Bridge HIV

What Bridge HIV does

Bridge HIV is a clinical research unit within the San Francisco Department of Public Health, affiliated with UCSF, that has conducted HIV prevention research since 1980. Its work spans vaccine clinical trials (over 40 studies with more than 1,000 participants in the San Francisco Bay Area), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) research, topical and long-acting microbicide research (rectal and vaginal gels, dapivirine vaginal rings), and mobile health (mHealth) interventions. The unit originated from the San Francisco City Clinic Cohort Study (1978-1980), a foundational hepatitis B cohort of 6,704 men who have sex with men whose stored samples helped identify HIV infection patterns at the start of the AIDS epidemic, and it now holds one of the longest-running HIV research cohorts in the world. Bridge HIV was centrally involved in the iPrEx study, which supported the 2012 FDA approval of Truvada as the first PrEP medication, and participated in the RV144 Thai vaccine trial demonstrating 31 percent efficacy.

Bridge HIV's business model is grant-funded research rather than commercial product sales. Revenue is sourced from National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes (including the National Institute of Mental Health and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UCSF, and partnership funding routed through major NIH-funded clinical trial networks including the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), and Adolescent Trials Network (ATN). The unit does not sell products or services and does not publicly disclose pricing or budgets. Participant recruitment is conducted through a dedicated portal (HelpFightHIV.org), a Community Advisory Group (CAG), social media channels (Instagram, Facebook), community outreach events, and a multilingual website (English, Spanish, Chinese, Filipino), with research participants compensated for time and travel.

The organization serves populations disproportionately affected by HIV, including gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, transgender women and gender non-conforming individuals, Black and Latino communities, and adolescents. It is led by Dr. Susan Buchbinder (Director), Dr. Albert Liu (Clinical Research Director), and Dr. Hyman Scott (Clinical Research Medical Director), supported by an interdisciplinary staff of approximately 11-50 personnel. Strategic partnerships extend globally through HVTN and HPTN sites in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, with leadership embedded in cross-institutional bodies including the UCSF AIDS Research Institute and the Getting to Zero San Francisco consortium.

Name

Bridge HIV

Legal name

Bridge HIV

Website

https://bridgehiv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bridge HIV is a clinical research unit within the San Francisco Department of Public Health, affiliated with UCSF, that conducts HIV prevention research including vaccine trials, PrEP studies, microbicides, and mobile health interventions, serving at-risk Bay Area communities and contributing to global research networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HIV Prevention Research Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disease-Specific Global Initiatives (HIV/TB/Malaria/NTDs) (HLAJAOAE)

Keywords

• HIV prevention research
• Clinical trials
• Vaccine research
• PrEP studies
• Public health research

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Research Grants: Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), University of California, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct HIV prevention research.
2. Partnership Funding: Collaborative funding through HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), and Adolescent Trials Network (ATN) partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bridge HIV conducts HIV prevention clinical research, including Phase I-III vaccine trials, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) studies, microbicide research, and mobile health (mHealth) intervention studies. The organization recruits community research participants in the San Francisco Bay Area and contributes findings to global HIV prevention efforts through partnerships with NIH-funded research networks (HVTN, HPTN, ATN). It also operates the HelpFightHIV.org portal for volunteer recruitment and delivers community HIV education through outreach, a Community Advisory Group, and a speaking/training program.

Product overview

Bridge HIV is a clinical research unit within the San Francisco Department of Public Health that operates as a portfolio of HIV prevention research programs and community education resources. The organization functions as a single unified research entity rather than a platform architecture, with HelpFightHIV.org serving as the primary volunteer recruitment portal. The product portfolio includes educational knowledge resources (HIV Basics, Vaccine Myths & Facts, VISP information, Ethical Research education), community engagement programs (Community Advisory Group, speaking/training services), and HIV prevention clinical research (vaccine trials, PrEP studies, microbicide studies, mobile health interventions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HIV Prevention Research Programs Clinical trials and research studies focusing on HIV vaccines, PrEP, microbicides, vaginal rings, and mobile health interventions for HIV prevention. Research is conducted for NIH, CDC, and global research networks.
• HelpFightHIV.org Volunteer Recruitment Portal A volunteer recruitment portal connecting Bay Area residents with currently enrolling HIV prevention clinical trials and research studies.
• Community Advisory Group (CAG) A community engagement program where local community members consult with Bridge HIV on research design, consent processes, community education, recruitment, and dissemination of research results.
• Community Speaking & Training Program Community educators and staff present on HIV prevention research innovations, social justice, health equity, and mHealth topics at schools, organizations, and community events by invitation.

