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The Advanced Technology (AT) Core at SD CFAR aims to accelerate scientific discovery by providing centralized access to cutting-edge instrumentation, expertise, and data analysis, with a strong emphasis on supporting HIV, immunology, and precision medicine research. By consolidating resources at UCSD and deepening partnerships with the La Jolla Institute (LJI) and Scripps Research (Scripps), the ATC will offer an extensive array of advanced services, ensuring researchers have the necessary tools and support for high-impact studies.

The AT Core’s mission is to expand access to sophisticated cytometric, genomic, imaging, and epigenetic technologies while providing critical bioinformatics and quality assurance support. It functions as the methodological and translational engine of the SD CFAR. By integrating advanced technologies, rigorous quality systems, cross-institutional validation, and structured investigator support, the AT Core accelerates discovery while ensuring reproducibility, scalability, and meaningful impact toward HIV cure and improved health outcomes.

Sub Units

Virology Unit
Cellular Biology Unit
Omics/Epigenetics Unit
Data Unit

Location and Contact

The San Diego CFAR Advanced Technology Core is located on the UC San Diego School of Medicine campus in the Stein Clinical Research Building, Third Floor, Room 324.

The Advanced Technology Core is housed in separate clinical and basic science laboratories, each outfitted with all the necessary equipment. The clinical laboratory is in Hillcrest near the AntiViral Research Center (AVRC) where clinical trials are conducted. Just 12 miles north, the basic science laboratory is located in the Stein Clinical Research Building (SCRB) on the UCSD main campus in La Jolla. The AVRC site is responsible for point-of-care assays (e.g., rapid HIV antibody testing, urine dipsticks) and clinically validated assays (e.g., viral loads), performed through CLIA-certified laboratories when needed for clinical endpoints. The SCRB site supports the basic science assays (e.g., viral quantification by ddPCR and proviral sequencing). A courier makes 1-2 trips between the AVRC and the SCRB labs daily, Monday-Friday.

Contact information
9500 Gilman Drive, Mail Code 0679
La Jolla, California 92093-0679
TEL: 858-642-1620
FAX: 858-552-7445
E-mail: Core Administrator

Additionally, some services are performed at:
220 Dickinson St, Suite A
San Diego, CA 92103

Protocol and Resources

Please click the links below to review our protocols and user resources.

The UC San Diego Primary Infection Resource Consortium (PIRC) is the largest, most intensively studied and well-characterized longitudinal cohort of acute and early HIV infected (AEH) individuals in the United States. We collect critically important clinical and biological samples, which are then archived for use by national and international investigators studying a range of high-priority research questions. With its unique repository of clinical specimens and behavioral data, PIRC is dedicated to helping qualified laboratories and clinicians all over the world expand the scope of life-changing, critical HIV research.

Acknowledging Publications

If work performed for you at the San Diego CFAR Advanced Technology Core results in publication, please acknowledge us with the following statement and please e-mail a PDF of your publication to the Core Administrator:

This work was performed with the support of the Advanced Technology Core at the San Diego Center for AIDS Research (P30 AI036214).

FOR INTERNAL USE:

Faculty and Staff of the Advanced Technology Core please use the following acknowledgement statement for our publications:

  • AI036214 (CFAR P30)
  • UL1TR001442 (ACTRI)
  • The James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust

  • AI007384 (HOPE T32 Training)

  • DK131532 (R01 Smith Gut)
  • AI169609 (P01 Smith HOME)
  • DA059551 (R01 Ott Opioid)
  • AI164570 (BEAT Delaney Collaboratory)
  • DA051915 (DP2 Gianella Avenir)
  • AI164559 (HOPE Delaney Collaboratory)
  • DK131497 (R01 Blasi Renal)
  • H24BD7868 (LaMere CHRP)
  • NS137852 (R01 LaMere Brain Epigenetics)
  • H24BD7837 (Mattia CHRP)
  • U24MH100928 (California NeuroAIDS Tissue Network)
  • MH136852 (R01 Jiang Latency)
  • AI186609 (R01 Jiang Histone)
  • DA055491 (R01 Chaillon Myeloid Cells)
  • MH062512 (Moore HNRC P30)
  • CA023100 (Lippman Cancer)
  • AI181705 (R56 Connick/Gianella)

  • AI147821 (R01 Gianella CMV Replication)
  • AI155680 (R01 Schacklett CMV)

  • AI068636 (ACTG UM1)
  • AI106701 (ACTG Lab Center)

  • AI181655 (R01 Gianella Menopause)
  • AI189309 (R01 Gianella Estrogen Exposure)

  • AMED under Grant Number JP243fa627003 (Smith Japan Grant)
  • AI170254 Sub PH000875A (R01 Rui HIV Rebound modeling)