Mark Wainberg Fund Highlights
Evan Barad

Portrait of Evan Barad

Evan Barad is a second year MSc student in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on examining the genetic composition, evolutionary dynamics and cellular sources of non-suppressible HIV viremia in individuals receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy. Thanks to support from the CAHR Mark Wainberg Fund, Evan was able to attend the 35th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2026) in Winnipeg and present two poster abstracts based on his current graduate research. Funding allowed him to travel to Winnipeg, take part in trainee workshops and share his work with fellow researchers, clinicians, and community members.

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.

Without this award, Evan would not have been able to attend the conference, present his findings, or participate in the New Researcher Workshop. His lab has multiple trainees presenting at CAHR, and this external funding made it possible for him to join the team and fully engage in the event.

“It is a privilege to join my lab at CAHR and have the work that forms my MSc thesis accepted for presentation. The opportunity to connect with community members, researchers, and other professionals helps ensure my research remains clear, accessible, and grounded in the perspectives of those who are directly affected by it.”

At the conference, Evan deepened a wide range of practical and professional skills in a way that felt genuinely meaningful. Presenting two posters at the meeting helped him practice answering questions, discussing methods, and connecting his work to broader HIV research themes. He also had the chance to talk with clinicians about medical school pathways and ask thoughtful questions about MD/PhD programs in Canada. These conversations helped him picture how he could stay connected to HIV research while moving into clinical training. Additionally, Evan gained new insights into specialized HIV techniques, including assays closely related to his own projects. Hearing about work from other labs helped him identify next steps for improving the quality and impact of his research.

“I am very grateful to CAHR and the Mark Wainberg Fund for the opportunity to attend the 2026 CAHR conference. As an environment to learn from world-renowned investigators and community members with lived experience, the Conference is truly an eye opening and perspective changing experience. I hope other trainees and new researchers can experience similar insights in coming years!”

This experience helped shape Evan’s future career goals by reinforcing his commitment to HIV science and showing him how his research can support people living with HIV. It also strengthened his confidence as young investigator and expanded his network across Canada’s HIV research community.