Yale University

HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact (HISTORI)

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Mission: The HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact(HISTORI) ScientificCongress aims to help Black communities in the United States end the HIV epidemic by providing an inclusive, self-directed platform for Black investigators to connect, learn and engage in collective advocacy.
 

To join the HISTORI network and listserv, please sign up here. For other inquiries, please contact us here: histori@yale.edu

 

2026 HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact (HISTORI) Scientific Congress Meeting

May 27–28, 2026
Montgomery, Alabama
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa

The HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact (HISTORI) Scientific Congress returns in 2026 with a continued focus on advancing implementation science that is accountable to Black communities and grounded in long-term impact. The 2026 Congress will be held in Montgomery, Alabama, in conjunction with the NAESM Conference and the HPTN 096 Protocol Team Meeting.

Guided by the theme “Community as Capital, Impact as Return,” HISTORI 2026 builds on prior convenings to further articulate and advance an economic and scientific model of HIV research that invests in community capacity, leadership, and sustainability, rather than extracting short-term academic gains. The Congress will bring together investigators, community partners, clinicians, and industry stakeholders to engage in dialogue, planning, and collaboration focused on execution and measurable impact.

The 2026 Scientific Congress will take place in person over two days and will include plenary sessions, facilitated discussions, and collaborative working sessions aligned with the HISTORI mission.

More information, including registration details and a tentative agenda, will be shared as planning continues.

 

2025 Scientific Congress Meeting
June 25–26, 2025

The 2025 HISTORI Scientific Congress marked a strategic shift in the network’s evolution, centering execution, adaptability, and accountability in response to persistent structural barriers shaping HIV prevention and treatment in Black communities. Under the theme “Standing on Business: Executing Our Response to the HIV Epidemic in Black America,” the Congress moved beyond agenda setting to focus on how implementation science, design thinking, and cross-sector alignment can translate evidence into durable impact. The Congress was held on June 25–26, 2025, in Los Angeles, California, at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, as part of the NAESM National Leadership Conference, and was co-chaired by Dr. LaRon E. Nelson and Louis Shackelford. Participants included investigators, community leaders, clinicians, and industry partners from across the United States, representing a broad range of expertise in HIV prevention, treatment, implementation science, and community-based practice.

Congress Day 1: Execution, Design, and Innovation
June 25, 2025

Day 1 focused on redefining how HIV implementation science is designed, evaluated, and operationalized. The opening session, HISTORI Research Network: A New Value Proposition for HIV Implementation and Impact-Focused Science, examined the network's evolving role in supporting scholarship that is not only rigorous, but deployable. Presentations by Dr. LaRon E. Nelson, Danielle Campbell (PrEP in Black America), Dr. Donna Spiegelman (Yale School of Public Health), and Dr. Marlon M. Bailey (Washington University in St. Louis) emphasized the need to align research incentives with real-world outcomes.

This conversation set the stage for Balanced Breakthroughs in HIV Prevention, where Dr. Uzoji Nwanaji-Enwerem introduced a framework for aligning human desirability, technological capability, and business viability - challenging participants to consider why effective interventions often fail to scale.

The afternoon pivoted toward applied design. In Built to Break: The Power of Prototypes, participants explored rapid testing and iteration as necessary responses to uncertainty in funding and policy environments. Taking a Human-Centered Design Approach to HIV Implementation Science, led by Jackson Jr. Ndenkeh and Daniel Davidson, translated design principles into practical tools for HIV research teams working under constraint.

The day concluded with HIV Science Flash Talks, moderated by Daniel Driffin and Daniel Davidson, highlighting work by Obinna Oleribe, Tasia Baldwin, and Richard Williams, each illustrating different pathways for translating science into community-responsive action. An evening dinner presentation on emerging PrEP choices, delivered by Chiree Graham, PharmD (Gilead Sciences), connected scientific innovation to patient-centered decision-making.

Congress Day 2: Reflection, Recovery, and Alignment
June 26, 2025

Day 2 centered reflection and course correction. The morning session, Falling Forward: Turning Past Losses into Future Wins, featured Darren Whitfield and Gamji-Rabiu Abu-Ba’are, who addressed the realities of grant cancellation, stalled pipelines, and the emotional and structural toll of disrupted research — while emphasizing adaptation rather than retreat.

Participants then engaged in Design Thinking I and II, facilitated by Dr. LaRon E. Nelson and Jackson Jr. Ndenkeh, applying empathy mapping, jobs-to-be-done frameworks, and prototyping to current HIV implementation challenges. These sessions emphasized learning from failure, testing assumptions, and designing interventions that remain viable amid uncertainty.

