Craig Cohen

Craig Cohen, MD, MPH, is an Foreign Adjunct Professor at the Karolinska Institute, and Professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. From 2016-2022 he was the co-Director of the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI: www.ucghi.universityofcalifornia.edu). He conducts clinical and implementation research in two major areas: HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support in developing countries, including the development of live biotherapeutic products to prevent bacterial vaginosis and HIV acquisition in women.

In 1994, Dr. Cohen and his colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) established the Research Care and Treatment Program (RCTP), a collaboration with projects in Nairobi and Kisumu, Kenya. In addition to conducting research, the goal of the program is to enhance local capacity to conduct biomedical research through training and infrastructure development. RCTP employs over 700 full-time staff in Kenya, including epidemiologists, physicians, nurse counselors, laboratory technologists, field workers, data managers, biostatisticians, and administrative staff. Ongoing research projects include Shamba Maisha (see website), cervical cancer prevention among women living with HIV, use of telemedicine to expand high-quality HIV care in Kenya, among others.

Dr. Cohen directs the UCSF Reproductive Infectious Disease (RID) Fellowship, which aims to provide Ob/Gyn and post-doctoral trainees with the tools and experience necessary to develop into independent investigators and launch productive careers in the field of RID. He directs the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) GloCal Health Fellowship which trains fellows in global health research between in collaboration with 22 international collaborating institutions in 18 countries. Overall, Dr. Cohen has directly mentored more than 80 doctoral/professional students, residents and post-doctoral fellows, most of who have conducted research in Kenya.

•Prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI)
•Microbicides, live biotherapeutic products to prevent HIV/STI
*Integration of reproductive health and HIV services
•Improvement of care to HIV infected persons living in resource poor settings
*Multisectoral interventions to improve the lives of families affected by HIV
•Research training and infrastructure development in developing countries