Rachel Bender Ignacio

Aporva Mandavilli is a science and global health reporter at The New York Times, while Rachel Bender Ignacio is a physician and researcher at the University of Washington and Fred Hutch Cancer Center. They discuss the precarious future of PEPFAR funding and the urgent implications of potential budget cuts on global HIV treatment efforts. The conversation also highlights recent advancements in HIV research, including promising vaccines and prevention tools. Key challenges in sustaining funding for research and maintaining health equity are emphasized, alongside cultural shifts in HIV awareness.