Our mission is to catalyze cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary HIV research collaborations with a broad scope and major impact on the HIV epidemic in Chicago as one of a national network of Centers for AIDS Research. The emphasis is on collaboration between basic and clinical investigators in order to enhance translational research — a type of research in which findings from the laboratory and behavioral science are brought to the clinic and vice versa. In doing this work, we aim to value diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.