University Research Corp

What University Research Corp does

University Research Co., LLC (URC) is a Bethesda, Maryland-based private limited liability company founded in 1965 that operates as an international development contractor rather than a commercial product vendor. With 1,001-5,000 employees, URC implements donor-funded health and development projects — primarily under USAID cooperative agreements and contracts — across roughly 100 countries, with current active programs in 17 named countries across Africa, Asia, Eurasia, Latin America/Caribbean, and the Middle East. Its portfolio centers on disease-specific programs (TB Platforms in the Philippines, Defeat TB in Uganda, CMEP2 in Cambodia, Defeat Malaria in Myanmar, Cure TB in the Kyrgyz Republic) and integrated health-systems work (USAID Uganda Health Activity, USAID RenewHealth), complemented by adjacent initiatives in economic growth, security/resilience, and mental health. Proprietary technical components include the FAST and FASTPlus methodologies for active TB case finding, AI-assisted CAD4TB-powered portable chest X-ray screening, the ConnecTB and Lusog-Isip mobile health applications, and Video Observed Treatment (VOT) adherence monitoring, alongside three decades of codified quality-improvement frameworks deployed in 45+ countries.

URC generates revenue almost exclusively through government donor awards: competitive USAID contracts and cooperative agreements for multi-year program implementation, plus sub-awards from partners such as JSI, FHI 360, EGPAF, and Panagora. The USAID President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) is a primary co-funder for malaria programming. Its go-to-market is sales-led within the constrained USAID procurement ecosystem, with relationship development through senior technical advisors (TB, infectious diseases, quality health systems) and visibility at conferences such as the Union World Conference on Lung Health and ASTMH. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Center for Human Services operates as a complementary global nonprofit arm. URC reported no parent company, no equity funding history, and no public financials, and has been actively localizing program leadership to indigenous partners (IDI, TASO) in line with USAID's localization mandate.

Name

University Research Corp

Legal name

University Research Co., LLC

Website

https://urc-chs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

University Research Corp is a Bethesda, Maryland-based international development organization implementing USAID-funded health and development programs — including TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS, quality improvement, and mental health — across approximately 100 countries, serving government ministries and vulnerable populations through multi-year project awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Health Development Services

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Partnerships (HLAJAOAL), Health Systems Strengthening & Universal Health Coverage (UHC) (BPADAIAE)

Keywords

• International health development
• USAID implementing partner
• Health systems strengthening
• Tuberculosis control programs
• Malaria elimination programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Chevy Chase

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. USAID Project Implementation: URC generates revenue primarily through competitive contracts and cooperative agreements with USAID to implement international health development projects. These include multi-year awards for health systems strengthening, disease control programs (TB, malaria, HIV/AIDS), and quality improvement initiatives across multiple countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

University Research Corp (URC) is an international development organization that implements multi-year, USAID-funded health development projects in developing countries. Its work centers on tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, mental health, and health systems strengthening, delivered through country-specific programs such as TB Platforms, Defeat TB, the Uganda Health Activity, the Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2, Defeat Malaria, the Cure Tuberculosis Project, and USAID RenewHealth, complemented by quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation, and digital health tools.

Product overview

University Research Corp (URC) is a global health organization that implements USAID-funded health programs rather than a traditional software product company. The core offering consists of disease-specific health programs and projects (TB Platforms, Defeat TB, CMEP2, Defeat Malaria, Cure TB, RenewHealth, Uganda Health Activity) alongside cross-cutting service offerings in Quality Improvement, Health Systems Strengthening, and Monitoring/Evaluation. These programs operate as distinct projects in specific countries/regions, supported by technical expertise areas including Tuberculosis, Malaria, Maternal and Child Health, Infectious Diseases, and Quality Improvement. The organization also offers the Lusog-Isip mental health mobile app and digital health tools like ConnecTB and AI-powered X-ray screening. URC also operates the Center for Human Services as its nonprofit subsidiary brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Human Services: URC's global nonprofit organization focused on health systems strengthening and international development.

