The Thurston Arthritis Research Center was established at the University of North Carolina's School of Medicine in 1981.
Our mission is to investigate the causes, consequences and treatments of arthritis and autoimmune diseases and to reduce their impacts on patients, their families and society.
In 1994, thanks to a generous lead donation from Doc J. Thurston Jr., a free standing multi-purpose research facility was built and named in his honor. The Thurston/Bowles Building is the first building on UNC campus to be primarily funded by private philanthropy. Today, Thurston has more than 70 researchers and physicians from 17 different departments in the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Pharmacy and Dentistry who collaborate to achieve the center's mission.