Craig Cohen, MD, MPH

Professor In Residence
M_ObGyn-Bixby-ZSFG
[email protected]
+1 415 476-5874

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. 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.

Areas of Interest:
•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

Publications

Effect of the vaginal live biotherapeutic LACTIN-V (Lactobacillus crispatus CTV-05) on vaginal microbiota and genital tract inflammation among women at high risk of HIV acquisition in South Africa: a phase 2, randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

The Lancet. Microbe

Hemmerling A, Mitchell CM, Demby S, Gebremichael M, Elsherbini J, Xu J, Xulu N, Shih J, Dong K, Govender V, Pillay V, Ismail N, Casillas G, Moodley J, Bergerat A, Brunner T, Liebenberg L, Ngcapu S, Mbano I, Lagenaur L, Parks TP, Ndung'u T, Kwon DS, Cohen CR

"We chose PrEP because I wanted to be sure that this child my wife was going to conceive was indeed mine." Factors influencing the choice of safer conception methods and experiences with its use: a qualitative study among HIV sero-discordant couples in Zi

BMC public health

Brown JM, Musara P, Gitome S, Chitukuta M, Mataveke B, Chirenda T, Mgodi N, Mutero P, Matubu A, Chareka G, Chasakara C, Murombedzi C, Makurumure T, Hughes CS, Bukusi E, Cohen CR, Shiboski S, Darbes L, Rutherford GW, Chirenje ZM, Mhlanga F

Uptake, engagement, and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis offered after population HIV testing in rural Kenya and Uganda: 72-week interim analysis of observational data from the SEARCH study.

The lancet. HIV

Koss CA, Charlebois ED, Ayieko J, Kwarisiima D, Kabami J, Balzer LB, Atukunda M, Mwangwa F, Peng J, Mwinike Y, Owaraganise A, Chamie G, Jain V, Sang N, Olilo W, Brown LB, Marquez C, Zhang K, Ruel TD, Camlin CS, Rooney JF, Black D, Clark TD, Gandhi M, Cohen CR, Bukusi EA, Petersen ML, Kamya MR, Havlir DV, SEARCH Collaboration

HIV Testing and Treatment with the Use of a Community Health Approach in Rural Africa.

The New England journal of medicine

Havlir DV, Balzer LB, Charlebois ED, Clark TD, Kwarisiima D, Ayieko J, Kabami J, Sang N, Liegler T, Chamie G, Camlin CS, Jain V, Kadede K, Atukunda M, Ruel T, Shade SB, Ssemmondo E, Byonanebye DM, Mwangwa F, Owaraganise A, Olilo W, Black D, Snyman K, Burger R, Getahun M, Achando J, Awuonda B, Nakato H, Kironde J, Okiror S, Thirumurthy H, Koss C, Brown L, Marquez C, Schwab J, Lavoy G, Plenty A, Mugoma Wafula E, Omanya P, Chen YH, Rooney JF, Bacon M, van der Laan M, Cohen CR, Bukusi E, Kamya MR, Petersen M

Research priorities to inform "Treat All" policy implementation for people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a consensus statement from the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA).

Journal of the International AIDS Society

Yotebieng M, Brazier E, Addison D, Kimmel AD, Cornell M, Keiser O, Parcesepe AM, Onovo A, Lancaster KE, Castelnuovo B, Murnane PM, Cohen CR, Vreeman RC, Davies MA, Duda SN, Yiannoutsos CT, Bono RS, Agler R, Bernard C, Syvertsen JL, Sinayobye JD, Wikramanayake R, Sohn AH, von Groote PM, Wandeler G, Leroy V, Williams CF, Wools-Kaloustian K, Nash D, IeDEA Treat All in sub-Saharan Africa Consensus Statement Working Group

Single-agent tenofovir versus combination emtricitabine plus tenofovir for pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1 acquisition: an update of data from a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

The Lancet. Infectious diseases

Baeten JM, Donnell D, Mugo NR, Ndase P, Thomas KK, Campbell JD, Wangisi J, Tappero JW, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Tumwesigye E, Were E, Fife KH, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, John-Stewart G, Kidoguchi L, Coombs RW, Hendrix C, Marzinke MA, Frenkel L, Haberer JE, Bangsberg D, Celum C, Partners PrEP Study Team

Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV prevention in heterosexual men and women.

