Myron S. Cohen is the Yeargan-Bate Eminent Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Cohen is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Society of Microbiology. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the American Society of Clinical Investigation, and the American Association of Physicians. Dr. Cohen serves as the Director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease, and as Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Health.
Dr. Cohen’s research has focused on the transmission and prevention of transmission of HIV. Dr. Cohen is the architect and Principal Investigator of the multinational HPTN 052 trial, which proved that antiretroviral treatment of people with HIV infection prevents the sexual transmission of the virus. This work was recognized by Science Magazine as the “Breakthrough of the Year” in 2011.
Serving as Co-PI of the NIH HIV Prevention Trials Network, Dr. Cohen has focused on development of antiviral agents and broad neutralizing antibodies for pre-exposure prophylaxis of HIV (PrEP). These HPTN studies included collaboration in development of the long-acting agents including cabotegravir, lenacapravir and broad neutralizing antibodies.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 Dr. Cohen was appointed to the Leadership Committee of the NIH COVID Prevention Network (CoVPN). Dr. Cohen focused on monoclonal antibodies for prevention of COVID-19. He led studies that showed monoclonal antibodies could prevent COVID-19 infections.
Dr. Cohen is the author of more than six hundred publications and one book. He has written extensively about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, HIV infection and COVID-19. Much of Dr. Cohen’s research has been conducted in resource limited countries.
