UCSF Bay Area Center for AIDS Research

12/08/2025

Honoring and Remembering Alberto Rangel: Join Us in Tribute

Dear UCSF HIV Community,
It is with profound sadness that we recognize the tragic death of Alberto Rangel, a beloved Ward 86 social worker, as well as a spouse, brother, and friend. Alberto was attacked at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) last Thursday and passed away over the weekend due to his injuries. His loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him and working alongside him.

Alberto’s unwavering compassion, advocacy, and commitment to his patients and community were truly extraordinary. A GoFundMe has been created in his memory, and his family has shared plans to donate the funds to an organization Alberto cared about deeply. We invite those who wish to honor Alberto’s legacy to visit the GoFundMe page and contribute if they are able.

This week, vigils will be held in his honor in front of the Mother and Baby Statue at the Potrero entrance to ZSFG nightly from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. These gatherings will provide an opportunity for our community to come together, mourn, and celebrate Alberto’s life. Please feel free to bring flowers or candles; there will also be candles available.

We also want to acknowledge the profound impact of his loss on his colleagues at Ward 86 and the broader UCSF, ZSFG, and SFDPH communities. We encourage anyone who may need support during this difficult time to reach out to the UCSF Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP). FSAP provides confidential counseling and resources to help navigate moments of loss and uncertainty.

Alberto’s kindness, dedication, and tireless service will never be forgotten. He leaves behind a legacy of hope and compassion that will continue to inspire us all. Our hearts are with his husband, family, loved ones, colleagues, and the patients he so deeply cared for.

In solidarity,
UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research
UCSF AIDS Research Institute

11/20/2025

A Special World AIDS Day Grand Rounds: Mentoring Research and HIV Care: An Award, Community-Based Interventions, and HIV Cases from Ward 86
Wednesday, 3, 2025
8:30AM-9:30AM | Breakfast served at 8:15AM
Carr Auditorium, Zuckerberg San Francisco General
(Zoom option available: https://bit.ly/CFAR1203

Join us for a special HIV Grand Rounds commemorating World AIDS Day! We are delighted to present the ARI Award for Excellence in Research Mentoring to Dr. John Sauceda, and we will hear from one of his mentees, Dr. Natasha Ludwig-Barron, on her current research. We will also hear two Ward 86 HIV cases from Dr. Kyle Hunter (new Ward 86 HIV Fellow).

11/20/2025

History in the Making
ZSFG and the Ongoing Fight Against HIV

Monday, December 1, 2025
3:30PM-5:00PM PST | Reception to follow
Carr Auditorium, Zuckerberg San Francisco General
(Zoom option available)
RSVP here: https://ari.ucsf.edu/WAD2025

Join us for World AIDS Day 2025, where we’ll celebrate the scientific advances led by UCSF HIV researchers in partnership with our city. The event will feature a keynote from Dr. Diane Havlir (UCSF Professor of Medicine & ARI Director). We will also hear from several city officials, a long-term survivor with HIV, and Dr. Paul Volberding will moderate a panel with Drs. Steven Deeks, Monica Gandhi, Peter Hunt, and Annie Luetkemeyer on upcoming breakthroughs in HIV research and care.

10/17/2025

Registration Now Open!
Annual Mentoring the Mentors Workshop for HIV Researchers
Aldea Center on Mount Sutro, San Francisco
Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13th and 14th, 2026
Registration deadline: October 31, 2025
https://cfar.ucsf.edu/news/registration-now-open-annual-mentoring-mentors-workshop-hiv-researchers-january-13-14-2026

10/16/2024

N3C Emerging Issues (Virtual) Town Hall
Cannabis and HIV
Thursday, October 17, 2024
3:00-4:30PM PT | 5:00-6:30PM CT | 6:00-7:30PM ET
Register at: bit.ly/N3C1017

Panelists (confirmed):
Jennifer Manuzak, PhD, Tulane University
Danielle Haley, PhD, Boston University

Topics to be discussed:
• ·Overview of cannabis and HIV research
• ·Stigma on cannabis/drug usage
• ·Impact on adherence
• ·Pharmaceuticals/pharmacist perspective
• ·PLWHA historic use of cannabis
• Community/consumer perspective

Disclaimer: This town hall is not advocacy on the part of the N3C for the use of cannabis, but to facilitate dialogue with researchers on this topic and members of the CFAR community advisory boards and other community stakeholders.

10/14/2024

Scientists say it may be possible to drive the virus into “deep latency” by targeting the cellular process of transcription, by which lingering HIV cells continue to produce viral components.

10/07/2024

In EPITalk: Behind the Paper () a podcast series from the Annals of Epidemiology journal, host (and journal Editor-in-Chief) Patrick Sullivan highlights UCSF-Bay Area CFAR’s Mentoring the Mentors Workshop during the conversation in their latest episode latest episode!

Listen here: https://x.com/UCSF_CFAR/status/1843328337785319454

09/18/2024

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

Led by the AIDS InstituteExit Disclaimer, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD) is observed each year on September 18 to focus on the increasing number of people who, because of major advancements in HIV treatment, are living long, full lives with HIV. The awareness day also calls attention to the unique health and social needs, as well as the challenges of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care among people who are aging. This year’s theme, “Protect Our Aging Populations: Meeting New Challenges to Live Longer and Improve Lives!”, aims to emphasize the need for prevention, research, and data focused on the aging community and increase medical understanding of the impact of HIV on the natural aging process.

More than half of people living with diagnosed HIV in the United States and dependent areas are aged 50 and older. Some were diagnosed later in life, while others have lived with HIV for many years. Support services are available through health care providers, local community centers, or HIV service organizations.

09/05/2024

I-SURC Early Stage Investigator Spotlight Seminar
Register here: https://bostonmedicalcenter.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYuf-2gpz4iGdYV7JBJw3CtWMbZ9xLMmn7S #/registration

08/06/2024

Inter-CFAR Transgender Health Working Group Panel Meeting
Intersection of Transgender Research and Policy
Thursday, September 5, 2024
12:30PM - 2:00PM PT
Register here https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJArdemopjsiHdCcUxdRGsKn-2IRa1nU6THj #/registration

03/20/2024

Join Gladstone Institutes next week to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. During this presentation, Madeline Deutsch will describe the arc of her career in gender affirming healthcare, as well as the development, launch, and growth of the UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program. Deutsch will also touch on critical health system considerations facing the trans community.

Register on our website: https://bit.ly/3P16Jcs

Join us next week to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. During this presentation, Madeline Deutsch will describe the arc of her career in gender affirming healthcare, as well as the development, launch, and growth of the UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program. Deutsch will also touch on critical health system considerations facing the trans community.

Register on our website: https://bit.ly/3P16Jcs