The New England journal of medicine

Baeten JM, Donnell D, Ndase P, Mugo NR, Campbell JD, Wangisi J, Tappero JW, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Tumwesigye E, Were E, Fife KH, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, John-Stewart G, Kakia A, Odoyo J, Mucunguzi A, Nakku-Joloba E, Twesigye R, Ngure K, Apaka C, Tamooh H, Gabona F, Mujugira A, Panteleeff D, Thomas KK, Kidoguchi L, Krows M, Revall J, Morrison S, Haugen H, Emmanuel-Ogier M, Ondrejcek L, Coombs RW, Frenkel L, Hendrix C, Bumpus NN, Bangsberg D, Haberer JE, Stevens WS, Lingappa JR, Celum C, Partners PrEP Study Team

Characteristics of HIV-1 serodiscordant couples enrolled in a clinical trial of antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV-1 prevention.

PloS one

Mujugira A, Baeten JM, Donnell D, Ndase P, Mugo NR, Barnes L, Campbell JD, Wangisi J, Tappero JW, Bukusi E, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Tumwesigye E, Were E, Fife KH, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, John-Stewart G, Kidoguchi L, Panteleeff D, Krows M, Shah H, Revall J, Morrison S, Ondrejcek L, Ingram C, Coombs RW, Lingappa JR, Celum C, Partners PrEP Study Team

Daily acyclovir for HIV-1 disease progression in people dually infected with HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2: a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Lancet (London, England)

Lingappa JR, Baeten JM, Wald A, Hughes JP, Thomas KK, Mujugira A, Mugo N, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, Stewart GJ, Makhema J, Essex M, Were E, Fife KH, de Bruyn G, Gray GE, McIntyre JA, Manongi R, Kapiga S, Coetzee D, Allen S, Inambao M, Kayitenkore K, Karita E, Kanweka W, Delany S, Rees H, Vwalika B, Magaret AS, Wang RS, Kidoguchi L, Barnes L, Ridzon R, Corey L, Celum C, Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study Team

Acyclovir and transmission of HIV-1 from persons infected with HIV-1 and HSV-2.

The New England journal of medicine

Celum C, Wald A, Lingappa JR, Magaret AS, Wang RS, Mugo N, Mujugira A, Baeten JM, Mullins JI, Hughes JP, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, Stewart GJ, Makhema J, Essex M, Were E, Fife KH, de Bruyn G, Gray GE, McIntyre JA, Manongi R, Kapiga S, Coetzee D, Allen S, Inambao M, Kayitenkore K, Karita E, Kanweka W, Delany S, Rees H, Vwalika B, Stevens W, Campbell MS, Thomas KK, Coombs RW, Morrow R, Whittington WL, McElrath MJ, Barnes L, Ridzon R, Corey L, Partners in Prevention HSV/HIV Transmission Study Team

Characteristics of HIV-1 discordant couples enrolled in a trial of HSV-2 suppression to reduce HIV-1 transmission: the partners study.

PloS one

Lingappa JR, Kahle E, Mugo N, Mujugira A, Magaret A, Baeten J, Bukusi EA, Cohen CR, Katabira E, Ronald A, Kiarie J, Farquhar C, Stewart GJ, Makhema J, Essex M, Were E, Fife K, Debruyn G, Gray G, McIntyre J, Manongi R, Kapiga S, Coetzee D, Allen S, Inambao M, Kayitenkore K, Karita E, Kanweka W, Delany S, Rees H, Vwalika B, Coombs RW, Morrow R, Whittington W, Corey L, Wald A, Celum C, Partners HSV-2/HIV-1 Transmission Study Team

Role
Investigators