Intersectionality-Informed HIV Cure-Related Research at the End of Life: A Call to Action

Introduction: End-of-life (EOL) HIV cure-related research offers a unique opportunity to advance scientific discovery while honoring the values, dignity, and legacy of people with HIV. However, participation remains demographically skewed, mirroring long-standing inequities in who is informed, invited, and supported to take part. Synthesizing eight years of experience, published literature reviews, and community engagement from the University of California San Diego’s Last Gift program, we propose strategies to embed justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (JEDIA) throughout the design and implementation of EOL HIV cure-related studies. Discussion: Using intersectionality as a structural analytic framework, we examine how interlocking systems and social determinants shape access, consent, and participant experience, and we translate ethics into action across three themes and eight domains. As examples, we facilitate equitable access by implementing solutions that address gaps limiting awareness and feasibility of participation. We establish ongoing consent through multi-session consent processes with teach-back methods, clear healthcare proxy pathways, and explicit separation of research activities from clinical care. We center lived experiences by partnering with people with HIV and community groups, customizing participation, and honoring cultural and spiritual needs. We enable real-time course correction by using a dashboard that monitors enrollment patterns and representation. Conclusions: An intersectionality-informed, participant-centered approach is both feasible and essential to ensure HIV cure-related research advances with fairness, trust, and global relevance. Programs such as the Last Gift show that scientific rigor, integrity, and participant dignity can coexist, establishing a model for equitable HIV cure discovery.