image: Mani L. Bhaumik Science Breakthrough of the Year Award Winner: Yvette Raphael
Credit: Meagan Phelan
Today, Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa (APHA) celebrates an extraordinary milestone as our co-founder and Executive Director, Yvette Raphael, receives the prestigious Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award for her pivotal role in advancing HIV prevention through the development and testing of Lenacapavir.
The award recognises role of three key contributors to bringing Lenacapavir to market: Wesley Sundquist, chair of the University of Utah's department of biochemistry, who provided the foundational scientific research; Moupali Das, Vice President of Clinical Development, HIV Prevention & Paediatrics at Gilead Sciences, who championed the drug's clinical development; and Ms. Raphael, who ensured the clinical trials were inclusive, ethical, and community-centred. This recognition stands as a testament to Yvette's unwavering commitment to ensuring that the voices of African women and girls are heard in scientific research that directly impacts their lives.
For over two decades, Yvette has stood at the forefront of HIV advocacy, challenging research paradigms and ensuring that clinical trials serve the needs of those most vulnerable to HIV infection. Her leadership as Chair of the PURPOSE 1 Advisory Board transformed how clinical trials are conducted, setting new standards for community engagement and inclusive research practices.
APHA particularly recognises Yvette's tireless dedication to advocating for the protection of women and girls across Africa. Through her insistence on including young women, adolescents, and pregnant women in the PURPOSE 1 trial, Yvette ensured that Lenacapavir's remarkable protection would be available to those who needed it most from the moment of approval. Yvette has always understood that science without community engagement cannot reach its full potential, and her ability to bridge the worlds of scientific research and community advocacy has been transformative. The 100% efficacy demonstrated in the PURPOSE 1 trial is not just a scientific achievement but a triumph of inclusive research methodologies that Yvette has championed throughout her career.
APHA also acknowledges Yvette's exceptional commitment to research communities across Africa. Through her insistence on transparency, ethical practices, and meaningful participation, she has built trust between researchers and communities that had historical reasons for scepticism. This trust-building has been critical to the success of HIV prevention research. Her work has demonstrated that when communities are genuinely engaged as partners rather than subjects, scientific outcomes improve dramatically. The twice-yearly injectable prevention method that emerged from this collaborative approach will transform HIV prevention efforts worldwide.
The Mani L. Bhaumik Breakthrough of the Year Award, established in 2022 with a $11.4 million pledge from physicist Mani L. Bhaumik, supports an annual cash prize for scientists and researchers whose work best underpins the Science Breakthrough of the Year. In 2024, Science named the development of Lenacapavir, with the potential to dramatically reduce new HIV infections worldwide, as their Breakthrough of the Year.
We at APHA could not be prouder of Yvette's achievement as this award rightfully acknowledges what we have always known that Yvette's unique blend of lived experience, advocacy expertise, and commitment to scientific rigour makes her an indispensable force in the fight against HIV. As we celebrate this recognition, APHA remains committed to ensuring that breakthroughs like Lenacapavir become accessible to all who need them. We echo Yvette's call for continued investment in HIV prevention research and the funding and optimisation of delivery systems that are essential for bringing these innovations to communities. While the Lenacapavir breakthrough is significant in the HIV prevention arsenal and prevention choice basket, APHA acknowledges that more research and investment is required to find a vaccine for HIV. Yvette has pledged to continue this fight, maintaining her unwavering commitment to comprehensive HIV prevention and its eventual eradication.
APHA acknowledges that Yvette's groundbreaking work has required support from her Board, colleagues, program partners, fellow advocates, researchers, and communities. This collective effort has been essential to her success, and we express our gratitude to all who have supported her vision and leadership.
Yvette's recognition reminds us all that ending the HIV epidemic requires collaboration across disciplines and sectors. When scientists, pharmaceutical companies, and community advocates work together with mutual respect, extraordinary progress becomes possible.
We extend our deepest congratulations to Yvette Raphael, whose leadership continues to inspire our organisation and whose vision of community-centred research is transforming global health.
About APHA
Advocates for the Prevention of HIV in Africa (APHA) is a leading community-based organisation dedicated to HIV prevention, education, and advocacy across Africa. Co-founded by Yvette Raphael, APHA works to ensure that people affected by HIV have access to information, prevention methods, and treatment options. The organisation is committed to amplifying community voices in scientific research and policy decisions affecting HIV prevention and treatment.