His laboratory primarily studies HIV reverse transcriptase, the molecular basis for drug resistance, and gene therapy.
He was Co-Chair of the XVI International AIDS Conference and a past president of the Canadian Association for HIV Research.
In 2008, Wainberg was named a Chevalier de Légion d'honneur, the highest honor given by the country of France.
He was critical of politicians who ignore the problem of AIDS, including former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
His funeral was held on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Congregation Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem, the Montreal synagogue where he had previously served as president.