Going anti-Viral

Going Anti-Viral
  • 5.0 (19)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Bimonthly

Introducing Going anti-Viral, the podcast of the IAS–USA, a professional continuing medical education organization focused on HIV and other viral diseases. I’m Dr Michael Saag, professor emeritus of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and volunteer member of the IAS–USA Board of Directors.  Join us as we interview experts in viral medicine about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS-USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and various meetings and conferences.  Going anti-Viral is a podcast series for clinicians, produced by the International Antiviral Society–USA. The IAS–USA is a not-for-profit professional organization committed to improving the treatment, care, and quality of life for people with or at risk for HIV or other viral infections and their complications through balanced education and information. This podcast is intended as a clinical source of information for specialists in this field, but we hope anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections and their consequences.

  1. 5d ago

    How USAID Was Dismantled—and What the World Lost - Nicholas Enrich

    In episode 84 of Going anti-Viral, Nicholas Enrich joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss his book Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID. Mr Enrich is a former civil servant who worked at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under 4 administrations. He served as the Bureau of Global Health director of policy, programs, and planning until January 2025, when he was designated as the USAID acting assistant administrator for global health. On March 2, 2025, he was placed on administrative leave for addressing the Trump administration dismantling of USAID. Mr Enrich provides an overview of the history and work of USAID prior to 2025 including the success of programs like the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and nutrition and food security programs. He then shares his firsthand account of the dismantling of USAID under the Trump administration including the actions by political appointees and staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Mr Enrich and Dr Saag explore the impact of the Administration’s policy on global health, development, and international partnerships and discuss the long-term consequences of the dismantling of USAID. 0:00 – Introduction  1:17 – What was USAID and its global impact before 2025 3:00 – USAID work in global health and food security 5:10 – The inception and impact of PEPFAR 8:07 – US politics and the continuity of USAID during the first Trump Administration 13:29 – The executive order to freeze foreign aid and its implications 15:37 – Legal questions around the executive order and appropriations law 18:24 – Experience with DOGE and the management style of Elon Musk  21:30 – Stories of chaos by the DOGE team and destruction within USAID  26:17 – How the political leadership of USAID was unaware of the work of the agency and implications on current health outbreaks like Ebola  32:10 – The long-term consequences of dismantling USAID and rebuilding trust  40:33 – Nicholas Enrich's current work and future plans Resources: Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower's Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Into-the-Wood-Chipper/Nicholas-Enrich/9781668226957 Cast of Hair perform Let The Sunshine In on The Ed Sullivan Show, March 30, 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCXSA_biSw4&t=200s  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  2. Jul 28

    New Guidelines for Statin Use in People with HIV – REPRIEVE Trial Updates - Dr Steven Grinspoon

    In episode 83 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Steven Grinspoon joins host Dr Michael Saag to provide an update on guidelines for statin use in people with HIV based on results from the REPRIEVE trial. Dr Grinspoon is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a clinician in the Neuroendocrine and Pituitary Tumor Clinical Center and faculty member at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is a clinical researcher who studies hypothalamic control of body weight and fat distribution in obesity and lipodystrophy with a focus on the metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of visceral fat accumulation. Dr Grinspoon is the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and serves as the chief of the Massachusetts General Metabolism Unit and the director of the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard. Dr Grinspoon and Dr Saag discuss the latest findings from the REPRIEVE trial and provide updates on statin guidelines for people with HIV as well as providing insights into cardiovascular risk management. They discuss the safety and efficacy of statins and the role of cardiovascular risk calculators in clinical practice in addition to discussing the impact of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and inflammation on cardiovascular risk. Dr Grinspoon also offers his outlook for where further research is needed based on the outcomes of the REPRIEVE trial. 0:00 – Introduction  1:33 – Overview of the REPRIEVE trial findings 2:44 – Changes in statin guidelines for people with HIV  6:51 – Safety and efficacy of statins 9:09 – Use of statins and diabetes risk 11:16 – Cardiovascular risk calculators 16:00 – Statin use and blood pressure 17:14 – Impact of LDL cholesterol and inflammation on cardiovascular risk 24:08 – Future directions in cardiovascular research for people with HIV   Resources: Going anti-Viral: Episode 56 – Cardiovascular Health in People with HIV – Dr Steven Grinspoon Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-management-of-cardiovascular-health-in-patients/id1713226144?i=1000725697103  YouTube: https://youtu.be/297vweZ5bjQ    REPRIEVE Trial:  https://www.reprievetrial.org/  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  3. Jul 14