Quantifiable outcome

• iPrEx study demonstrated >90% HIV risk reduction with daily Truvada as PrEP, leading to FDA approval in 2012
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe largest global public partnership funded for HIV/AIDS vaccine development. HVTN conducts all phases of clinical trials, from testing experimental vaccine safety to testing whether vaccines work as intended. Bridge HIV serves as a research site for multiple HVTN protocols including HVTN 117, HVTN 118, HVTN 505, and the AMP study.
• HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA global organization whose members include researchers, ethicists, and community partners. HPTN aims to test interventions that prevent HIV infection and transmission. Bridge HIV participates in studies including HPTN 069, HPTN 077, HPTN 083, and HPTN 061 (Brotehz/Brothers Project).
• Adolescent Trials Network (ATN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ATN aims to end the AIDS epidemic among adolescents and young adults in the United States, improving awareness and healthcare services for youth affected by HIV.
• AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe leading global HIV/AIDS research network, including top trial researchers and research sites. ACTG aims to cure HIV and lessen its health impact. In San Francisco Bay Area, partners operate an ACTG site within UCSF's Positive Health Program.
• Getting to Zero San Francisco (GTZSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA consortium bringing together leaders from UCSF, San Francisco Department of Public Health, private healthcare, community organizations, local officials, and activists. Goal to eliminate new HIV infections, deaths, and stigma, making San Francisco the first city to end HIV/AIDS. Dr. Buchbinder is a founding member and co-chair; Dr. Scott is on the steering committee; Dr. Liu is co-chair of the PrEP Committee.
• UCSF AIDS Research Institute (ARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads all AIDS research at UCSF, fostering innovation and collaboration to address HIV epidemics globally and nationally. Dr. Buchbinder and Dr. Scott are executive committee members of ARI.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA U.S. federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services that funds HIV/AIDS research. Bridge HIV collaborates with CDC on HIV prevention projects.
• Heluna HealthminorOthersA nonprofit organization dedicated to improving community health that provides management services to organizations. Supports Bridge HIV through accounting, grant management, and human resources.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AVAC: A global HIV prevention advocacy and research organization focused on vaccines, PrEP, microbicides, and the broader prevention research agenda. Highly comparable to Bridge HIV given overlapping focus on biomedical prevention modalities and global research network partnerships.
• amfAR (Foundation for AIDS Research): A leading global nonprofit funder of HIV/AIDS research, treatment, and prevention. Comparable to Bridge HIV as a disease-specific HIV research nonprofit, though operating at a global grantmaking scale rather than as a clinical trial site.
• International Partnership for Microbicides: A nonprofit product development partnership working on HIV prevention technologies including vaginal rings and microbicides (e.g., dapivirine ring). Directly comparable to Bridge HIV's microbicide research portfolio and combination prevention focus.
• San Francisco AIDS Foundation: A San Francisco-based HIV/AIDS nonprofit delivering prevention, care, and advocacy services. Most directly comparable to Bridge HIV given shared Bay Area geography, overlapping community constituencies (LGBTQ+, communities of color), and joint involvement in the Getting to Zero San Francisco coalition.
• UCSF AIDS Research Institute: UCSF's cross-departmental institute that coordinates HIV/AIDS research across the university, with executive committee membership held by Bridge HIV's director. Comparable as a translational HIV research platform anchored in academic medicine and federal grant funding.

Emerging players

• Treatment Action Group: An independent AIDS research and policy think tank focused on accelerating HIV treatment, prevention, and cure research. Comparable in mission orientation (HIV research-driven nonprofit) but operates primarily as an advocacy/policy actor rather than a clinical trial site.

Broad incumbents

• HPTN (HIV Prevention Trials Network): The NIH-funded global clinical trial network conducting HIV prevention research, with Bridge HIV as a participating site. Directly comparable as a clinical research infrastructure player; operates at much larger network scale than any single site.
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (HVTN): Hosts the operations center for the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN), of which Bridge HIV is a participating site. Comparable as a globally scaled HIV vaccine research entity, but operates at a far larger institutional scale and as the network lead rather than a single site.

Regional players

• Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation: A Cape Town-based HIV prevention and treatment research organization historically collaborating on PrEP, vaccine, and microbicide trials. Comparable to Bridge HIV as an HIV prevention research site serving disproportionately affected populations, but operating primarily in southern Africa rather than the U.S.

Others

• NIAID Division of AIDS: The NIH institute that funds and coordinates most U.S. HIV/AIDS research networks (HVTN, HPTN, ACTG, ATN). Comparable as a strategic funder and research agenda-setter for Bridge HIV's work, though it operates as a federal funding agency rather than a direct research performer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bridgehiv
• Instagraminstagram.com/bridgehiv
• Xx.com/bridgehiv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bridge HIV