On October 21st, a dedicated group of Duke early-stage investigators (ESIs) attended the 8th Translational HIV Vaccine ESI Conference in New Orleans. The event, organized by Drs. Alison Roxby and Jim Kublin of the HIV Vaccine Trial Network, was attended by a strong Duke ESI contingent: Drs. Harikrishnan Balachandran, RJ Bouch, Haleigh Conley, James Counts, Dieter Mielke, Philippe Rascle, and Marina Tuyishime.
The one-day conference was designed to support ESIs focusing on translational HIV research in non-human primates (NHPs) or clinical HIV and TB research. Eligible attendees were all within 10 years of completing their terminal research degrees (PhD, MD, DVM), medical residencies, or equivalent. The Conference featured career mentoring, networking opportunities tailored for ESIs, and presentations by senior researchers and mentors, including Drs. Guido Ferrari, Keith Reeves, and Justin Pollara of the Duke Center for AIDS Research, and Dr. Wilton Williams from the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.
Previous participants have praised the Conference for boosting their career development skills and providing a platform for new collaborations. This year’s Duke attendees echoed this sentiment, appreciating the Conference's value. Dr. Balachandran shared: “It was an enriching experience to connect with colleagues from across the country and learn about their groundbreaking research. The sense of camaraderie and our shared commitment to using science to drive positive change was truly inspiring. Additionally, the mentorship from senior researchers and their encouragement to persevere through challenges provided invaluable support for us as ESIs.”
From a competitive pool of 51 national and international applicants, several Duke researchers were selected, with some receiving scholarships, including James, Dieter, Marina, and Philippe. We extend our congratulations to all Duke ESI attendees for their selection and impressive presentations!
