About IHV

The Institute of Human Virology is the first center in the United States -- perhaps the world -- to combine the disciplines of basic research, epidemiology and clinical research in a concerted effort to speed the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic and deadly viral and immune disorders - most notably the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

Formed in 1996 as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System, IHV is an institute of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is home to some of the most globally-recognized and world-renowned experts in all of virology.

The Institute is unique in that from its birth it was conceived not just as a large laboratory, basic research institute or patient care facility. Rather it is all of the above, housed in a 100,000-square-foot building located in the center of Baltimore.

With its unique organizational structure, IHV has created an environment where multidisciplinary research, education and clinical programs work closely together to expedite the scientific understanding of HIV/AIDS pathogenesis and to develop therapeutic interventions to make AIDS and virally-caused cancers manageable, if not curable, diseases.

A particular focus is on learning how to utilize the body's natural chemistry for its own therapeutic potential and pursuing biologically-based treatment approaches that are less toxic to the body and, often, less costly to the patient and to the public. Another priority is the development of effective therapeutic and preventative vaccines, science's greatest hope in putting an end to the AIDS pandemic.

IHV's nearly 300 employees include more than 50 faculty whose research efforts are focused in the area of chronic human viral infection and disease. At present, more than 75 percent of the Institute's clinical and research effort is targeted at HIV infection, but also includes the Hepatitis C virus, herpes viruses and cancer research.

The Institute is divided into four major divisions: Basic Science and Vaccine Research, Clinical Care and Research, Epidemiology and Prevention, and Animal Models. To learn more about the Institute and its initiatives, visit the separate sites for Research, Prevention and Patient Care.