Media & Resources

In this episode of Meet the Scientist, IAVI’s podcast series, we sat down with Gaudensia Mutua, a medical director with IAVI in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss her work in support of IAVI’s Lassa fever vaccine program. We delved into the value of community-engaged scientific research before looking ahead to the future of global health and vaccine development in Africa. Tune in to learn about Gaudensia’s rich medical career — from community-based HIV vaccine research to overseeing IAVI’s Lassa fever vaccine studies. Read the full transcription of the podcast.

In this episode of Meet the Scientist, IAVI’s podcast series, we learn about why IAVI has more hope now than ever that we are on the right path to developing an HIV vaccine. We sat down with IAVI’s Vincent Muturi-Kioi, HIV product development team lead in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss IAVI’s work to develop an HIV vaccine. Vincent explained why he believes we are on the best path to a vaccine, what keeps him motivated, and his career path in HIV research. Tune in this World AIDS Day to catch up with the latest advances in HIV vaccine research and progress in HIV prevention overall.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, making up a significant portion of new infections. Despite advancements in prevention tools, challenges like accessibility, adherence, and social stigma remain. The Multisite Adolescent Girls and Young Women (MAGY) study addresses these gaps by actively involving AGYW in shaping next-generation HIV prevention products, ensuring they are both scientifically effective and truly accessible to those who need them. In this episode, Jabulile Sibaya, community engagement manager at IAVI, hosts an insightful discussion with the Youth Advisory Group for the MAGY study. Joining her are Margaret Selemani and Chabota Hampongo from Zambia, along with Malebo Mokgethi and Lebogang Mothobi from South Africa, who highlight the innovative approaches of the MAGY study and the critical role of AGYW voices in driving HIV prevention research. Together, they explore the impact of meaningful AGYW engagement and underscore the power of amplifying these voices in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

In the latest episode of Meet the Scientist, IAVI’s podcast series, we sat down with Elana Van Brakel, medical director at IAVI in Cape Town, South Africa, to discuss her work at IAVI in support of our TB vaccine program. In this episode, we explore IAVI’s diverse engagement in the development of the MTBVAC TB vaccine candidate and learn about how Elana and IAVI’s TB team are preparing for the Phase 2b clinical trial of MTBVAC in adolescents and adults in sub-Saharan Africa. Tune in to learn more about Elana’s work and IAVI’s TB vaccine program.

In this episode of Meet the Scientist, IAVI's podcast series, we explore the pivotal significance of community engagement in global collaborative research. Tune in to discover how IAVI is highlighting the importance of community partnership and engagement, an integral part of the product development process. Joyeeta Mukherjee, Ph.D., associate director of access, research, and development at IAVI in India, joins us to share insights into her work at the intersection of community and science. Join the conversation as we delve into the critical role of community engagement in global scientific pursuits. Plus, learn how innovative use of gamification and experiential learning is being used to simplify complex scientific concepts. Do not miss this fascinating exploration at the forefront of science and community collaboration! 

Progress & Passion Driving HIV Vaccine Research: NICD's Perspective In this episode, William Dekker, a Communication Specialist at IAVI, engages in a thoughtful conversation with Thandeka Moyo-Gwete, Ph.D., and Dale Kitchin, Ph.D., both distinguished senior scientists at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa. In recognition of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD), this dialogue delves into the essential role of HIV vaccines and the continuous pursuit of research and development for a safe and effective vaccine against HIV. Both Thandeka and Dale offer insights into what fuels their dedication and the substantial efforts their team is making to propel the field of HIV vaccine research forward.

In Amsterdam, we sat down with Gabriela Gomez, senior director of global access at IAVI, to discuss her work using modeling to understand the potential impact of a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine. As the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, TB once again has become the leading infectious cause of death in much of the world. In 2021, an estimated 1.6 million people died as a result of TB disease, making a new TB vaccine all the more vital. Gabriela Gomez also uses modeling to better understand how a new TB vaccine can be developed and distributed in an equitable and accessible way.This podcast will explore the importance of epidemiology—a branch of medical science that investigates all the factors that determine the presence or absence of diseases—in TB vaccine R&D and global health access in general. Listen to the first episode of our new series Meet The Scientist to learn more about how IAVI is using epidemiology to develop affordable, globally accessible vaccines and antibodies.

In this episode, KAVI-ICR scientists, Marianne Mureithi, Ph.D., Walter Jaoko, M.D., Ph.D., Daniel Muema, Ph.D., and Terry Muhomah, Ph.D. share their personal stories and shed light on what motivates them to do what they do. They provide insights into how they balance their personal lives with their scientific pursuits and discuss the significant contributions of women in science. They also reveal interesting highlights from their work and share their experiences of navigating the highs and lows of scientific research. Join us for an intimate conversation with the people behind the science and discover what inspires these scientists to tackle one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Stay tuned to Impact Voices as we continue to showcase the people, science, and network driving HIV prevention research in Africa.