Pioneer researcher Dr. Jay Levy to keynote HIV Symposium

Dr. Jay Levy, a trailblazer in HIV research, delivers the keynote address at the upcoming University of Texas Medical Branch HIV Symposium on October 15 at 9:15 a.m.

Levy's groundbreaking work has paved the way for future vaccines and cures in the battle against HIV, and his address, "Early Studies of AIDS in San Francisco: HIV Discovery, Characterization, and Its Role in AIDS," will be the centerpiece of a day filled with expert-led discussions and forward-thinking sessions.

"This symposium is critical for UTMB," says Dr. Alan Landay, Vice President of Team Science. "We're not just celebrating our history of infectious disease research-we're looking to ignite new energy, foster innovative collaborations, and open the door to fresh opportunities both here at UTMB and with partners across the UT System. The time to come together and communicate is now."

Dr. Matt Mendoza, Program Manager at the Office of Team Science, is equally excited.

"We often find ourselves working in silos, unaware of the incredible work happening right next door," Mendoza said. "This event will break down those barriers, bringing medical, basic science, and community researchers from across disciplines together to recharge the HIV research effort on campus. The collaboration and knowledge exchange we hope to spark here could fuel new discoveries and push the boundaries of what's possible."

To achieve this, the symposium has been carefully designed to include researchers from all five UTMB schools, as well as key collaborators from Houston Methodist, UT Health Houston, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the local Galveston community.

"This is more than just HIV," Landay emphasized. "The research we're sharing has profound impacts across many fields-aging, cancer, even the COVID pandemic. HIV research is a driving force behind so many scientific breakthroughs, and this symposium is our opportunity to build on that momentum."

Levy, whose contributions to the field are legendary, began his AIDS research in 1981, and was one of the pioneers to identify the HIV virus in 1983. With over 600 scientific publications and 14 books to his name, his influence extends far beyond HIV, making his keynote a must-attend event for anyone interested in cutting-edge science.

"He is a giant in the field of AIDS research and in other areas of virology and immunology of AIDS," Landay said. "It's my hope that people will attend the HIV Symposium and come away with energy and enthusiasm to go forward, find new friends and scientific colleagues, and create an environment in which learning can take place.

"We're talking about leading-edge science here, and we want everyone-from HIV researchers to those in completely different fields-to walk away inspired, with new ideas and new partnerships."