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/

__________________________________________________

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.

Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

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In episode 70 of Going anti-Viral, Peter Staley joins host Dr Michael Saag after giving the Martin Delaney presentation at the 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) entitled ''Annus Horribilis" and The War on Science: Thoughts on Resisting and Rebuilding. Mr Staley shares his inspiring story as a pioneering HIV and LGBTQ+ rights activist, recounting his journey from the early days of the AIDS crisis to groundbreaking activism leading to a seat at the table with clinicians and researchers in bringing life-saving treatments to people with HIV and AIDS. Dr Saag and Mr Staley also reflect on the recent era of anti-science activism during the COVID-19 pandemic and share their advice for young researchers who may be the generation of scientists that bring about a cure for HIV.

0:00 – Introduction

2:30 – The early days of AIDS awareness

6:23 – Peter’s reflections on his positive HIV test result

10:46 – Transitioning from Wall Street to activism

12:11 – The formation ACT UP and impact of Larry Kramer

15:22 – Channeling anger into activism

17:47 – Targeting the FDA and the fight for drug access

20:26 – The role of the NIH and Tony Fauci

24:10 – The Parallel Track: access to experimental drugs

25:40 – The role of the Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)

26:32 – The breakthrough: viral load and undetectable levels

31:18 – Reflections on COVID-19: activism in a new era

33:45 – Prep4All: advocating for access to PrEP

38:38 – Advice for young clinicians and closing remarks

Resources:

Watch Peter Staley’s presentation at CROI 2026 ''Annus Horribilis" and The War on Science: Thoughts on Resisting and Rebuilding

YouTube: https://youtu.be/p5kqUujWPCs

PrEP4All: https://prep4all.org/

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

__________________________________________________

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.

Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
X
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...

In episode 69 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Kevin Saunders joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss a plenary presentation he gave at the 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) entitled Successes in HIV-1 Vaccine Design: Accelerating Completion of One of Sciences’ Most Difficult Vaccines. Dr Saunders is the associate director for the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and the Norman L. Letvin Professor in Immunology and Infectious Diseases Research. Dr Saunders leads a translational research program that designs and evaluates HIV-1 vaccines. Dr Saunders shares his journey from studying T-cell immunity to pioneering HIV vaccine research. He discusses the challenges of developing an HIV vaccine, the promise of broad neutralizing antibodies, and the innovative use of mRNA technology. Dr Saunders also shares his outlook and optimism for the next 5 years of HIV vaccine development including the use machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to accelerate the development timeline.

0:00 – Introduction

1:36 – Path to HIV research and vaccine development

3:50 – Understanding T-cell immunity and HIV

6:53 – Transition to passive immunity and broad neutralizing antibodies

11:35 – Challenges in developing an HIV vaccine

15:25 – Current state of HIV vaccine research

17:38 – The role of immunogens in vaccine development

20:30 – Combining B-cell and T-cell responses

24:59 – Prospect for a HIV vaccine within the next 5 years

Resources:

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

Duke Human Vaccine Institute - https://dhvi.duke.edu/

__________________________________________________

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.

Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.

Follow Going anti-Viral on:
Apple Podcasts
YouTube
X
Facebook
Instagram
...