The first Canadian effectively cured of HIV

The first Canadian effectively cured of HIV

From The Decibel by The Globe and Mail

April 28, 2026 · 24 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the first Canadian patient effectively cured of HIV through a stem cell transplant and the implications for future treatments.

Only 10 HIV patients worldwide are known to have achieved the milestone of being in prolonged remission. Soon, a Toronto patient will be part of the historic achievement, becoming the 11th patient and first Canadian to be effectively cured of HIV. Doctors at the Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research revealed that a patient underwent a stem cell transplant that is creating a natural immunity against the virus. Jennifer Yang, health science reporter for The Globe, delves into the complicated procedure and advancements in HIV treatments, speaks to the doctors leading the medical research and explains why there’s still a long road ahead for breakthroughs.

People in this episode

Host: The Globe and Mail

Guest: Jennifer Yang

Topics covered

  • HIV
  • health
  • medical research
  • stem cell transplant
  • treatment advancements

Keywords

  • HIV
  • cure
  • Toronto
  • stem cell transplant
  • medical research
  • health science
  • immunity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Globe, Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research

Places: Toronto

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