Mark Wainberg Fund HighlightsMaggie Duncan
Maggie Duncan is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in Dr. Zabrina Brumme’s lab. Her research focuses on building a better understanding of the HIV reservoir and improving our ability to quantify it. Thanks to the support from CAHR Mark Wainberg Fund, Maggie attended the 35th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2026) in Winnipeg and delivered an oral presentation on her latest findings characterizing the resilience of the Intact Proviral DNA Assay (IPDA) to sequence variation. Funding allowed her to travel to Winnipeg, take part in the New Researcher Workshop, share her work with national experts, engage deeply with researchers advancing HIV cure strategies and reservoir measurement, and connect with collaborators whose work aligns closely with her own.
The Mark Wainberg Fund was established in 2017 to assist Canadian basic science researchers – working in the realm of HIV virology – to present their work at accredited meetings in Canada and internationally. The program aims to continue Dr. Wainberg’s vision of fostering innovative HIV research and knowledge sharing, and is made possible thanks to the support of ViiV Healthcare ULC.
“Attending at CAHR 2026 was a great opportunity for me to present my research, learn about the latest in Canadian HIV research, and connect with fellow Canadian researchers.”
At the conference, Maggie gained confidence in public speaking by delivering her oral presentation in a supportive environment. She also learned about new analysis techniques and updates in HIV cure research. A moment that stood out to her was the announcement of the first potentially cured Canadian, which she described as remarkable to witness in person.
“CAHR travel awards have provided me with tremendous support throughout the course of my graduate studies. This support has been instrumental to my success as a PhD candidate and my career in science, for which I am extremely grateful!”
This experience influenced Maggie’s future career goals by helping her see a clear path forward in HIV research in Canada. The panel discussion on the future of basic science reassured her that there is a space for her skills and interests in the field. She also connected with principal investigators whose labs she may consider for postdoctoral training, making this conference an important step as she plans her post-PhD career.