About Us
At Centro Ararat, Inc., research is the driving force behind our passion for innovation and commitment to the health and well-being of our patients. With over 23 years of experience, we specialize in cutting-edge clinical studies that evaluate treatments and therapies for diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis C, Hyperlipidemia, among others. We work hand in hand with both local and national academic institutions to identify and address the health needs of the population in Puerto Rico.
Through this collaboration, we have developed innovative programs that respond to these needs, and we have pioneered the implementation of Special Programs of National Significance (SPNS), establishing ourselves as a center of excellence in quality and reliability. These programs not only benefit our community, but also serve as models for other health centers across the country.
Every step we take reinforces our mission to transform healthcare through research, the application of up-to-date knowledge, and, above all, a commitment to improving the lives of every patient we treat.
Why is clinical research important?
- Medical advances: Clinical research enables the development of new treatments, drugs, and therapies.
- Safety and efficacy: They ensure that treatments are safe and effective before approval.
- Improved care: They contribute to more advanced and personalized medical care.
- Knowledge development: They generate scientific evidence that guides medical and health policy decisions.
- Equitable access: They promote accessible and effective treatments for diverse communities.
Principal Investigators:
Ivan Melendez-Rivera, MD, FAAFP
Maribel Acevedo-Quiñones, MD
Iván Báez-Santos, PsyD
Sub-Researchers:
Julio Bacó-Dávila, MD
Nadja Diaz-Báez, MD
Juan Ramirez-Malave, MD
Alejandra Velez-Rivera, MD
Current studies
Purpose 2: Phase 3, double-blind, multicenter, randomized study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-acting Lenacapavir administered subcutaneously twice yearly for pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV in cisgender men, transgender women, transgender men, and non-binary individuals ≥16 years of age who have sex with male partners and are at risk for HIV infection.
- Active, not recruiting
Wonders 1: A phase 2/3, randomized, active-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a weekly oral regimen of GS-1720 in combination with GS-4182 compared to Biktarvy in people with HIV-1 with virologic suppression.
- Active, not recruiting
Current collaborations
- “Proyecto Cura” Mobile Tele-Hepatitis C Community Care for People Who Inject Drugs in Puerto Rico – City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
- Optimizing PrEP uptake among Latin MSM in Puerto Rico: A comparative effectiveness study – University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-RCM)
- Clinical Use of Doxycycline as Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) for Sexually Transmitted Infections in Puerto Rico: A Retrospective Evaluation – Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
- Efectos de las alteraciones ambientales y de infraestructura en los resultados de salud de las personas con VIH: un estudio transversal – Escuela de Enfermería de la Universidad de Yale
Clinical trial contact
For more information about clinical studies or potential collaborations, please write to us at: