This episode was made in partnership with the International AIDS Society (IAS), Young Leaders Programme.
----
Host Ben Plumley records from a windy Rio de Janeiro at AIDS 2026 with IAS Young Leaders guests Zarawu Adams (Ghana), Xandro Xu (USA), and returning guest Mengfei Li (Hong Kong). Adams discusses research on antiretroviral therapy–related metabolic complications and an app concept to monitor metabolic panels to prevent type 2 diabetes among patients on treatment. Xu presents research on how civic engagement and political empowerment relate to more frequent HIV testing among LGBTQ+ people in the United States, with findings highlighting benefits for transgender communities. Li shares success from a hand-dance campaign and a poster on why U=U messaging struggles to gain traction across Asia Pacific, noting ongoing knowledge gaps. They reflect on conference networking, stigma, funding uncertainty, integration with broader health priorities, optimism, collaboration, communication, and self-care as they commit to long-term HIV work.
00:00 Welcome and Guests
00:49 Metabolic Crisis Research
02:39 Civic Engagement and Testing
05:19 Hand Dance Campaign Wins
06:38 U Equals U Awareness Gap
08:43 Conference Takeaways
13:09 Why We Chose HIV Work
16:58 Can We End HIV
22:42 What Fuels Optimism
25:13 Family and Health Advocacy
28:31 HIV Fatigue and Funding Cuts
31:10 Lessons and Final Advice
37:37 Closing Thanks
Guests:
Zarawu Adams
IAS Young Leader
Medical Scientist, Salama Clinic Accra, Ghana
Xandro Xu
IAS Young Leader
Researcher & Advocate, University of Pennsylvania alum
Mengfei Li
IAS Young Leader
PhD Candidate, The University of Hong Kong
AIDS 2026
https://www.iasociety.org/conferences/aids2026
Check Out Ben’s Substack:
https://substack.com/@benplumley1
Join the Conversation!
How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Subscribe & Stay Updated:
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health.
#hivaids #HIV #AIDS #globalhealth #AIDS2026