Products and services

• TB Platforms for Sustainable TB Detection, Care and Treatment
• Defeat TB Activity
• Uganda Health Activity (UHA)
• Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2 (CMEP2)
• Defeat Malaria Activity
• Cure Tuberculosis Project
• USAID RenewHealth
• Quality Improvement Services
• Tuberculosis Control Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• TB treatment success rates improved from 72% to 85.7% in Uganda through Defeat TB Activity
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability9 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022CDFU is a partner implementing the USAID Uganda Health Activity, supporting communication for development interventions.
• Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022EGPAF partners with URC on the Uganda Health Activity, bringing expertise in pediatric HIV/AIDS and prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
• FHI 360coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022FHI 360 is a partner in the Uganda Health Activity, contributing technical expertise in health and development.
• Marie Stopes UgandacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Marie Stopes Uganda is a partner in the Uganda Health Activity, supporting family planning and reproductive health services.
• Panagora GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Panagora Group is a partner implementing the Uganda Health Activity, providing technical expertise in health systems and monitoring evaluation.
• Youth Alive UgandacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022Youth Alive is a partner in the Uganda Health Activity, focusing on youth health interventions.
• Panagora GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021Panagora Group is a partner in CMEP2, supporting monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities.
• Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021PBSP, through its Global Fund-supported ACCESS TB Project, collaborates with TB Platforms providing chest X-ray voucher programs and supporting DR-TB patient treatment at satellite centers.
• JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019JSI is the lead implementer of the USAID Cure Tuberculosis Project in the Kyrgyz Republic, with URC as a partner implementing the clinical component of the project.
• Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz RepubliccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and its National Tuberculosis Program are government counterparts for the Cure Tuberculosis Project.
• Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019MHIF is a government partner in Kyrgyz Republic supporting health financing aspects of the TB program.
• Center for Health Solutions & Innovations Philippines (CHSI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018CHSI is a local partner implementing the USAID TB Platforms Project in the Philippines, supporting TB detection, care and treatment activities in target regions.
• Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018GRF is a local implementation partner for the USAID TB Platforms Project in the Philippines, contributing to TB program delivery.
• Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (PTSI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018PTSI is a local partner supporting TB Platforms implementation in the Philippines.
• Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018PSFI is a local implementation partner for the TB Platforms Project, supporting TB activities in the Philippines.
• Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017IDI was a key partner in the USAID Defeat TB Activity in Uganda, supporting operations research and technical capacity building. IDI subsequently took over leadership of the follow-on Local Partnership for Health Services for TB Activity.
• The AIDS Support Organization (TASO)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017TASO was a civil society organization partner in the Defeat TB Activity, supporting community systems strengthening for TB prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment in Uganda.
• Harvard Institute for International DevelopmentminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 1981Harvard Institute was a partner in the PRICOR Project, contributing research and development expertise.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ICF International: ICF is a broader incumbent with global health, M&E, and health systems work for USAID and global donors. Comparable on the monitoring, evaluation, and learning dimension where URC's QI and MEL offerings compete, though ICF has a larger commercial analytics footprint.
• RTI International: RTI is a broader incumbent implementing USAID global health and research programs at larger scale than URC, with overlapping disease focus (TB, malaria, HIV, MCH). Offers a wider portfolio of research and evaluation services beyond pure implementation.

Direct peers

• FHI 360: FHI 360 is a direct peer—a large global health and development organization implementing USAID-funded programs on HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, and health systems strengthening. URC documents FHI 360 as a consortium partner on the Uganda Health Activity, confirming direct overlap in scope, donor base, and service model.
• Abt Associates: Abt is a direct peer implementing USAID-funded health and social programs globally, including TB, HIV, malaria, and HSS. Comparable in scale and prime-contracting posture to URC, often competing for the same USAID solicitations.
• Chemonics International: Chemonics is one of the largest USAID implementing partners and a direct peer for global health supply chain, TB, and HSS programs. It is a frequent counter-bidder on USAID prime awards against mid-tier implementers like URC.
• Management Sciences for Health (MSH): MSH is a direct peer focused on USAID/PMI global health systems strengthening, TB, malaria, and pharmaceutical management. Abel Nkolo's prior role was with MSH leading TB activities in Africa, signaling that MSH competes with URC for the same prime awards and technical staff.
• Pathfinder International: Pathfinder is a direct peer implementing USAID-funded family planning, reproductive health, and HIV programs. Overlaps with URC's Uganda Health Activity scope (Marie Stopes Uganda partnership) and similar donor-driven global health delivery model.
• JSI Research & Training Institute: JSI is a direct peer implementing USAID global health programs across maternal/child health, HIV, and TB. URC explicitly partners with JSI on the USAID Cure Tuberculosis Project in Kyrgyz Republic, making it a closely comparable prime implementer serving the same donor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urcchs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/URCvideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/UniversityResearchCoLLC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urc
• Instagraminstagram.com/urc_global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University Research Corp