CROI 2026 Review: What’s New, What’s Next in HIV Research – Dr Peter Hunt

In episode 71 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Peter Hunt joins host Dr Michael Saag to provide a review of the science presented at the 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). Dr Hunt is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco and is the Associate Chief for Research in the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Department of Medicine, and Co-Director of the UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research for Basic and Translational Science. He was also a Vice Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for CROI 2026. Dr Hunt provides an in-depth overview of the key scientific presentations at CROI, highlighting breakthroughs in HIV research, pediatric HIV treatment, biology of the HIV capsid, vaccine research, and innovative therapies. Dr Hunt and Dr Saag also discussed new antiretroviral formulations and highlights of the state of HIV cure research.

0:00 – Introduction

1:13 – Valganciclovir in infants with HIV and CMV pneumonia

4:25 – Differences between pediatric and adult CMV infection

7:34 – Plenary by Dr Wesley Sundquist on structural biology and the HIV capsid

12:00 – Other plenary presentations at CROI 2026

14:27 – Powerful Martin Delaney presentation by Peter Staley

15:50 – Plenary by Dr Jeanne Marrazzo on Doxy PEP and resistance concerns

16:30 – Vaccine development and neutralizing antibodies by Dr Kevin Saunders

17:25 – New symposium: Hot Takes on the Clinical Highlights of CROI 2026

19:38 – New antiretroviral formulations and long-acting agents

25:10 – HIV cure research, overview of TACK agents, and a poster on an efavirenz intensification study

28:39 – A look ahead to CROI 2027 and closing remarks

Resources:

Watch Peter Staley's presentation at CROI 2026 YouTube

Going-anti-Viral: Episode 70 - Peter Staley Apple Podcasts

Going-anti-Viral: Episode 69 - Dr Kevin Saunders Apple Podcasts

CROI 2026: https://www.croiconference.org/

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Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.

Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences.

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