Young Leaders, Big Ideas at AIDS 2026

This episode was made in partnership with the International AIDS Society (IAS), Young Leaders Programme. ---- Host Ben Plumley records from a windy Rio de Janeiro at AIDS 2026 with IAS Young Leaders guests Zarawu Adams (Ghana), Xandro Xu (USA), and returning guest Mengfei Li (Hong Kong). Adams discusses research on antiretroviral therapy–related metabolic complications and an app concept to monitor metabolic panels to prevent type 2 diabetes among patients on treatment. Xu presents research on how civic engagement and political empowerment relate to more frequent HIV testing among LGBTQ+ people in the United States, with findings highlighting benefits for transgender communities. Li shares success from a hand-dance campaign and a poster on why U=U messaging struggles to gain traction across Asia Pacific, noting ongoing knowledge gaps. They reflect on conference networking, stigma, funding uncertainty, integration with broader health priorities, optimism, collaboration, communication, and self-care as they commit to long-term HIV work. 00:00 Welcome and Guests 00:49 Metabolic Crisis Research 02:39 Civic Engagement and Testing 05:19 Hand Dance Campaign Wins 06:38 U Equals U Awareness Gap 08:43 Conference Takeaways 13:09 Why We Chose HIV Work 16:58 Can We End HIV 22:42 What Fuels Optimism 25:13 Family and Health Advocacy 28:31 HIV Fatigue and Funding Cuts 31:10 Lessons and Final Advice 37:37 Closing Thanks Guests: Zarawu Adams IAS Young Leader Medical Scientist, Salama Clinic Accra, Ghana Xandro Xu IAS Young Leader Researcher & Advocate, University of Pennsylvania alum Mengfei Li IAS Young Leader PhD Candidate, The University of Hong Kong AIDS 2026 https://www.iasociety.org/conferences/aids2026 Check Out Ben’s Substack: https://substack.com/@benplumley1 Join the Conversation! How do you see the future of global health unfolding? Share your thoughts in the comments! Subscribe & Stay Updated: Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform. Watch on YouTube & subscribe for more in-depth global health. #hivaids #HIV #AIDS #globalhealth #AIDS2026