The National Center for AIDS/STD Prevention and Control (NCAIDS) was established in July 1998 as part of the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine (CAPM). On January 23rd, 2002 the CAPM was restructured and named the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention of which NCAIDS now currently resides.  NCAIDS is the leading agency in the prevention and control of AIDS at the national level.

Technical guidance and training programs for HIV/AIDS prevention and control have been undertaken by NCAIDS since its establishment. A large quantity of research and fieldwork concerning HIV/AIDS epidemiology, surveillance, health education, behavioral intervention, policy, information sharing, care and support, laboratory testing and quality control，international projects as well as vaccine development and immunology has been conducted, which provides the scientific support and foundation for the development of AIDS prevention work and the rational allocation of health resources in China.

The current director of NCAIDS is Mister Wu Zunyou. Professor Shao Yiming is the chief scientist at NCAIDS, a virologist and the member of the Chinese Engineering Academy of Sciences and was awarded the Most Prominent Young Scientist by the Ministry of Health.

There are 13 divisions within NCAIDS. They are: The Division of Epidemiology, Reference Laboratories, Virology and Immunology, Health Education and Behavioral Intervention, Treatment and Care, Policy and Information, Integration and Evaluation, International Cooperation and Program Management, Director, Planning and Financial Affairs, Human resources and CCP affairs, Lab and Logistics Management,as well as State Council AIDS Working Committee Office. NCAIDS also houses an Information Resource Network.

NCAIDS main responsibilities are as follows:

1. To assist and provide The Ministry of Health with a scientific foundation for the development of plans, strategies and policies for AIDS control and prevention;
2. To participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of national programs concerning AIDS prevention and control and provide technical assistance;
3. To provide technical assistance and quality control for surveillance and laboratory testing, developing and supervising the implementation of best practice protocols.
4. To organize surveillance, survey, analysis and projections for the AIDS epidemic in China, to manage the national AIDS reporting system, to collect and exchange information on AIDS prevention and control domestically and internationally;
5. To guide professional activity and provide technical assistance concerning national education and training activities;
6. To guide and conduct research concerning behavioral intervention, laboratory testing, vaccine/drug development, and clinical treatment and care practice concerning AIDS;
7. To organize and implement AIDS programs at the national, domestic multisectoral level, as well as at the international level with bilateral and multilateral collaborative agencies. 
8. To do routine work for the Office of the State Council Coordinating Committee for AIDS Control, as well as to undertake other tasks assigned by the China-CDC and the Ministry of Health.