MD
Yeargan-Bate Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology
Professor, Epidemiology
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Health and Medical Affairs
Director, Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases
UNC-Chapel Hill
Clinical Research
Area of Interest
Biology and epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Zika
Myron Cohen, MD, works in clinical research, clinical trials, translational research and basic science research. He is an infectious disease specialist widely known for his work on transmission and prevention of transmission of HIV. His work has focused on HIV prevention and has involved clinical research, global research, and use of the tools of epidemiology, virology and pharmacology. Cohen helped to develop laboratory methods to measure HIV in genital secretions, as well as methods to determine the best antiviral agents to reduce replication of HIV in these compartments.
Cohen is the architect and principal investigator of the multinational HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 study, which demonstrated that antiretroviral treatment prevents the sexual transmission of HIV-1. This work was recognized by Science Magazine as the “Breakthrough of the Year” in 2011.
Awards and Honors
- Norma Berryhill Distinguished Lecture, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2014
- North Carolina Award for Science, State of North Carolina, 2013
- Joseph E. Smadel Lectureship Award, Infectious Diseases Society of America, 2013
- O. Max Gardner Award for Medicine, Microbiology & Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill, 2008
- Distinguished Career Award Lifetime Achievement in STD/HIV Research, American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association, 2005
