With spring comes the promise of new collaborations and connections within the HIV/STBBI research community.
Held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from May 1st to 4th, the Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR) hosted researchers, community members, and decision makers from health care and research organisations across Canada, including the CTN+. With over thirty researchers and staff representing the Network, CTN+ members presented their work, met with collaborators, and discussed new opportunities to advance HIV and STBBI research and put evidence into practice.
Energized by the meetings from our productive strategic planning session before the conference, the event was an important venue to share updates on the new regional structure of the Network and the exciting initiatives we’re working on.
CTN+ staff member Nashira Popovic and Principal Knowledge User Muluba Habanyama at the CTN+ booth
Talks, Awards and More
CTN+ researchers took centre stage at CAHR. The conference was chaired by CTN+ researchers Drs. Lisa Barrett and Jacqueline Gahagan, introduced by the CTN+’s Keith Fowke in his role as the past-president of CAHR. Opening night was off to a powerful start with Dr. Winston Husbands delivering a powerful keynote lecture on the realities of Canada’s HIV epidemic among Black communities, and the transformative approaches to HIV-related research, health policy, and data access needed to achieve health equity.
CTN+ researchers delivered the plenary talks for each of the four scientific tracks at the conference. For Basic Sciences, Dr. Nicholas Chomont summarized the current state of the field-testing HIV cure strategies and approaches. CTN+ Testing and Prevention Think Tank Co-lead Dr. Darrell Tan shared a comprehensive Clinical Sciences overview of the remarkable potential of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), challenging attendees to reimagine PrEP as a public health intervention to improve access to those most in need. The Social Sciences plenary was delivered by CTN+ KM Hub Academic Lead Dr. Cathy Worthington, who provided guidance on the realities, tensions, and outcomes of community-engaged research approaches in HIV. For Epidemiology & Public Health, Dr. Lawrence Mbuagbaw, CTN+ Ontario Regional Team Co-lead, discussed the disparities and successes in HIV treatment and prevention, while emphasizing the key collaborations needed to maintain meaningful progress.
In recognition of Dr. Mbuagbaw’s contributions to the field, he was awarded the CAHR-CANFAR Excellence in Research Award in the Epidemiology and Public Health category at the conference opening. During his plenary, Dr. Mbuagbaw explained that his first time in Canada was to attend the CAHR conference in 2011, supported by a CTN International Postdoctoral Fellowship, making the CAHR award particularly meaningful and representative of the value and importance of programs to support the next generation of researchers. CTN+ Researcher Dr. Melanie Murray (Clinical Sciences) and Atlantic Regional Team Co-lead Renée Masching (Community-based Research) also received awards.
A dazzling weekend for trainees
Following on years of CTN+ traditional, the Network’s Postdoctoral Fellows were included among the leading voices at the Conference. On Saturday morning, three second-year postdocs, Drs. Tanya Lazor, Monica Kowatsch, and Hajar Mahabadi, presented their findings at the CTN+ Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium, moderated by CTN+ National Director Dr. Marina Klein and co-Director Dr. Sharon Walmsley. Dr. Lazor, supported by a joint fellowship with CANFAR, shared her research, which explores cannabis use among people living with HIV, and details of an intervention for usage mitigation for interested community members. CTN+ James Kreppner Fellow Dr. Hajar Miranzadeh discussed her investigation into the characteristics of neural cells that may contribute to neuroinflammation and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. Gilead-CTN+ Fellow Dr. Monika Kowatsch talked about her research on the impact of age-related fluctuations in estradiol levels in women living with HIV. Drs. Kowatch and Lazor also received New Investigator awards from CAHR.
New Investigator Award winners included two CTN+ postdocs, Drs. Monica Kowatsch and Tanya Lazor, presented by CTN+ Researchers and CAHR Conference Co-Chairs, Drs. Lisa Barrett and Jacquie Gahagan.
Along with the second-year fellows, first-year CTN+ Fellows Drs. Kathleen Inglis, Sheliza Halani, and Muyi Iyamu also delivered both poster and oral abstract presentations sharing details about their projects. Previous Fellows who presented some of the work resulting from their time with the CTN+, included Drs. Katherine Kooij, Oscar Espinosa, Cara Spence, and Alice Zhabokritsky (for CTN 314).
Looking to the future, Dr. Klein announced the new cohort of postdoc fellows joining the network. Dr. Ngozi Joe-Ikechebelu, Alexa Keeshan, Dr. Chinyere Njeze, Dr. Paolo Palma, Olivia Price, and Alex Wells will begin their work starting later this year, contributing new and valuable perspectives to our ever-growing network of HIV and STBBI researchers.
CTN+ Postdoctoral Fellows Drs. Monica Kowatsch, Tanya Lazor, Kathleen Inglis, Sheliza Halani, and Hajar Miranzadeh Mahabadi
CTN+ Research At The Forefront
Results from several CTN+ studies were also highlighted over the weekend. Dr. Roula Kteily-Hawa discussed an educational resource for health care providers counselling men who have sex with men, gay, bisexual, trans, and non-binary individuals about PrEP in Ontario as part of CTNPT 049. Dr. Cecilia Costiniuk presented findings from CTNPT 028 focusing on oral cannabinoids’ impact on immune cell populations and gut microbiome in HIV treatment, and one on COVID-19 vaccine durability in people living with HIV (CTN 328).
Results for CTN 272 explored a specific type of myeloid (bone marrow) cell as a potential predictor of cardiovascular risk in people living with HIV. The SHAWNA Team (CTN 333) delivered four abstracts on the benefits and facilitators of engaging with community-based organisations, the power of digital storytelling, and the effects of interpersonal violence on women living with HIV in Vancouver.
The BCC3 (CTN 335), CHIWOS (CTN 262), and ENGAGE (CTN 300) teams all presented a handful of posters and oral abstracts.
Outside of their roles with the CTN+, Muluba Habanyama, Drs. Carmen Logie, Alex McClelland, Jason Brophy, Lena Serghides, John Law, Charu Kaushic, Jonathan Angel, Melanie Murray, Shariq Haider, Keith Fowke, Winston Husbands, Nicolas Chomont, Marina Klein, Jessica Prodger, Stephen Shafran, Marie-Josee Brouillette, and Joss de Wet all contributed their expertise as moderators, presenters, and panelists in various ancillary events and symposia.
Conferences like CAHR play a crucial role in advancing the global HIV and STBBI response by providing a platform researchers, community, and industry to collaborate and for science, policy, and activism to converge. CTN+ is proud to support the present, and future of HIV and STBBI research through events like CAHR. See you in Winnipeg in 2026!
