When AVAC was founded on World AIDS Day in 1995 as the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, it had a single focus: an AIDS vaccine.
“But we began to recognize it was about advocacy and engagement across the research to roll out continuum,” Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC, told Devex. “We expanded our focus from the science of product development to include the science and art of product and intervention delivery.”
The changes in AVAC reflect broader shifts in the fight on HIV/AIDS, from the expansion of the prevention research landscape beyond vaccines, to the recognition that interventions in and of themselves do not end epidemics. This World AIDS Day, Devex spoke with Warren during what he said is a precarious time for the epidemic. After working for several decades on HIV/AIDS, he said there is an opportunity to bend the curve by delivering at scale the existing tools for treatment and prevention while also developing additional tools for the future.
About the author
Catherine Cheneycatherinecheney
Catherine Cheney is the Senior Editor for Special Coverage at Devex. She leads the editorial vision of Devex’s news events and editorial coverage of key moments on the global development calendar. Catherine joined Devex as a reporter, focusing on technology and innovation in making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining Devex, Catherine earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Yale University, and worked as a web producer for POLITICO, a reporter for World Politics Review, and special projects editor at NationSwell. She has reported domestically and internationally for outlets including The Atlantic and the Washington Post. Catherine also works for the Solutions Journalism Network, a non profit organization that supports journalists and news organizations to report on responses to problems.