The lunchtime session, Preparing for the Pipeline, shifted focus to the future of HIV prevention and treatment. Ayanna Elliott (ViiV Healthcare), Cathy Chien, MD (Gilead Sciences), and Rafael E. Campo, MD (Merck) discussed emerging prevention modalities, pipeline disruptions, and the implications for implementation planning in Black communities.

The afternoon featured Design in Action: Think Big, Start Small, Move Fast, followed by Getting Down to the “ABC” of It, which addressed the necessity of aligning academic priorities, business realities, and community accountability. The Pharma Reflection and Response, moderated by Paul Thomas, created space for industry leaders Gina Brown, Rafael E. Campo, and Ayanna Elliott to reflect on responsibility, partnership, and trust.

The Congress closed with a collective reflection led by United We Rise, represented by Chioma Nnaji and Justin Smith, before final remarks and next steps from Dr. LaRon E. Nelson and Louis Shackelford, reinforcing HISTORI’s commitment to execution-focused science and community-anchored impact.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of:

 

2024 HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact (HISTORI)
June 26-27, 2024

The HIV Implementation Science to Optimize Research Impact (HISTORI) Scientific Congress aims to help Black communities in the United States end the HIV epidemic by providing an inclusive, self-determined platform for Black investigators to connect, learn and engage in collective advocacy. This year's Congress will be held in-person in New Haven, CT (no virtual attendance is available) and is a full-day event (June 27th) at the Omni preceded by an optional half day of workshops and networking (June 26th). There is no cost to attend beyond your own travel and accommodations; some meals will be provided, and a very limited number of scholarships are available to help support travel.

Tentative Agenda:

  • June 26th, 2024:
    - 12pm: Registration opens
    - 4pm: Opening Remarks and Presentations
    - 7pm: Welcome Reception
  • June 27th, 2024:
    - 8am: Registration & Breakfast
    - 9:30am: Sessions Begin
    - 4:00pm: Sessions End

Travel:

Yale University and the Omni Hotel at Yale are in downtown New Haven, CT and accessible by train: Amtrak, Metro North to New Haven Union Station (5 min taxi); air: Tweed New Haven (10 min by taxi), Bradley international (BDL) (55 min by taxi), and NYC airports JFK and LGA (1 hr 45 - 2 hr 30 by taxi). Newark, NJ airport (EWR) connects to New Haven via Amtrak but only several times/day so check connections carefully.

Accommodations:

The Omni New Haven (host hotel) can be booked on all major hotel booking channels for approximately $165-225/night before taxes. If you are interested in a room in the Omni, please indicate in the interest form and we will let you know if a lower negotiated rate is available. Other walkable hotels include the New Haven hotel, the Blake, the Graduate, and the Study.

 

2023 Scientific Congress Meeting

The 2023 HISTORI Scientific Congress was a multi-culturally affirming, self-determined forum for Black investigators involved in research that contributes to ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities in the United States. The event was co-chaired by Dr. Ijeoma Opara and Dr. Stephaun Wallace, with special support from Dr. LaRon Nelson. The Congress was held from 7-8th June 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted by NAESM as part of its 2023 National Leadership Conference. Over 75 Black investigators, activists, and community members from across the country came together to collectively engage in priority setting, knowledge exchange, and capacity building. The event further built on the HISTORI network of passionate researchers, community advocates and leaders in academia, community settings, health service organizations and industry motivated to bring an end to HIV in Black communities.

Congress Day 1 - NIH grant review panel session

NIH grant review panel session

The Congress began with a warm welcome from Dr. Ijeoma Opara (Assistant Professor of Public Health, Yale University) and Dr. LaRon Nelson (Professor, Yale School of Nursing). This was followed by a capacity-building panel session on "Insights into the NIH grant review process". The panel included Dr. Typhanye Dyer, Dr. Donte Boyd, and Dr. Michelle Andrasik. The first day concluded with a networking reception where attendees had the opportunity to interact with one another and develop new partnerships.

On the second day, Dr. Opara and Louis Shackelford (on behalf of Dr Stephaun Wallace) jointly welcomed attendees and officially launched the congress. Justin Smith (Director of the Campaign to End AIDS at Positive Impact Health Centers) led an interactive workshop session on "Implementation science through the lens of health equity" where attendees had the opportunity to share their ideas on how HIV implementation science can be reimagined through an antiracism lens. Following this session, three community members (D'Jamel Young, Alphonso Mills and Danielle Warren-Diaz) and one researcher (Dr. Cristian Chandler) shared their experiences on being on community advisory boards (CAB) and working with a CAB, respectively.

Congress Day 2 – group photo of attendees

group photo of attendees

Next, in the spirit of reimagining scholarly collaboration, four individuals (Dr. Gamji Rabiu Abubaare, Dr. Veronica Brady, Danielle Warren-Diaz and Dr. Marissa Robinson) participated in an open peer-review session by presenting their project/research ideas with congress attendees for feedback. The day concluded with a discussion led by Dr Rasheeta Chandler on the challenges of HIV implementation science in the US and globally.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of

Inaugural 2022 Congress Meeting

The HISTORI Scientific Congress was a multi-culturally affirming, self-determined forum for Black investigators involved in research that contributes to ending the HIV epidemic in Black communities in the United States. The event was convened by a group of thirteen leaders in the fight against HIV in black communities and took place in June 2022 in Dallas, Texas. It was graciously hosted by Dallas Southern Pride as part of the launch of their annual Juneteenth Unity Weekend celebration. The congress brought together over 50 Black investigators from across the country to collectively engage in priority setting, knowledge exchange, research methods capacity building, and science generation. It established a network of passionate researchers, community advocates and leaders in academia, community settings, health service organizations and industry motivated to bring an end to HIV in Black communities.

Inaugural Congress Proceedings: Strategies and Urgent Research Priorities to End the HIV Epidemic in Black Communities

A synthesis of insights shared by members of the HISTORI network regarding research priorities and strategies to end the HIV epidemic in Black communities in the United States

Download Here

 HISTORI Congress Proceedings thumbnail

HISTORI Group Photo Day 1
Pre-Congress Workshop Attendees

The gathering began with a warm welcome from co-convener Dr. LaRon Nelson (Associate Professor of Nursing and Public Health at Yale University), which was followed by pre-congress workshops that introduced attendees to implementation science strategies and methods. Yale University's Dr. Donna Spiegelman, Director of the Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, shared principles, frameworks and design methodologies central to implementation science research. We built on this momentum with a workshop on qualitative research methodologies focused on integrating text-based chatting apps in data collection led by Dr. DeAnne Turner, Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida and Dr. Gloria Aidoo-Frimpong, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS. Gilead Sciences provided guidance and resources on helping community organizations and clinics optimize the implementation of rapid ART and PrEP protocols. The first day concluded with a reception where attendees had the opportunity to network with one another and develop new partnerships.

On the second day, co-conveners Dr. Stephaun Wallace (Director & Staff Scientist at the HIV Vaccine Trials Network and Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research) and Dr. Ijeoma Opara (Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Public Health) jointly welcomed attendees and officially launched the congress. Participants were eager to dive into facilitated discussions around urgent research priorities for ending the epidemic in Black communities. The remainder of the morning was spent in breakout groups where attendees applied their varying expertise and put identified priorities into action through rapid science generation. Teams of investigators developed innovative HIV implementation science project ideas ranging from increasing utilization of community liaisons to using digital platforms to provide culturally-appropriate care.

Next up was a panel discussion on HIV Prevention Trials Network Project 096: Building Equity Through Advocacy, a sixteen-site implementation science study designed to reduce HIV incidence among Black MSM in the U.S. South. Moderated by co-convener Dr. Donaldson Conserve (Associate Professor at George Washington University), the panel featured insights from co-convener Dr. Mandy Hill (Associate Professor at UTHealth Houston), Melissa Curry and Ian Haddock. The congress closed with small group presentations and a final facilitated discussion on research and accountability.

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HISTORI Workshop Series Recordings

WhatsApp and Text-Based Chatting in Qualitative Data Collection
Date: July 15, 2022
Presenters: DeAnne Turner, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, at the University of South Florida College of Nursing & Gloria Aidoo-Frimpong, PhD, MPH, MA, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Yale University Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS (CIRA)

Introduction to Implementation Science and Methods
Date: July 28, 2022
Presenter: Dr. Donna Spiegelman, Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Biostatistics; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Director, Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science; Director, Interdisciplinary Research Methods Core, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS; Assistant Cancer Center Director, Global Oncology, Yale Cancer Center

Using Multiphase Optimization Strategy Design in Implementation Research
Date: August 1, 2022
Presenter: Dr. Raul U. Hernandez-Ramirez, Associate Research Scientist in Biostatistics (Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science); Associate Director, Interdisciplinary Research Methods Core, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

This event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of:

2022 Congress Conveners:

  • Marlon M. Bailey, Washington University St. Louis
  • Oni Blackstock, Health Justice
  • Donaldson Conserve, George Washington University
  • Redd Driver, Columbia University
  • Typhanye Dyer, University of Maryland, College Park
  • Mandy J. Hill, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston
  • Christiopher Hucks-Ortiz, HIV Prevention Trials Network Black Caucus
  • Craig Hutchinson, HIV Prevention Trials Network Black Caucus
  • LaRon E. Nelson, Yale University
  • Onyema Ogbuagu, Yale University
  • Ijeoma Opara, Yale University
  • Darren L. Whitfield, University of Maryland Baltimore
  • Stephaun Wallace, HIV Vaccine Trials Network