The University of Washington AIDS Clinical Trials Unit (ACTU) is a research center located at Harborview Medical Center on First Hill in Seattle. The center conducts research studies (clinical trials) of HIV and AIDS to study treatments which fight HIV infection and treat or prevent opportunistic infections associated with the HIV virus. The center also conducts studies that look into the natural history of HIV and its relationship to other infectious diseases, such as hepatitis, herpes, and HPV. There are approximately 50 ACTU research centers around the nation. Our studies are open to HIV-positive men and women at different stages of HIV infection. We also welcome the participation of HIV-negative males and females.
Our research efforts focus on three main approaches to the problems that HIV cause:
- Finding a way to control or inhibit HIV.
- Finding a way to repair and restore the immune system.
- Preventing and treating diseases that may result from HIV infection.
Information collected on studies becomes part of a database that may eventually be used for approval of new drugs, contribute to new and more effective medical care at the clinical level, and increase the knowledge of HIV therapies. On average we open new studies every sixty days.
The UW ACTU coordinates care with the primary care providers of our patients. The entire UW Medicine medical system is available for primary and other specialty care services or hospitalization, including management of HIV-AIDS (Harborview Madison Clinic). Information (in English and Spanish) on our latest research studies is available at http://depts.washington.edu/~actu.
Appointments and Referrals
Our reception desk is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clinic hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are scheduled as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 5 p.m. For appointments or more information about our research studies, call 206-731-3184 (English) or 206-731-4718 (Spanish).