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David Margolis, MD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member and the Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine. His lab focuses on translational HIV research.

MD
Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
School of Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill
Virology

Area of Interest

My laboratory has a long history of translational HIV research: investigating basic molecular, virological, and immunological phenomenon, and leveraging insights to develop new interventions in HIV disease. While my work has involved many aspects of HIV science and medicine, for the last two decades a central focus of has been the study of molecular mechanisms of HIV proviral latency and persistence despite potent antiretroviral therapy (ART). We have begun to define the role of epigenetic factors in the restriction of HIV expression, and this has led to diverse, multidisciplinary collaborations and translational clinical studies resulting in discovery and high-impact work. I am the principal investigator for CARE (Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication), an NIH-funded research organization that seeks to develop the tools to bring an HIV cure from the bench to the clinic. I am the principal investigator of two NIH-funded studies to combine biologics (a DC vaccine or antiviral T cell infusions) and small-molecule anti-latency agent (HDAC inhibitor) in FDA-approved investigations to attempt to precisely document the depletion of persistent HIV infection. Finally, I direct the UNC HIV Cure Center, created to support novel and impactful research needed to advance towards therapies to induce an HIV remission. We currently support 5 junior faculty scientists. I have mentored 20 post-doctoral fellows, 13 of whom went on to obtain academic positions. I have published more than 160 manuscripts, including 60 with my trainees as first author. The environment of the UNC HIV Cure Center is ideal for training, mentoring, and promoting inclusive and supportive scientific research environments.

Awards and Honors

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, 2021
  • Association of American Physicians, 2019
  • Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine, UNC Chapel Hill, 2018
  • Tim Gill Visiting Professor, U Colorado Denver, 2013
  • M. Glenn Koenig Visiting Professor, Vanderbilt 2011
  • Editorial Board, J Virology (2008-present)
  • Editorial Board, AIDS (2006-present)
  • WJ Way Visiting Professor, Duke, 2005
  • Am. Society for Clinical Investigation, 2005
  • amfAR Basic Science award, 2001
  • Fellow, Infectious Dis. Society of America, 2000
  • IDSA young investigator, 1997
  • Fellow, American College of Physicians, 1996
  • Nat’l Found. Infect. Dis. young investigator, 1996
  • NIH Physician-Scientist award (K-11), 1991-94
  • Clinical Associates award, Am. Coll. Phys., 1988
  • Magna Cum Laude, Harvard College, 1981

Find publications on PubMed

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Headshot of David Margolis