Dr. Myron Cohen to step down as IGHID director

Dr. Myron “Mike” Cohen, Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology and associate vice chancellor for medical affairs at the UNC School of Medicine, will conclude his tenure as director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the end of June.

Cohen is internationally recognized for his research on HIV transmission and prevention, encompassing clinical studies, global collaborations and the application of epidemiological, virological and pharmacological methodologies.

Cohen served as infectious disease division chief for 30 years, beginning his leadership in the midst of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, working primarily with infectious disease faculty in Chapel Hill and at research sites worldwide. Cohen established IGHID in 2007 at the request of then-Chancellor James Moeser to embrace the interests and strengths of faculty and staff across Carolina’s health science schools, the FedEx Global Education Center and the rest of campus.

The institute now spans three continents, housing multidisciplinary centers of excellence in women’s health, reproductive and sexual health, hematology and oncology, and mental health, as well as an expanded portfolio in surgery, pathology, radiology and anesthesiology.

The advancement in each of these areas has made UNC-Chapel Hill a leading institution in advancing solutions for local and global health problems, especially those impacted by infectious diseases.

Cohen has served as co-principal investigator of the National Institutes of Health HIV Prevention Trials Network since 2012. As the architect of the HPTN 052 study, Cohen led a pivotal clinical trial demonstrating what’s now a defining strategy: administering antiviral therapy to HIV-infected individuals to prevent transmission.

This work was recognized by Science Magazine as the Breakthrough of the Year in 2011. The results immediately led to worldwide changes in HIV public policy, treatment guidelines and HIV “treatment as prevention” as the central strategy for reduction of HIV transmission.

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Cohen was appointed to the leadership of the NIH COVID Prevention Network. In this capacity, he led research on the use of monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and early treatment of COVID-19.

Cohen has been honored with numerous awards in recognition of his contributions as a physician scientist, including the Order of the Golden Fleece, the O. Max Gardner Award, the Berryhill Lectureship the Award for Lifetime Achievement in STD/HIV Research and the North Carolina Award for Science, the state’s highest honor. Cohen is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine.

Looking ahead, the IGHID will continue to build upon the foundation laid by Cohen’s leadership, furthering innovative research and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration to address critical challenges in global health. Cohen will continue as an engaged and respected member of the IGHID community, offering his expertise and mentorship to future leaders in the field.