PHILADELPHIA — (Nov. 11, 2025) — On Monday, Nov. 17th at 6:30 pm EST, Richard Jefferys, Basic Science, Vaccines and Cure Project director at the Treatment Action Group (TAG), delivers the 29th annual Jonathan Lax Memorial Lecture at The Wistar Institute in recognition of his outstanding contributions to HIV research, education and advocacy. Jefferys’ talk, “Community Advocacy and HIV Cure-Directed Research,” is open to the public virtually through an online live stream.
This year, Wistar Legacy Awards will be given to Philadelphians Jay Kostman, M.D., and Robb Reichard, recognizing their community advocacy and leadership. Dr. Kostman, Philadelphia FIGHT chief medical officer, will be honored for 25+ years contributing to Wistar’s HIV research program, and Robb Reichard, for his enduring leadership of the AIDS Fund, a nonprofit supporting the most vulnerable people living with AIDS in the Philadelphia community through grants, financial assistance, and education and awareness initiatives.
Richard Jefferys has been an important health justice figure since the mid 90s campaigning and organizing for access to medicines, clinical trials and services for people living with HIV/AIDS. His career began in 1994 at the AIDS Treatment Data Network in New York City, an organization dedicated to improving HIV care and access to plain language information on treatment and clinical trials. In 1999, he helped support the formative discussions that led to the founding of the Health GAP Coalition, to open global access to medicines for people living with HIV across the world and especially in the global south. Jefferys’ talk will span his 30+ years’ focus on expanding funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and scientific research, increasing awareness of clinical trials, and developing less toxic and affordable drugs, therapies, and a cure for HIV.
“The late Jonathan Lax was a pioneering activist in the 80s at a time when many living with HIV/AIDS experienced fear, stigma and isolation,” said Jefferys. “Learning about the grassroots movements formed in response—street activism, public rallies and demonstrations, including those led by ACT-UP Philadelphia—was inspiring and led to my connection with AIDS Treatment Data Network and the work conducted since at TAG. There’s still much more to do: more innovative research towards a cure, more quality health services, increased access to treatments, and that goes for both the U.S. and the world beyond.”
“Yearly we honor people pivotal to advancing HIV research that can most impact persons living with HIV. This year I’m pleased to salute national, community education leader Richard Jefferys with the Jonathan Lax Memorial Award for his tireless advocacy and commitment to sharing cutting-edge science with our community — science that will lead to new discoveries and important clinical trials that could contribute to tomorrow’s HIV cure,” said Luis J. Montaner, D.V.M., D.Phil., Wistar EVP, director of the HIV Cure and Viral Diseases Center, Herbert Kean, M.D., Family Professor, and co-principal investigator of the iCure Consortium and BEAT-HIV Delaney Collaboratory. “Richard Jefferys has changed the script on HIV, to be focused on better therapies and cure-directed research. He makes science accessible to all.”
The Wistar Institute and Philadelphia FIGHT established the Jonathan Lax Memorial Award Lecture after Mr. Lax’s death to honor his legacy by bringing distinguished speakers to a lay audience. Previous speakers include luminaries in the HIV/AIDS field such as 2023 Nobel Laureate Drew Weissman, M.D., Ph.D.; Nobel Laureate Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at the Institut Pasteur; Mike McCune, M.D., Ph.D., head of the HIV Frontiers Initiative and Biotechnology Accelerator Program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The 2025 lecture is free and open to a global audience. Register here to attend.
ABOUT THE WISTAR INSTITUTE:
The Wistar Institute is the nation’s first independent nonprofit institution devoted exclusively to foundational biomedical research and training. Since 1972, the Institute has held National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center status. Through a culture and commitment to biomedical collaboration and innovation, Wistar science leads to breakthrough early-stage discoveries and life science sector start-ups. Wistar scientists are dedicated to solving some of the world’s most challenging problems in the field of cancer and immunology, advancing human health through early-stage discovery and training the next generation of biomedical researchers. wistar.org
