Wits RHI will join researchers, policymakers, implementers, advocates and communities from around the world at AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Throughout the conference, our experts will contribute to scientific sessions, satellite discussions, symposiums, Global Village activities and international collaborations, showcasing Wits RHI’s work in HIV prevention, implementation science, long-acting PrEP, adolescent and youth health, digital demand generation, and equitable access to innovative health technologies
Wits RHI’s Footprint at AIDS 2026
- 1 Pre-Conference Sessions
- 13 Poster Presentations
- 2 Oral Presentations
- 1 Late-Breaker Oral Presentation
- 5 Satellite Sessions
- 2 Symposium Presentations
- 1 Global Village Workshop
- 2 Moderated Sessions
- Multiple Panel Discussions and International Collaborations
Featured by Leading Global Health Media
Wits RHI’s scientific contributions at AIDS 2026 also received international media recognition.
Featured in Bhekisisa
Article 1
Professor Saiqa Mullick highlighted the growing demand for long-acting HIV prevention, noting:
“What is especially encouraging is that LEN appears to be drawing new people into PrEP.“
Article 2
Prof Mullick emphasised the importance of person-centred HIV prevention:
Featured in aidsmap
The feature highlights Professor Delany-Moretlwe’s message that:
The article also highlights her emphasis on expanding access for young women, adolescent girls and survivors of sexual assault.
Where to Find Our Experts
Pre-Conference Event | Sunday, 26 July 2026
Before the official opening of AIDS 2026, Prof Sinead Delany-Moretlwe will participate in the pre-conference session: Resiliently Advancing Integrated Approaches to HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B Triple Elimination. The session will explore integrated approaches to eliminating HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and sets the stage for discussions throughout the conference.
Monday, 27 July | Satellite Sessions & Prevention Choice
SAT25 — Advances in HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Prof Sinead Delany-Moretlwe
- Session framing and objectives
- Moderated panel discussion
- Moderated audience discussion
SAT50 — From Evidence to Access: Implementation Science to Inform Lenacapavir Scale-up
Prof Saiqa Mullick — Panel discussion on early lessons from LEN implementation studies
SAT39 — Expanding Prevention Choice: Early Lessons from Twice-Yearly Lenacapavir Introduction
Organised by Wits RHI, PSI, CHAI and CIFF
Keitumetse Senokwane — Delivery of LEN in South Africa: A provider’s perspective
Nicolette Naidoo — Panel discussion
Evening Roundtable
Nicolette Naidoo — Choice Can Be Leveraged to Make Prevention Cool
Tuesday, 28 July | Posters, Global Village & Demand Generation
Poster Presentations (12:00–13:00)
Dr Roisin Drysdale — Determinants of CAB-LA uptake in South Africa
Prof Sinead Delany-Moretlwe — Preferences for a novel injectable HIV and pregnancy prevention product
Collaborative abstracts involving Wits RHI researchers
- Stephanie Cox / Dr Nkosiphile Ndlovu / Prof Thesla Palanee-Phillips
- Ivan Segawa / Prof Saiqa Mullick / Nicolette Naidoo
- Samuel Mwaniki / Prof Thesla Palanee-Phillips
Additional Oral Contribution
Thandeka Nkosi/ Thesla Palanee- Phillips & Zikhona Njengele-Tetyana— Experiences with twice-yearly lenacapavir for PrEP (PURPOSE 1 open-label extension)
Global Village Workshop (11:00–13:00)
Wits RHI Digital Demand Generation Team — From Concept to Viral: How to Produce Digital Content that Drives PrEP Demand Among Young People
SAT49 — Building Safer Futures for Girls
Nicolette Naidoo — Invited panel speaker on financing and scaling the response to HIV and sexual violence
SAT23 — Cross-Country Implementation Learning for LEN Introduction
Organised by Wits RHI, CHAI and PSI
Elmari Briedenhann
- Opening and framing
- Introducing the Demand Generation Playbook
- Panel discussion
Wednesday, 29 July | Prevention Science, Access & Community Engagement
OAC13 — Closing the Gaps in Prevention of Perinatal Transmission
Prof Lee Fairlie — Session moderator
OAF12 — Beyond Government and Industry: Overcoming Intellectual Property Barriers
Vusile Butler — Oral presentation on market-shaping investment for lenacapavir access in low- and middle-income countries
Poster Presentations (12:00–13:00)
Fatima Abegail Cholo — CAB-LA user experiences in South Africa
Dr Catherine Martin — PrEP use within multi-method PrEP services
Fatima Abegail Cholo — CAB-LA experiences among pregnant and breastfeeding women
Dr Roisin Drysdale — Depressive symptoms, behaviours and HIV risk
Thursday, 30 July | Symposiums, Late Breaker & Digital Innovation
SAT38 — Evidence and Lessons Learned on Long-Acting PrEP in Latin America
Prof Saiqa Mullick — Key takeaways on implementing long-acting PrEP
Late-Breaker Oral Presentation
Collaborative abstract involving Dr Nkosiphile Ndlovu
SY24 — How to Address the Rising STI Epidemic
Prof Sinead Delany-Moretlwe — The case for Bexsero vaccination in rising gonorrhoea cases
OAE29 — Status-Neutral Practice: Interventions for Young People
Elmari Briedenhann — Session moderator
Poster Presentations (12:00–13:00)
Dr Catherine Martin — PrEP method switching within multi-method services
Nicolette Naidoo — Uptake and use of injectable PrEP among pregnant and breastfeeding women
SAT45 — The Digital Care Continuum: Connecting AI, PrEP and People
Organised by Wits RHI
Vusile Butler — Opening and Q&A
Elmari Briedenhann — Project PrEP Digital Ecosystem
Nakita Sheobalak — Sister Unathi AI Chatbot
Chikondi Divala — Social media that resonates
Friday, 31 July | Adolescents, Digital Solutions & Community Reach
SY27 — CHOICE Through Digital Solutions
Nicolette Naidoo — Invited speaker
Presentation: Leveraging Community Approaches to Reach Adolescent Girls and Young Women
Download the Wits RHI AIDS 2026 Participation Programme HERE
Follow Wits RHI throughout the conference for daily highlights, session updates and opportunities to connect with our experts. We look forward to engaging with partners, researchers and colleagues from around the world and to sharing insights and updates from AIDS 2026.