    Tracking Ebola — Outbreak Status and the International Response - Dr Tyler Evans

    In episode 82 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Tyler Evans joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and the global response. Dr Evans is an infectious diseases and addiction medicine physician and CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, a national organization advancing health equity in the US and globally. He is also an associate professor of population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and the author of Pandemics, Poverty, and Politics, which examines how socially and politically determined inequalities, have consistently precipitated pandemics and public health emergencies. Dr Evans’ work spans street medicine, HIV/AIDS care, and humanitarian response in complex emergencies, including 2 Ebola response missions. Dr Evans and Dr Saag discuss the current Ebola outbreak, its transmission, challenges in containment, and the likelihood for a vaccine. They also explore the impact of public trust on care and provide an update on the response from US and international agencies including a discussion of the risk for the outbreak to spread globally.   0:00 – Introduction  1:33 – Understanding Ebola: transmission and symptoms 3:05 – Containment strategies for Ebola outbreaks 7:39 – Challenges in surveillance and response 11:09 – Urban spread of Ebola: risks and concerns 12:43 – Vaccination strategies and developments 15:58 – Conditions in treatment centers and the impact of public trust in the outbreak 21:04 – Update on the response from US and international agencies and risk of spread to the US and globally Resources: Pandemics, Poverty, and Politics: https://www.tylerevansmd.com/  Wellness Equity Alliance: https://www.wellnessequityalliance.com/  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  4. Jun 30

    Progress in HIV Cure Research: Can a Single Shot Deliver a Functional Cure? - Dr Steven Deeks

    In episode 81 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Steven Deeks joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss recent research demonstrating the promise of a single shot in a functional cure of HIV. Dr Deeks is a Professor of Medicine in Residence at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and is a faculty member in the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. He is an internationally recognized expert on HIV pathogenesis and treatment and is the contact principal investigator of the Delaney AIDS Research Enterprise (DARE), an NIH-funded international collaboratory aimed at developing therapeutic interventions to cure HIV infection. Dr Deeks and Dr Saag discuss why a cure for HIV is needed given the effectiveness antiretroviral therapy. Dr Deeks then outlines areas of research demonstrating promise for single-shot functional cures: vector immunotherapy, the use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, and stem cell approaches. Finally, Dr Deeks provides insights into future prospects in HIV cure research including his perspective on the funding and drug development landscape.  0:00 – Introduction  1:21 – The need for a cure beyond antiretroviral therapy 5:37 – Overview of 1-shot cure research   12:40 – The promise of vector immunotherapy 18:52 – Overview of the use of CAR-T cells  25:01 – The role of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and stem cell approaches 26:36 – Prospects for the future of HIV cure research  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  5. Jun 16

    TMVII: Understanding the Emergence of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII – Dr Jason Zucker

    In episode 80 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Jason Zucker joins host Dr Michael Saag to provide an update on the Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII) infection. Dr Zucker is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University and Assistant Medical Director of the New York City STD Prevention Training Center. Dr Zucker is an experienced HIV, HIV prevention, and sexual health care provider providing status-neutral care to patients of all ages in New York. His research focuses on the intersection of data science, behavioral science, and implementation science. Dr Zucker discusses the emerging dermatophyte infection TMVII, its transmission, clinical presentation, and diagnosis. Dr Zucker and Dr Saag also detail treatment strategies, emphasizing the significance in sexual health and STI management. 0:00 – Introduction  1:21 – Background, epidemiology and transmission  5:58 – Clinical presentation and diagnosis  9:18 – Treatment protocols for TMVII 11:32 – Challenges and considerations in management of TMVII 15:38 – Future outlook and final thoughts  Resources:  Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - Notes from the Field: Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII — New York City, April–July 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7343a5.htm Going anti-Viral: Episode 30 - Update on Mpox - a Public Health Emergency - Dr Jason Zucker YouTube:  https://youtu.be/GTwXSvkcJ74  Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-30-update-on-mpox-a-public-health-emergency/id1713226144?i=1000675771251  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  6. Jun 12

    Special Episode - Latest Update on Emerging Infections and Health Threats

    In episode 79 of Going anti-Viral, we represent a panel discussion from June 9, 2026, as part of the IAS–USA Dialogue series Emerging Infections and Health Threats. This Dialogue is a must listen as our distinguished panel of infectious disease experts dives deep into some of the most pressing public health challenges facing the world today. Moderated by Carlos del Rio, MD, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine, this Dialogue brings together world-class experts Yvonne Maldonado, MD of Stanford University, and Peter Chin-Hong, MD, of the University of California San Francisco. The panel discusses the impact of the World Cup on public health as well as providing updates on current health threats including hantavirus, Ebola, measles, alpha-gal syndrome, and influenza. The panel also provides an update on alpha-gal syndrome and tick-borne diseases, as well as a discussion about an effort by Google to control diseases spread by mosquitoes. Finally, the panelists discuss the risk of the New World screwworm fly to livestock and humans, an outbreak of Campylobacter from the consumption of raw milk, and the impact of the World Cup on influenza in the US. 0:00 – Introduction  1:32 – Impact of the World Cup travel on public health 7:10 – Lessons learned from the hantavirus outbreak  13:42 – Status of Ebola outbreak, treatment options, and vaccine development 25:18 – Update on measles in the US and public health response 37:22 – Overview of alpha-gal syndrome and tick-borne diseases 42:20 – Update on the Google Debug project 45:31 – Risk of the New World screwworm fly to livestock and humans  47:42 – Outbreak of Campylobacter from the consumption of raw milk 52:59 – Overview of influenza season in southern hemisphere and risk to the US 57:46 – Closing remarks  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  7. Jun 2

