Where your gift goes to work
Herpes Cure Advocacy is a grassroots, volunteer-driven nonprofit. Your donation funds the research tracking, policy advocacy and education that have helped put herpes on the U.S. public health agenda.
Four ways your gift moves us toward a cure
Donations power HCA’s work in four areas, from tracking the science to changing how the federal government responds to herpes.
Track the race to a cure
Every year since 2022, HCA has published the Herpes Cure Pipeline, our report on promising preclinical research and clinical trials for new HSV therapies and vaccines.
Your gift helps- Research and publish the annual Herpes Cure Pipeline
- Help promising therapies move from the lab into clinical trials
- Push for public and private funding for vaccines and cures
Put herpes on the policy agenda
We work with lawmakers, public health officials and federal agencies to make herpes a public health priority and to influence research funding.
Your gift helps- Make neonatal herpes a reportable condition
- Advocate for research funding for vaccines and cures
- Meet with elected officials and public health leaders
Push for better testing
Current herpes tests are limited and often inaccurate, which makes it hard for people to know their status. We push for reliable, accessible diagnostics.
Your gift helps- Include HSV screening in STI screening panels
- Advocate for more accurate, accessible tests
- Educate patients and clinicians about HSV testing
Educate and support patients
HCA runs monthly educational programs for patients and professionals. In 2024 and 2025 we partnered with the HVTN on a series of scientific talks on HSV.
Your gift helpsShowing up where priorities are set
Your support helps HCA bring herpes into the conversation at major STI and HIV conferences, with booths, posters and talks.
Our booth at the STI & HIV World Congress
Read the recap
Our “Advocacy Works!” poster at the CDC STI Prevention Conference
Read the recap
Sharing our work at the CDC STI Prevention Conference
Read the recapWhat support has made possible
HCA’s advocacy has helped elevate herpes onto the U.S. public health agenda. Some highlights so far:
- 2021
Funding for a national herpes strategy
$250,000 for a national strategy and strategic plan for the cure, treatment and prevention of herpes, included in the U.S. Congressional budget.
- 2022
A joint CDC/NIH herpes workshop
Leading experts and community advocates met at NIH/NIAID headquarters for a workshop on genital herpes.
- 2023
A push for better blood tests
The CDC issued requests for applications for improved HSV serology testing.
- 2023
An NIH working group on herpes
The NIH convened a multi-council working group on herpes, a new level of coordination across the agency.
- September 2023
A federal research plan for HSV
The NIH released its 2023–2028 Strategic Plan for Herpes Simplex Virus Research, led by NIAID.
- November 2024
Herpes in the national STI strategy
HHS published the HSV Addendum to the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan.
Accountable to the people we serve
We report on our work and our finances every year, and we’re always happy to answer questions about how gifts are used.
Registered 501(c)(3)
HCA has been a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since March 12, 2022. Tax ID 87-4325698. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Annual reporting
Our 2024 Annual Report covers what we achieved, where our revenue came from and how we spent it.
Read the 2024 Annual ReportVolunteer-driven
HCA is a grassroots organization. Our volunteer board gives hundreds of hours a year to run our programs, advocacy and outreach.
Questions about how your gift is used?
Email or call us and we’ll walk you through it.
Help write the next milestone
Whether you give once or every month, your donation funds the research tracking, advocacy and education on this page.
Herpes Cure Advocacy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 87-4325698). All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.