- Healthbeat
- Posts
- What do start-ups have to do with HIV?
What do start-ups have to do with HIV?
Atlanta’s HIV innovation sprint on prevention crosses the starting line.
Rebecca Grapevine
September 11, 2025
Hi, Atlanta!
Georgia has a wealth of technological resources, led by Georgia Tech, that have produced a vibrant start-up community. It also has the highest rate of new HIV infections among U.S. states, with hundreds of committed advocates working on solving that problem.
These communities came together at Georgia Tech’s Science Square this week for an “HIV Innovation Sprint.” Sponsored by pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences and nonprofit Digital Health Institute for Transformation, the purpose of the innovation sprint is to let the community lead and shape the development of HIV solutions. This week’s “Discovery Day” is the first step in a multi-stage process that DHIT says will quickly help develop technological solutions to Atlanta’s challenges, as identified by frontline HIV workers from the city.
During the Discovery Day, HIV advocates listed problems they face in their work, including: lack of coordination among local groups working on HIV and sometimes competition for the same funding; lack of education and stigma-free care from medical professionals; difficulty affording housing; insurance gaps; transportation challenges; lack of employment opportunities and job discrimination; a lack of empowering messages about sexuality in the faith community; a lack of comprehensive sexual education; and many other issues.
What’s next is an Oct. 22-23 design challenge in Atlanta, where HIV prevention advocates and technology experts will brainstorm possible solutions. Teams will then spend eight weeks developing solutions to the problems, followed by a Demo Day in December, where the solutions will be presented at a pitch party.
Atlanta isn’t the only city participating. DHIT and Gilead have also launched this project in New Orleans, Birmingham, and Miami. Those have produced projects like a sexual health app that pairs with a vending machine with condoms, STI tests, and other health supplies in New Orleans. A team in Birmingham developed “The Amazing PrEP Race,” a citywide, social media-based scavenger hunt focused on sexual health topics that uses local influencers and landmarks.
I’ll be interested to see what they come up with next.
ICYMI
Here’s a recap of the latest reporting from Healthbeat:
Do you use Google to find the latest news and information about public health? Want to make sure you see stories from Healthbeat? You can go to this link to add Healthbeat as a preferred source, and we'll show up in your search tabs more often. Thanks for reading!
The Grapevine 🍇
At Friday’s plenary, from left to right, Orion Rummler, Ken Miguel, me, Miss Lawrence, and Dr. David Malebranche. (Jill Nolin / The Georgia Recorder)
It was great to talk about my reporting on HIV last Friday during a plenary at the NLGJA Conference in Atlanta. One theme that came up many times is the stigma people seeking HIV prevention and treatment face in health care settings. Another was about how many Black women and transgender people are left out of or don’t see themselves represented in conversations and even advertising for HIV prevention services.
The Healthbeat team attended a live taping of the WABE podcast “What’s Good, Atlanta” at Dad’s Garage on Wednesday night. Latino Community Fund Executive Director Gigi Pedraza was the featured guest, and the event was filled with laughs and even some “good news” headlines, including some upcoming events for Hispanic Heritage Month. Thanks to podcast co-host and comedian Mark Kendall for inviting us!
What I’m hearing from readers:
I always open your newsletter. I can’t say that about every newsletter I receive. Good stuff!
Hear from Healthbeat on other platforms:
“The Georgia Health Report”: I discuss why top officials left the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and what that means for the agency. Listen here.
What Do You Know?
Test your knowledge of public health topics. Today’s question:
True or false? Research suggests a strong connection between oral health conditions like gum disease and complications like preterm birth and high blood pressure. |
Tell Me More
Have you tried to get an updated Covid vaccine? Tell me about it. Were you able to get the shot — and how? What barriers did you run into? Send me your news tips, too. You can reach me at [email protected] or reply to this email.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
In health,
Rebecca
Looking for your next read? Check out these other great newsletters.
|
|
|
|
Reply