Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Email: ccohen@globalhealth.ucsf.edu

Biosketch:

Craig Cohen, MD, MPH, is a Professor in the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and an Attending Physician at San Francisco General Hospital.  He conducts medical research in two major areas: HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention and HIV/AIDS care and support in developing countries. 

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 200 full-time staff in Kenya including epidemiologists, physicians, nurse-counselors, laboratory technologists, field workers, data managers, biostatisticians and administrative staff. 

Dr. Cohen has been the Director of the Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES) since its creation in 2004.  FACES is a CDC PEPFAR-funded HIV/AIDS care and treatment program in Western Kenya and Nairobi.  As part of FACES, Dr. Cohen has also developed the Student Training Elective Program (STEP), which allows medical students and residents to do clinical and research electives at FACES sites. 

Additionally, 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 also began the Infectious Disease Research Training Program (IDRTP), a program for Kenyan masters and doctoral students and a joint effort between KEMRI and UCSF.  IDRTP students receive training in STI clinical, epidemiological, or basic sciences research through the UCSF Sandwich Certificate Program.  Overall, Dr. Cohen has directly mentored more than 50 predoctoral students, residents and post-doctoral fellows, most of who have conducted research in Kenya.

Areas of Interest:

• Etiology and treatment of pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis
• Prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV
• Microbicides, probiotics and mechanical barriers (e.g. diaphragm)
• Immunopathogenesis of chlamydial infection
• Improvement of care to HIV infected persons living in resource poor settings
• Research training and infrastructure development in developing countries

Ongoing Research Projects:

Title: Impact of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) on Sexual Risk Behaviors in Kisumu, Kenya
Key Funder(s): Doris Duke Foundation
Major Project Goal: The purpose of this study is to examine the association of ART expansion and ART-related beliefs with risky sexual behaviors, both in HIV-positive patients receiving HIV care and in the general population of Kisumu, Kenya.  This research will produce a community assessment to inform prevention programs as well as establish a monitoring system to follow changing knowledge and beliefs and sexual risk behaviors as ART roll-out progresses. 
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Title: An Expanded Phase I Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial of the Safety and Tolerability of 3% w/w SPL7013 Gel (VivaGel®) in Healthy Young Women When Administered Twice Daily for 14 Days
Key Funder(s): NIAID
Major Project Goal: The primary objective of this multi-site/country trial is to determine the safety and tolerability of the microbicide VivaGel® when applied vaginally in HIV negative and STI-free young women. 
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Title: Phase III Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of HSV-2 Suppression to Prevent HIV Transmission among HIV-Discordant Couples
Key Funder(s): Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Major Project Goal: This study explores preventing HIV transmission by suppressing HSV-2 among heterosexual HIV-discordant couples.
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Title: A Phase IIa Study of the Colonization Efficiency, Safety and Acceptability of LACTIN-V Administered Vaginally to Women with Bacterial Vaginosis 
Key Funder(s): Osel, Inc.
Major Project Goal: This trial seeks to assess colonization efficiency, safety and acceptability of the product LACTIN-V in women suffering from BV.  This trial follows an earlier Phase I trial which assessed the safety and acceptability of LACTIN-V among healthy women.
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Title: Integration of HIV Care and Treatment into MCH in Migori District, Kenya
Key Funder(s): CDC/PEPFAR
Major Project Goal: This study seeks to determine whether integration of HIV care and treatment into ANC and PMTCT programs is an effective way to reach and provide pregnant women and their infants with accessible, comprehensive, and high quality HIV care and treatment. 
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Title: Integration of Family Planning Services into HIV Care and Treatment in Rongo and Migori districts of Nyanza Province
Key Funder(s): TIDES Foundation
Major Project Goal: This study seeks to determine whether integrating family planning services into HIV care and treatment programs affects contraceptive uptake, contraceptive continuation, and unintended pregnancy rates.   
Principal Investigator: Craig Cohen

Family AIDS Care and Education Services (FACES)
Infectious Disease Research and Training Program (IDRTP)
Reproductive Infectious Disease (RID) Fellowship


Publications on PubMed


Updated September 2009