    From Data to Guidance: The Process Behind Clinical Guidelines – Dr Rajesh Gandhi

    In episode 78 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Rajesh T. Gandhi joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss the process of guidelines development. Dr Gandhi is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Principal Investigator and Co-Director of the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). Dr Gandhi is the Vice-Chair of the ACTG, Vice-Chair of the Infectious Diseases Society of America COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel, Chair of the International Antiviral Society-USA Panel on Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV in Adults, and the Lead Editor for Infectious Diseases, NEJM Clinician. Dr Gandhi and Dr Saag explore the intricate process of developing HIV treatment guidelines, including evidence review, panel selection, and updates on new topics like transgender care and substance use disorders. They discuss how guidelines are created, their impact on clinical practice, and future directions in HIV care. 0:00 – Introduction  1:54 – The purpose and impact of guidelines 4:00 – Panel composition and selection process 6:00 – Guideline structure and key updates 12:34 – Emerging topics: transgender care and transplant medicine 14:31 – Substance use disorders and treatment innovations 16:03 – Evidence-based recommendations and their strength 22:07 – Guidelines development process and team dynamics 24:42 – Living guidelines versus published documents 28:41 – Closing thoughts and future directions Resources:  Going-anti-Viral: Episode 32 - Update on the New Antiretroviral Therapy Guidelines - Dr Rajesh Gandhi YouTube:  https://youtu.be/G7FQTInz-dY  Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-32-update-on-the-new-antiretroviral-therapy/id1713226144?i=1000678818027  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

  8. May 19

    Management of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Vaccination – Dr Debika Bhattacharya

    In episode 77 of Going anti-Viral, Dr Debika Bhattacharya joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss the management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and vaccination. Dr Bhattacharya is a Clinical Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine and specializes in the management of HIV and HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection and sees patients with viral hepatitis and HIV/viral hepatitis coinfection at UCLA and its affiliated clinics. Her research involves viral hepatitis clinical therapeutics and long-term clinical outcomes in persons with HIV/viral hepatitis or viral hepatitis alone. Dr Saag and Dr Bhattacharya discuss HBV infection and vaccination, especially among people with HIV addressing prevalence, serology interpretation, vaccination strategies, and management of hepatitis B in the context of HIV treatment. They also reinforce the need for more research into therapies that will lead to a cure for hepatitis B.  0:00 – Introduction  1:16 – Understanding hepatitis B and its impact on people with HIV   2:56 – Vaccination strategies for hepatitis B  4:53 – Interpreting hepatitis B serology results  8:38 – Vaccination protocols and recommendations  13:19 – Managing patients with hepatitis B  14:29 – Long-acting therapies and hepatitis B risks  17:29 – Screening and monitoring for hepatitis B  19:01 – Navigating core antibody positivity  23:36 – The importance of antibody titers  28:23 – Final thoughts on hepatitis B management  Resources:  Going-anti-Viral: Episode 31 - Will we ever have a cure for hepatitis B? - Dr Kenneth Sherman YouTube:  https://youtu.be/yh48RFOrISk  Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-31-will-we-ever-have-a-cure-for-hepatitis-b/id1713226144?i=1000677466892  __________________________________________________ Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections. Going anti-Viral’s host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode. Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTube X Facebook Instagram ...

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Introducing Going anti-Viral, the podcast of the IAS–USA, a professional continuing medical education organization focused on HIV and other viral diseases. I’m Dr Michael Saag, professor emeritus of medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and volunteer member of the IAS–USA Board of Directors.  Join us as we interview experts in viral medicine about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS-USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and various meetings and conferences.  Going anti-Viral is a podcast series for clinicians, produced by the International Antiviral Society–USA. The IAS–USA is a not-for-profit professional organization committed to improving the treatment, care, and quality of life for people with or at risk for HIV or other viral infections and their complications through balanced education and information. This podcast is intended as a clinical source of information for specialists in this field, but we hope anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections and their consequences.

Information

  • Creator
    Going Anti-Viral
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    85
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Going anti-Viral
  • Show Website
    Going anti-Viral