A note from the editor

As of 2026, IAVI has decided to cease its publication due to budget constraints that it and many other global public health- non-profit organizations are now facing.

It is sad to see this publication, with its rich history tracking HIV prevention research and many other public-health-related stories, end. Over the 30 years since its inception, IAVI Report has evolved from a more IAVI-centered newsletter to a full-color journal on HIV science and prevention research, to an online-only publication. Its shorter-lived, sister journal VAX, was a resource for clinical trial sites involved in HIV research and to inform communities more broadly about HIV research and the science of other infectious diseases. Throughout this history, a talented and dedicated staff of writers, production managers, advisors, and copyeditors, as well as a stable of gifted freelance writers, sought out and brought to you, our readers, the most interesting and important stories in the field. I was privileged to work alongside many of them in the nearly 20 years I’ve worked with IAVI, and I am grateful for all they taught me and all the great work they did.

I am also grateful to the people who are doing this work across the globe for sharing their stories and for being such a source of light. I wrote an article last month on the resilience of African HIV vaccine researchers who are facing devastating budget cuts following the decimation of USAID. It was but one example of the inspiring people I’ve interacted with on my journey from staff writer to managing editor of IAVI Report. It is also one of numerous articles that capture the perseverance and enthusiasm of the scientists, clinicians, nurses, advocates, activists, and communities that are applying science to improve the lives of everyone, everywhere. Whether it was interviewing scientists at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, attending conferences, or visiting HIV vaccine clinical trial sites, I was repeatedly inspired and motivated by the science, ingenuity, and humanity I saw on full display.

These stories remind me of why I became a science writer. And now, with science under attack in some political circles, it reminds me why science writing and effective communication are more important than ever.

Thank you for staying with us for 30 years, for believing in this work, and for continuing it even after IAVI Report ends.

Our final article is a tribute to IAVI Report and a reminder of the optimism, determination, and passion that have, and always will, fuel progress.