About the AVRC
Our History
In 1986, when the UC San Diego AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) was founded, being diagnosed with HIV infection meant progressing to an AIDS diagnosis and developing opportunistic infections that were only manageable for a short time, if at all. The death toll climbed and there were no treatments. People with AIDS looked to research for hope, but there was little to offer.
In response to this need, Drs. Douglas Richman, J. Allen McCutchan, and Stephen Spector founded the UC San Diego Treatment Center, as the AVRC was then called. These physicians represented the first HIV and AIDS researchers at UCSD, paving the way for the foundation of an organized research unit at the university dedicated solely to the study of HIV and AIDS.
Mission
The AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) HQ is dedicated to the development and performance of high quality research that enhances the quality and duration of life for people living with or affected by HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, influenza, and other infectious diseases of global significance, while respecting and supporting the best interests of our clients. We maintain a safe, caring, and confidential environment for persons of any age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, and disability.