Sunnylands Center & Gardens will be closed April 25 to May 3 to accommodate a retreat that Sunnylands is hosting in cooperation with the HIV Cure Accelerator in Africa Partnership.

Titled Gene Therapy-Based Cures for HIV and Sickle Cell Disease, the retreat will convene approximately thirty global experts in research, clinical, policy, and commercial issues related to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and sickle cell disease (SCD).

Recent advances in gene and cell therapies are pointing the way toward a cure for SCD and are being vigorously pursued for HIV. Retreat participants will review the state of HIV and SCD research and discuss ways that safe, effective, and affordable gene therapies could be used to combat both diseases.

The number of retreat participants will require the use of Sunnylands Center as a meeting space. Along with the Center & Gardens’ closure, tours of the Annenberg home will not be available from April 25 to May 3 and wellness programs, such as yoga and tai chi, will not take place during those dates.