Xu Yu, MD, a faculty member at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard, and Harvard Medical School, has been selected as a Featured Speaker at IAS 2025, the 13th IAS Conference on HIV Science. 

This prestigious international event, taking place from July 13–17 in Kigali, Rwanda, brings together leading HIV scientists and global health experts to highlight the latest breakthroughs in HIV treatment, prevention, and research.

Yu will deliver a talk titled, “Understanding the HIV reservoir: Novel approaches to measure and test HIV-cure strategies” for the plenary session “Better meeting the needs of people living with HIV”.

The Yu Lab investigates how the immune system can recognize and combat HIV infection. Her research focuses on specific immune responses in elite controllers, a rare group of individuals who can naturally suppress HIV without the need for antiretroviral therapy. By studying these unique immune mechanisms, the lab aims to uncover pathways that could inform new therapeutic strategies and potentially lead to a functional cure for HIV. 

The IAS Conference on HIV Science is the world’s leading meeting for HIV researchers, clinicians, and policymakers, fostering dialogue and collaboration to accelerate progress in the field. This year’s conference will address critical topics in HIV treatment, vaccine development, prevention strategies, and health equity. With the HIV epidemic continuing to pose a major global health challenge, IAS 2025 serves as a platform to discuss the latest scientific breakthroughs and strategies to move closer to ending the pandemic.

Yu’s inclusion among the featured speakers underscores the importance of research that explores the mechanisms of natural viral suppression and the potential for functional cures. Her work at the Ragon Institute has shed light on how immune system adaptations in elite controllers could guide the development of new treatments that do not rely on lifelong therapy.

As the global HIV research community works toward new breakthroughs in treatment and cure strategies, we are excited to see Yu contribute to this important dialogue. Her participation in IAS 2025 is a reflection of the Ragon Institute’s ongoing commitment to advancing scientific discovery, fostering collaboration, and improving health outcomes worldwide.

For more information about IAS 2025 and to register, visit https://www.iasociety.org/conferences/ias2025