On October 21st, a dedicated group of Duke early-stage investigators attended the 8th Translational HIV Vaccine Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Conference in New Orleans. The event was organized by Drs. Alison Roxby and Jim Kublin of the HIV Vaccine Trial Network and 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 aimed to support ESIs focusing on translational HIV research in non-human primates (NHPs) or clinical HIV and TB research. Attendees were all within 10 years of completing their terminal research degrees (PhD, MD, DVM), medical residencies, or equivalent. The event featured career mentoring, networking opportunities tailored for ESIs, and presentations and guidance from senior researchers and mentors, including the Duke CFAR's Guido Ferrari, Justin Pollara, Keith Reeves, and Wilton Williams.
Past 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. Harikrishnan 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 early-stage investigators.”
Attendees were selected from a competitive pool of 51 national and international applicants, with several receiving scholarships, including James, Dieter, Marina, and Philippe. Congratulations to all Duke ESI attendees for being selected and presenting your work!