October 26, 2026
VISTA 2026 attendees pose for a group photo.
Members of the Midwest Midwest D-CFAR joined researchers, clinicians, and public health professionals from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, for the inaugural HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Health Science of Implementation Conference (VISTA), held September 21-23, 2026.
The conference theme was “Beyond Bounds: Reimagining Implementation Science for a Changing World,” giving participants opportunities to share ideas, learn from colleagues who work in different settings, and explore new ways to address ongoing challenges in HIV research.
In one of the plenary sessions, “Equity-First Reach - Engaging Key Populations in Challenging Contexts,” Dr. Cory Bradley from Northwestern University stated, “Communities are not simply settings in which implementation happens, nor are community members simply people whom we engage to improve implementation. Communities are themselves sites of knowledge, action, and implementation expertise.”
Dr. Whitney Irie, Associate Professor at the WashU Bursky School of Public Health and member of the Midwest D-CFAR, reflected on the impact of Dr. Bradley’s words: “His words were a gift to the audience that we humbly accepted. They echoed throughout the conference, setting its tone and tenor. I carry this deeply resonant reality back to St. Louis, where it will continue to shape my implementation science here and beyond.”
A major theme throughout the conference was how to make advances in HIV research more accessible to the people who need them. Even when effective presentation and treatment options are available, connecting those advances with communities can take additional work. Conversations at VISTA highlighted the value of understanding local needs and learning from approaches that have worked in other settings.
For the Midwest D-CFAR, these discussions offer fresh perspectives that can help inform HIV research and community engagement here in Missouri and across the Midwest.
As members of the Midwest D-CFAR community return to their work, the insights and connections gained at VISTA remind us that progress happens when we learn from one another. By bringing these perspectives back to our own research and community partnerships, we can continue working toward better HIV prevention and care across our region.
Written by Tessa Gauzy.