Mark Wainberg Fund HighlightsTeresa Bennett
Teresa Bennett is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on HIV, specifically examining the potential of in-utero toxicities associated with antiretroviral therapies. Thanks to the support from CAHR Mark Wainberg Fund, Teresa was able to attend the 35th Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2026) in Winnipeg and fully participate in four days of scientific sessions, presentations, and discussions. Funding allowed her to travel to the conference and deliver an oral presentation on how integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) affect placental solute carrier (SLC) and ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters.
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, Teresa would not have been able to attend the conference, share her findings, or connect with researchers working across basic, clinical, and translational HIV science. The award made it possible for her to engage with experts in maternal-fetal health, HIV therapeutics, and drug-safety.
“Attending the CAHR conference is always one of the highlights of my year, but CAHR 2026 will always hold a special place in my heart. More than ever before, I felt deeply connected to the research being presented and inspired by the people behind it. Engaging with researchers from a wide range of disciplines reinforced the importance of the work I am doing and gave me renewed confidence and motivation to continue pursuing research that can make a meaningful difference for people living with HIV. Every conversation offered a new perspective, and I left the conference having learned so much; not only about the science itself, but about the value of collaboration, mentorship, and shared purpose. Attending this conference would not have been possible without the generous support of the Mark Wainberg Fund, and for that I am deeply grateful. The experience left me feeling optimistic about the future of HIV research and excited to contribute to it.”
Through this experience, Teresa developed skills in communicating complex science to a broad range of audiences. Interacting with people from other disciplines allowed her to realize the importance of presenting scientific concepts in a clear and comprehensive manner. She also gained insight into conducting scientific research which is not only thorough but also truly important for population most affected by HIV. Moreover, this experience gave her chance to learn more about translational science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and how basic science discovers can shape real-world health outcomes.
“Attending CAHR 2026 was both scientifically enriching and personally affirming. It reminded me that impactful HIV research is not only about advancing knowledge, but about asking meaningful questions, fostering collaboration, and pursuing discoveries that ultimately improve the lives of the communities we serve.”
This experience influenced Teresa’s future career goals by reinforcing her commitment to improving health equity for vulnerable communities, especially pregnant women living with HIV. Attending CAHR 2026 affirmed her desire to pursue research that bridges laboratory science with clinical relevance and supports better outcomes for families affected by HIV.