{{Infobox scientist | name = Éric A. Cohen | image = <!--(filename only)--> | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date |1958|03|19}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | citizenship = Canadian | nationality = | field = HIV Research<br />Virology<br />Molecular Biology | workplaces = [http://www.ircm.qc.ca/Pages/IRCMDefault.aspx?PFLG=1033 Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM)]<br />Université de Montréal<br />McGill University | alma_mater = Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf<br />McGill University<br />Université de Montréal<br />Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = William A. Haseltine | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = <!--(filename only)--> | signature_alt = | footnotes = }}
'''Éric A. Cohen''' (born March 19, 1958) is a Canadian molecular virologist whose research is focused on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-host interactions that govern viral replication and persistence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Projets.aspx?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |title=Projects – Human retrovirology |access-date=2015-12-06 |archive-date=2016-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308024229/https://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Projets.aspx?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://expmed.mcgill.ca/researcher?id=146 |title=Dr. Eric Cohen - Experimental Medicine | McGill University |website=expmed.mcgill.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305105657/http://expmed.mcgill.ca/researcher?id=146 |archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/49229.html | title=Dr. Éric Cohen - CIHR| date=2015-06-25}}</ref>
==Education and Training== Cohen graduated from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf of Montréal in 1977 with a college diploma in Health Sciences. He received a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from McGill University in 1981 and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Université de Montréal in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/en/research-at-udem/our-professors/profile/chercheur/404/pid/16/ |title = Professors Directory}}</ref>
As a Ph.D. student, he worked on fundamental aspects of herpes simplex virus replication and transformation under the direction of Yves Langelier.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/en/research-at-udem/our-professors/profile/chercheur/404/pid/16/ |title = Professors Directory}}</ref> In 1986, he joined the laboratory of William A. Haseltine at the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral fellow, working on fundamental aspects of HIV structure and function to uncover new targets for antiviral therapy. His postdoctoral work led to the identification of two HIV-1 non-structural proteins, named Viral Protein U (Vpu) and Viral Protein R (Vpr), part of a new class of retroviral proteins – designated accessory proteins – that are required for optimal virus multiplication and dissemination.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/en/research-at-udem/our-professors/profile/chercheur/404/pid/16/ |title = Professors Directory}}</ref>
==Career and Research== In 1990, Cohen became a faculty member of the Department of Microbiology, Infectiology and Immunology at Université de Montréal and was appointed Professor of Virology in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://microbiologie.umontreal.ca/recherche/professeurs-chercheurs/eric-cohen/ | title=Éric A. Cohen - Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et immunologie - Université de Montréal}}</ref> In 2004, he joined the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal, where he is currently pursuing research aimed at understanding HIV persistence and identifying intervention strategies for an HIV cure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/Axes/Immunite/humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |title=Director's biography – Human retrovirology |website=www.ircm.qc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405145258/http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/AXES/IMMUNITE/HUMAINE/PAGES/BIOGRAPHIE.ASPX?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |archive-date=2016-04-05}}</ref>
Cohen's laboratory has contributed to describing the structure and function of Vpr during HIV-1 infection.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=eec70815-fdaf-4012-bd32-7671fa27430d&k=0 | title=Storytelling experiment PenTales comes to Toronto | National Post| date=2010-03-30}}{{dead link|date=October 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=e3509527-9813-4b1f-af58-200ad27d7d8c&sponsor| title = Canada.Com {{!}} Homepage {{!}} Canada.Com}}</ref> His work was also involved in defining Vpr as a viral factor with immune-modulatory functions.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=21957298|pmc=3209390|year=2011|last1=Pham|first1=T. N.|title=Modulation of NKG2D-mediated cytotoxic functions of natural killer cells by viral protein R from HIV-1 primary isolates|journal=Journal of Virology|volume=85|issue=23|pages=12254–61|last2=Richard|first2=J.|last3=Gerard|first3=F. C.|last4=Power|first4=C.|doi=10.1128/JVI.05835-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |pmid=20008788|pmc=3955183|year=2010|last1=Richard|first1=J.|title=HIV-1 VPR up-regulates expression of ligands for the activating NKG2D receptor and promotes NK cell-mediated killing|journal=Blood|volume=115|issue=7|pages=1354–63|last2=Sindhu|first2=S.|last3=Pham|first3=T. N.|last4=Belzile|first4=J. P.|last5=Cohen|first5=E. A.|doi=10.1182/blood-2009-08-237370}}</ref>
