On May 2, The International AIDS Society (IAS) has declared that IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science, will convene in Kigali, Rwanda, from 14 to 17 July 2025, with pre-meetings scheduled for 13 July.
This momentous event will spotlight challenges and opportunities in regions heavily impacted by HIV while drawing insights from global experiences.
“IAS 2025 will serve as a pivotal moment to collectively assess the progress made in HIV science and chart a path towards ending AIDS as a public health threat,” stated Beatriz Grinsztejn, President-Elect of IAS and International Chair for IAS 2025. “With only five years remaining to meet the 2030 targets, it is imperative that we accelerate the global HIV science agenda to achieve a more equitable HIV response. This conference provides a crucial platform for researchers, advocates, communities, and policymakers to advance this agenda together.”
The IAS Conference on HIV Science stands as the foremost gathering for HIV research and its practical applications. Kigali was selected as the host city for IAS 2025 by the IAS Executive Board, based on recommendations from its representative Conference Committee.
Factors influencing the decision included Rwanda’s proven record as a destination for international events, its state-of-the-art convention center, and the ease of access for African nationals, who can enter Rwanda without a visa.
“Hosting the IAS Conference on HIV Science enables us to showcase Rwanda’s evidence-based approach to ending AIDS,” remarked Jeanine Umutesi Condo, Local Chair for IAS 2025. “Rwanda has achieved the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets seven years ahead of schedule, emphasizing our commitment to ensuring 95% of all people living with HIV know their status, receive sustained antiretroviral therapy, and achieve viral suppression by 2030. We are proud to share this remarkable success story with the world.”
Despite significant progress, central, eastern, southern, and western Africa collectively harbor 65% of the global HIV burden. “Three decades after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Rwanda has evolved from one of the world’s poorest nations to a leader in global health and development,” noted Sabin Nsanzimana, Rwandan Minister of Health. “To eliminate HIV as a public health threat, we must invest in effective prevention strategies, including addressing gender disparities that render women more vulnerable to HIV. Our history underscores the importance of flexible and tailored approaches.”
To ensure broad participation, the IAS will offer hundreds of scholarships and heavily discounted registration rates for youth and individuals from lower-income countries. Additionally, all major conference sessions will be freely accessible online two months post-conference.
Registration for IAS 2025 will commence in November 2024, inviting stakeholders from across the globe to engage in discussions, share insights, and collaborate towards ending AIDS as a public health crisis.
The 12th IAS Conference on HIV Science, took place in Brisbane, Australia, and virtually from 23 to 26 July 2023.
The IAS Conference on HIV Science is the world’s most influential meeting on HIV research and its applications. This biennial conference presents the critical advances in basic, clinical and operational HIV research that move science into policy and practice.
Source: Official website of IAS