems need community data to ensure that data systems produce quality decisions. "Data without people isn't intelligence, it's noise." #IAS2025

👏 Sameer Sah (@medicalaidpal.bsky.social) delivers a powerful keynote on the devastating state of #Gaza's health system, earning a well-deserved standing ovation at the #IAS2025 special session on #HIV in conflict settings.

Exciting news from #IAS2025! A once-monthly #PrEP pill option is on the horizon.

MK-8527 was safe, well-tolerated & protective levels were maintained. It’s now headed into Phase 3 trials.

We need as many PrEP options as possible to end the #HIV epidemic.

@iasociety.bsky.social

Jack Stone shared modeling data at #IAS2025 showing the devastating impact of disrupted #PrEP access in sub-Saharan Africa: 700K people could lose access, leading to 6,700 new #HIV infections in 1 year and 10K in 5 years. 85% among key populations.

‘Policies can save lives.’ Meg Doherty @who.int documents how changes in ART policy — including when it was offered to people with #HIV — have saved many lives.

These life-saving changes have been driven by scientific advances, policy AND activists who urged for changes.

@iasociety.bsky.social

At #IAS2025, Yazdan Yazdanpanah highlights something we don’t speak about enough: lack of equity in grants & authorship between researchers from high-income countries & those from lower income countries—where research is usually conducted.

Little has changed over a decade…

@iasociety.bsky.social

We have both old & new #HIV challenges according to Jeanne Marrazzo, speaking in her personal capacity at #IAS2025.

But she stated that ‘we cannot compromise when we’ve come so far. We cannot lose heart.’

@iasociety.bsky.social

At #IAS2025, @solangebap.bsky.social from @itpc.bsky.social speaks about how trust was lost when communities lost access to services due to funding cuts.

‘Communities are experts… they can tell us where the little money that’s available needs to be spent.’

@iasociety.bsky.social

This certainly seems like an important strategy going forward — for varied reasons, as you mention. It’s great to have data showing that it’s as effective as daily dosing.

Intermittent ART may be an important response to current #HIV funding cuts: taking pills 4 or 5 days a week, instead of 7.

This approach maintained viral suppression from #IAS2025.

But: excellent adherence, no prior treatment failure & already virologically suppressed.

@iasociety.bsky.social

‘How can we innovate when everything around us is unstable and hostile?’ Magda Queta asks at #IAS2025.

She shares crucial lessons learnt in challenging contexts: innovation is not just about technology: find new ways of centring community & integrating local knowledge.

@iasociety.bsky.social

Amazing scientific advances in the pipeline, some presented at #IAS2025 this week.

But long-acting injectable treatment uptake has lagged, even in high-income settings.

How will we use science to stop the epidemic? We need targeted, accessible & affordable solutions.

@iasociety.bsky.social

Our own Mitchell Warren shared a sobering picture of the potential of a world without HIV prevention / reduced access to #PrEP at #IAS2025 satellite: Re-imagining Prevention.

avac.org/resource/inf...

‘Community action is what gives science its soul, its reach and its relevance. Sustaining HIV progress means investing in people.’

A powerful reminder of what drives #HIV science: community must be at the centre of all that we do.

@rosemarymburu.bsky.social

@iasociety.bsky.social

#IAS2025

Rousing #IAS2025 opening plenary @iasociety.bsky.social by
@linda-gailb.bsky.social

‘We will not go back… We no longer stand at a crossroads. We now find ourselves at a precipice.’

The global #HIV response is in peril. We need decisive leadership, resilience & the strength of communities.

IAS 2025 Preview: Amidst a Worldwide Funding Emergency, HIV Science Moves Forward Experts share what they’re eager to discuss and learn about at a major research meeting in Kigali, Rwanda: a focus on Africa, devastating funding cuts, and the latest HIV science.

"IAS 2025 Preview: Amidst a Worldwide Funding Emergency, HIV Science Moves Forward" via @bodyprohiv.bsky.social

Excited to be joining the @aidsmap.bsky.social team covering #IAS2025!

@iasociety.bsky.social

IAS 2025 Preview: Amidst a Worldwide Funding Emergency, HIV Science Moves Forward Experts share what they’re eager to discuss and learn about at a major research meeting in Kigali, Rwanda: a focus on Africa, devastating funding cuts, and the latest HIV science.

We're honored that TheBodyPro is an official @iasociety.bsky.social media partner for the upcoming #IAS2025 meeting in Kigali, Rwanda. Here's our preview of what experts in HIV are hoping to discuss and learn more about at this year's meeting: www.thebodypro.com/hiv/ias-2025...

Thanks @myhelfy.bsky.social!

Astounding to think that 44 years later, we find ourselves back in a devastatingly precarious position with USAID shutting down & millions of lives likely to be lost to #AIDS over the coming years.

#HIV

Thanks @myhelfy.bsky.social 😊

How People Navigate HIV Prevention in an Era of Multiple Protective Strategies Multiple strategies exist to prevent getting HIV. Navigating this landscape involves numerous choices and considerations that clinicians should be aware of.

I thoroughly enjoyed conducting these interviews & writing about how people navigate #HIV prevention in an era of multiple protective strategies for @thebodypro.bsky.social

There is no single approach that suits everyone.

www.thebodypro.com/hiv/hiv-prev...

#HIVprevention #PrEP