The 2026 CHIPTS HIV Next Generation Conference welcomed over 150 attendees from academic institutions, community-based organizations, health care institutions, and other organizations working to end the HIV epidemic at the California Endowment on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The conference included engaging oral and poster presentations, lively discussions, and networking opportunities to support the next generation of HIV researchers and service providers.

CHIPTS Development Core Director, Jesse Clark, MD, MSc facilitated this year’s conference and provided a warm welcome to participants. CHIPTS Director, Raphael Landovitz, MD, MSc followed with opening remarks setting the tone for an exciting conference. He echoed the conference’s goals with a powerful statement: “Ask bold questions. Show us your unfinished ideas. Let this be a place where curiosity is encouraged and where support is tangible.”

Ashleigh Herrera, PhD, MSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work at California State University Bakersfield offered an engaging and insightful opening plenary on building community, connection, and protection to preserve the HIV continuum of care and research. She emphasized the importance of multilevel social support—strategic guidance from senior mentors and collective care among early-career peers—in navigating challenges and sustaining momentum.

Throughout the day, there were four sets of oral presentations and in-between a fantastic group of poster presentations highlighting innovative research and evaluation projects to support efforts to end the HIV epidemic. Access poster presentations on our webpage.

The first panel was moderated by CHIPTS Development Core Co-Director Marjan Javanbakht, PhD and centered on HIV care and service delivery. The second set of oral presentations moderated by CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Affiliate Michael Li, PhD, MPH focused on intersectionality (e.g., intimate partner violence, substance use, and stigma). CHIPTS Combination Prevention Core Scientist Ronald Brooks, PhD moderated the third panel on keeping it local: HIV/STIs in Los Angeles. The fourth panel moderated by CHIPTS Development Core Director, Jesse Clark, MD, MSc was a unique conversation on moving research forward that provided tools, perspectives, and examples to foster innovation and long-term career growth.

To close the conference, CHIPTS Co-Director Steve Shoptaw, PhD congratulated this year’s outstanding presenters and encouraged participants to continue their commitment to new ideas and collaborations as we work together to end the HIV epidemic.

Check out our photo gallery on our Facebook page.

Presentation slides, if available, may be provided upon request by emailing chipts@mednet.ucla.edu