Leading the Way Forward

amfAR is pleased to welcome three new members to its management team.

Andrea Gramatica, PhD, joined amfAR as Vice President and Director of Research in November 2024. He is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the Foundation’s research programs, including building upon existing research into HIV and other viral diseases, as well as addressing emerging public health challenges.

An expert in immunology and HIV virology with a research focus on viral persistence, immune modulation, and nanomedicine, Dr. Gramatica previously served as an Assistant Professor of Immunology Research at Weill Cornell Medical College and held roles as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Staff Scientist at the Gladstone Institutes/University of California, San Francisco.

Past research, including amfAR-funded projects focused on HIV latency, the primary barrier to curing HIV, has resulted in several high-impact publications. Currently, he serves as an Associate Editor for Bio-protocol, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal and platform dedicated to improving research transparency and reproducibility.

Among several awards and fellowships, Dr. Gramatica has been honored with an Early Career Research Excellence Award in Basic Science from UCSF and a Gilead HIV Cures Mentored Scientist Award.

“I’m excited to lead amfAR’s research into a new era, expanding our focus to tackle broader health challenges, while staying true to our core goal of advancing research to cure HIV,” said Dr. Gramatica. “This is a pivotal moment for innovation in medical research, and I look forward to collaborating with brilliant minds to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”

In January 2025, Karen Mateo stepped into the role of amfAR Vice President and Director of Public Information, responsible for implementing the organization’s strategic communications plan, leading communications efforts to raise the global profile of amfAR, and supporting program and resource development goals.

An accomplished communications professional with nearly three decades of experience, Ms. Mateo joined amfAR from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) where she served as Chief Communications Officer since 2019. Ms. Mateo’s previous roles include serving as Senior Vice President at North 6th Agency, an award-winning media relations and social media agency, and Senior Vice President of Communications for CBS Radio, where she was responsible for all internal and external communications functions for the division’s 120+ radio stations and portfolio of digital media properties.

Additionally, she led media relations efforts for CBS Sports Radio and supported CBS Local Digital Media. Ms. Mateo was honored as one of Radio Ink magazine’s Most Influential Women in Radio for six consecutive years.

“I’m thrilled to be leading amfAR’s communications team at such an inflection point in the organization’s evolution,” said Mateo. “Today we face unprecedented challenges in the fight against AIDS, but there is so much we have learned over the past four decades that will allow us to advance amfAR’s leadership in biomedical research and its pursuit of a cure for HIV.”

In April, amfAR welcomed Shawn Davidson as the Foundation’s new Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. With three decades of experience, Davidson brings a wealth of skills and knowledge to his new role overseeing amfAR’s financial strategy, risk management, and operating budget. Davidson served most recently as CFO at the American Ballet Theatre and previously held various roles at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He has devoted time to support American dance through Dance/USA and his position on the board at 890 Broadway, a building devoted to the arts.

“It’s the honor of a lifetime to join amfAR and contribute to their vital mission of finding a cure for HIV,” Davidson said. “I look forward to playing my part in ending AIDS and supporting global public health.”