Cohen has investigated the role and function of Vpu in HIV pathogenesis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cahr-acrv.ca/featured-researchers/cohen/|title=Dr. Éric Cohen|work=CAHR }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/idrc-hut071515.php |title = HIV uses the immune system's own tools to suppress it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/science/2015/07/16/002-vih-sida-strategie-immunitare-ircm.shtml |title = Une stratégie du VIH démasquée par des Montréalais | Sida : Sur les traces d'une pandémie| date=16 July 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/07/16/vih-chercheurs-montrealais-decouverte-importante_n_7813414.html |title = VIH : Découverte importante de deux chercheurs québécois (VIDÉO)|date = 2015-07-16}}</ref> His laboratory demonstrated that Vpu enables the optimal production and dissemination of the virus and helped shed light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which Vpu counteracts BST2 (also designated Tetherin), an interferon-regulated host factor that strongly inhibits the release and transmission of HIV-1 and other enveloped viruses.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=20386718|pmc=2851737|year=2010|last1=Dubé|first1=M.|title=Antagonism of tetherin restriction of HIV-1 release by Vpu involves binding and sequestration of the restriction factor in a perinuclear compartment|journal=PLOS Pathogens|volume=6|issue=4|article-number=e1000856|last2=Roy|first2=B. B.|last3=Guiot-Guillain|first3=P.|last4=Binette|first4=J.|last5=Mercier|first5=J.|last6=Chiasson|first6=A.|last7=Cohen|first7=E. A.|doi=10.1371/journal.ppat.1000856 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Cohen's work also showed that Vpu plays a key part in the negative regulation of the CD4 receptor observed during HIV infection and that the antagonistic actions of Vpu on CD4 and BST2 are among the strategies employed by HIV to circumvent several types of anti-HIV immune responses.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=24498878|pmc=3930549|year=2014|last1=Pham|first1=T. N.|title=HIV Nef and Vpu protect HIV-infected CD4+ T cells from antibody-mediated cell lysis through down-modulation of CD4 and BST2|journal=Retrovirology|volume=11|pages=15|last2=Lukhele|first2=S.|last3=Hajjar|first3=F.|last4=Routy|first4=J. P.|last5=Cohen|first5=Éric A.|doi=10.1186/1742-4690-11-15 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==Scientific Activities and Involvements== Cohen has received a senior-level Canada Research Chair in Human Retrovirology<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cihr.gc.ca/e/49229.html?pedisable=true |title = Dr. Éric Cohen - CIHR|date = 2015-06-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/archives/2007-2008/content/view/695/131/index.html |title=Nouvelles @ UdeM - Renouvellement des Chaires de recherche du Canada |website=nouvelles.umontreal.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170951/http://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/archives/2007-2008/content/view/695/131/index.html |archive-date=2015-12-22}}</ref> and most recently the IRCM-Université de Montréal Chair of Excellence in HIV Research.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/Medias/Nouvelles/Pages/Detail.aspx?pID=452&PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |title=News |website=www.ircm.qc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222102431/http://www.ircm.qc.ca/Medias/Nouvelles/Pages/Detail.aspx?pID=452&PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |archive-date=2015-12-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/campus/nominations/20151021-eric-a.-cohen-devient-titulaire-dune-chaire-dexcellence-de-lircm-et-de-ludem.html|title = Article|date = 2019-07-08|access-date = 2015-12-06|archive-date = 2015-12-22|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164833/http://www.nouvelles.umontreal.ca/campus/nominations/20151021-eric-a.-cohen-devient-titulaire-dune-chaire-dexcellence-de-lircm-et-de-ludem.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> He has authored more than 140 manuscripts<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1bI39hw0pDoQv/bibliography/public/?sortby=pubDate&sdirection=descending| title = My Bibliography - NCBI}}</ref> and books<ref>Haseltine, W.A., Terwilliger, E.F., Cohen, E.A., Sodroski, J.G., Lu, Y., Salfeld, J. and Göttlinger, H. Novel genes and coding sequences of HIV-1. (Proceedings of Colloque Des Cent Gardes) Publisher Pasteur Vaccin, 1990.</ref><ref>Cohen, E.A., Terwilliger, E.F. and Haseltine, W.A. The Vpr protein of HIV-1 is a virion associated positive regulatory protein in genetic structure and HIV regulation. Harvard AIDS Institute, Raven Press, 1991.</ref><ref>Göttlinger, H. and Cohen, E.A. The Vpu gene product of HIV. HIV: a practical approach. Volume 2. Biochemistry, Molecular biology and Drug Discovery. Edited by Jonathan Karn. IRL Press at Oxford University Press. 1995.</ref><ref>Cohen, E.A. Le SIDA: un défi pour la recherche biomédicale. Dans: Mise à jour de la situation sur le SIDA, volume 2. Morrissette et Ghadirian, Hôtel Dieu de Montréal, 1995.</ref><ref>Cohen, E.A., Subbramanian, R.A. and Göttlinger, H. Role of auxiliary proteins in retroviral morphogenesis. Current topics in Microbiology and Immunology. Morphogenesis and Maturation of Retroviruses. 214. Edited by H.-G. Kräusslich. Springer. Chapter 7, 219-235, 1996.