At an Inflection Point in HIV Science: Nicolas Chomont, PhD, Looks Ahead to CROI 2026

As the HIV research community prepares to convene for the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2026 conference in Denver, Colorado, few observers are better positioned to preview what’s ahead than Nicolas Chomont, PhD.

Serving as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for this year’s meeting, Chomont is a professor in the Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and Immunology at the Université de Montréal and a researcher at the Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal Research Centre. In this interview, he reflects on the major scientific themes emerging from this year’s abstracts, the evolving landscape of long-acting antiretroviral therapies, and why CROI remains a pivotal forum not only for researchers, but also for clinicians, policymakers, and others shaping the future of HIV and infectious disease care worldwide.

Based on the abstracts released so far, what major themes are emerging?

Obviously, we’re not able to disclose the specific details of the abstracts at this time. However, I can share that it will feature important new data across a wide range of areas, including HIV treatment and its complications, co-morbidities, cure research, and vaccine development.

In addition, this year’s program will include dedicated sessions addressing recent funding restrictions and their potential impact on the trajectory of the HIV epidemic.

Why does CROI continue to be such a pivotal meeting in HIV and infectious disease research?

I believe this is because the very best science is submitted to this conference. Founded in 1993, CROI has, since its inception, been the venue where many of the most significant breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention were first presented.

This reputation is reinforced by an extremely competitive abstract selection process, ensuring that only the highest-quality science is showcased.

It is also important to note that participation has grown steadily over the years, with increasing representation from researchers around the world. Today, CROI brings together leading international scientists and experts dedicated to advancing the global response to HIV.

How would you describe the current inflection point in HIV or infectious disease research?

This is clearly a difficult time. Over the past year, communities of people living with HIV around the world have been deeply affected by drastic and abrupt funding cuts to several international treatment and prevention programs. In addition, many of our colleagues have seen their research grants terminated, creating significant challenges for the scientific community.

Despite these setbacks, there is reason for optimism. The science to be presented at CROI remains exceptional. It demonstrates that researchers continue to innovate, collaborate, and develop new drugs and novel strategies to combat the HIV pandemic.

How does CROI foster collaboration across disciplines and countries?

CROI is a forum for scientific exchange and the open sharing of ideas. It provides a unique environment for building collaborations and strengthening professional networks across disciplines and regions.

To foster these international partnerships, CROI offers scholarships to researchers from around the world. This year in particular, the conference is supporting 243 early-career investigators, including students, postdoctoral fellows, and newly independent researchers who have held their positions for less than a year, through dedicated scholarship programs. These awardees represent a truly global community, underscoring CROI’s commitment to inclusivity and the development of the next generation of HIV researchers.

What do you anticipate we’ll learn about long-acting antiretroviral therapies this year?

Long-acting ART represents a major advance in the management of HIV. At CROI, results from several large, new clinical studies evaluating long-acting strategies will be presented.

Due to the embargo policy, I’m not able to share further details at this time.