Chicago State University‘s HIV/AIDS Research and Policy Institute was established with funding from the Illinois Department of Public Health in May of 2004 to address the disproportionate incidence and complex burdens of HIV/AIDS in minority populations through research and policy. With supplemental state appropriated funding, the Institute's charge to develop and implement activities and programs which support reducing the disproportionate incidence and the complex burdens inflicted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic on minority populations who reside on the South Side of Chicago and its surrounding areas was enlarged to include minority populations throughout Illinois. This initiative required the development of partnerships to address HIV/AIDS, related issues and its concomitant problems. In addition, collaborative efforts were implemented to conduct and facilitate HIV/AIDS research; inform policy with findings from data collected by students, faculty members, and others; build capacities of individuals, groups, and organizations relevant to HIV/AIDS; coordinate local area and campus-wide HIV/AIDS events and support others having mutually beneficial objectives with related activities.

The Institute established an ongoing collaboration with the Let's Talk, Let's Test Foundation (LTLTF) from its inception. LTLTF, executive director Lloyd Kelly agitated for the need and the funding of an entity that would inform policy with research that clearly identified the change in the direction of the epidemic. Dr. Eric Whitaker, director, Illinois Department of Public Health, and State Representative, the Honorable Constance A. "Connie" Howard, were persuaded to try funding an effort to establish such an entity and met with Dr. Elnora Daniel, President of Chicago State University. Meetings were held with Chicago State University researchers, faculty members, selected deans and community representatives. A proposal was written, and it was converted to a contract to establish a research and policy institute by December 2004. The Institute held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Monday, February 7, 2005.