CROI 2025 Conference Opens Amid Concern Over Funding Cuts and Attacks on Science

The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2025) commenced in San Francisco this week with a stark warning from conference chair Dr. Diane Havlir regarding the ongoing disruptions to HIV services caused by recent cuts to U.S. government funding and the overall climate of hostility towards scientific research. Dr. Havlir stated emphatically, "We are facing a cataclysmic and cruel precipitous disruption of HIV services," expressing a collective condemnation of the censorship of scientific discourse and the targeting of researchers and advocacy organizations that serve communities affected by HIV. The CROI Foundation echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for unity amongst scientific and advocacy organizations globally. This year’s conference has attracted over 3,700 participants, with many presentations focused on the diverse experiences of people living with HIV being withdrawn from the program. Despite these challenges, it was noted that over 90% of selected abstracts will still see presentation. The conference offerings this year, however, are expected to pivot away from groundbreaking developments like long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), focusing instead on the implementation of existing advances to maximize treatment availability worldwide. Activist Rebecca Denison delivered a powerful keynote address, sharing her experience as a long-term non-progressor of HIV, where she highlighted the drastic improvements in treatment and care over the years, but warned, "We can't take all the progress for granted." Denison stressed the importance of collective advocacy against the cutbacks, asserting that without continued support, many of the hard-fought advancements could be lost, potentially leading to a resurgence of the crisis that defined the initial years of the HIV epidemic. Prof. Chris Beyrer from Duke Global Health Institute raised alarms about the ramifications of funding cuts on the global HIV response, stating that the closure of USAID and a lack of clarity over future financing puts the lives of millions at risk. This alarm is echoed by the fact that before these funding disruptions, progress was already lagging with respect to UNAIDS targets. The alarming statistics announced during the conference underscored the real and immediate impacts of funding disruptions, with projections estimating significant mortality and transmission rates as a direct consequence of service interruptions. As we observe the developments at CROI 2025, it becomes increasingly clear that the battle for HIV services is not only a matter of health funding. It encompasses the broader context of societal values regarding scientific integrity, human rights, and compassionate care for vulnerable populations. The ongoing struggle for attention and resources mirrors a larger philosophical debate on the role of science and advocacy in the face of political maneuvering. The sentiment of many attendees resonates as a call to action: we must collectively advocate for sustained investment in health research and preventive services. The current moment reflects a crossroads in healthcare, where the momentum gained in HIV treatment could be paved over if immediate action isn’t taken to uphold these essential services. In summary, the opening of CROI 2025 is both a celebration of past achievements in HIV treatment and a rallying cry against the potential backslide that could erase decades of progress. It is a call to not just grieve over losses but to actively engage in protecting and advancing the rights and health of billions affected by this pandemic. This analysis has been reviewed and analyzed by artificial intelligence for enhanced comprehension and clarity.