</ref><ref>Bergeron, D., Beaulieu, S., Lafontaine, M., Courchesne, I. and Cohen, E.A. Infection of human thymic dendritic cells with HIV-1 induces the release of a cytotoxic factor(s). Dendritic cells in fundamental and clinical Immunology, Vol. 3. (Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Vol. 417) Edited by P. Ricciardi-Castgnoli. Plenum Press, New York, Chapter 71, 433-438, 1997.</ref> published in scientific and medical journals, and holds several international patents. He is the team leader of CanCURE, a multidisciplinary research consortium studying HIV-host interactions governing HIV persistence and developing intervention strategies towards an HIV cure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/47659.html |title=Government of Canada and its partners invest in a cure for HIV - CIHR |website=www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202221106/http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/47659.html |archive-date=2013-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canfar.com/content/CANCure |title=Canadian Initiative for HIV Cure Research {{!}} CANFAR |website=www.canfar.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405051640/http://www.canfar.com/content/CANCure |archive-date=2015-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/cihr-funding-hiv-research-in-montreal/ |title = CIHR funding HIV research in Montreal | CTV News Montreal|date = 28 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://globalnews.ca/news/998454/ottawa-announces-10-7-million-in-funding-for-research-aimed-at-curing-hiv/ |title = Ottawa announces $10.7 million in funding for research aimed at curing HIV - National | Globalnews.ca|date = 2013-11-29}}</ref> Cohen is a founding member of the AIDS and Infectious Disease Network (SIDA-MI) of the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), and currently serves on its scientific committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx |title=Biographie du directeur – Rétrovirologie humaine |website=www.ircm.qc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608225640/http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx |archive-date=2011-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/en/research-at-udem/our-professors/profile/chercheur/404/pid/16/ |title = Professors Directory}}</ref> He was also a member of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research HIV/AIDS Research Advisory Committee (CHARAC).<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/25834.html | title=CIHR HIV/AIDS Research Advisory Committee (CHARAC) - CIHR| date=July 2005}}</ref> He was part of the International AIDS Society (IAS) 2016 International Scientific Working Group of more than 50 experts responsible for updating and revising the 2012 Global Scientific Strategy: Towards an HIV Cure.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://iasociety.org/What-we-do/Towards-an-HIV-Cure/Activities/2016-International-Scientific-Working-Group | title=Advisory Board and Industry Collaboration Group | access-date=2015-12-07 | archive-date=2015-12-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222141055/http://iasociety.org/What-we-do/Towards-an-HIV-Cure/Activities/2016-International-Scientific-Working-Group | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Awards== In 2012, Cohen received the Marcel-Piché prize awarded to an IRCM researcher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx |title=Biographie du directeur – Rétrovirologie humaine |website=www.ircm.qc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608225640/http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/axes/Immunite/Humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx |archive-date=2011-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cjnews.com/living-jewish/health/le-dr-eric-cohen-laureat-du-prix-marcel-piche |title = Le Dr Éric Cohen Lauréat du Prix Marcel-Piché| date=2 December 2012 }}</ref> In 2014, he received the Pierre-Bois prize bestowed to an IRCM researcher for his philanthropic and institutional activities as well as his scientific outreach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/Axes/Immunite/humaine/Pages/Biographie.aspx?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |title=Director's biography – Human retrovirology |website=www.ircm.qc.ca |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405145258/http://www.ircm.qc.ca/LARECHERCHE/AXES/IMMUNITE/HUMAINE/PAGES/BIOGRAPHIE.ASPX?PFLG=1033&lan=1033 |archive-date=2016-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.recherche.umontreal.ca/en/research-at-udem/our-professors/profile/chercheur/404/ |title = Professors Directory}}</ref> He was elected as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rsc.ca/en/about-us/our-people/our-priorities/royal-society-canada-names-2016-new-fellows | title=The Royal Society of Canada names 2016 New Fellows | the Royal Society of Canada}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cahs-acss.ca/new-fellows/|title = New Fellows – Canadian Academy of Health Sciences | Académie canadienne des sciences de la santé}}</ref>
==Biotechnology==
Cohen was the director of the Small Genome Division at Human Genome Sciences, a genomics company that was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2012/12/28/human-genome-sciences-acquired-by.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121230025131/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/print-edition/2012/12/28/human-genome-sciences-acquired-by.html| archive-date = 2012-12-30| title = Human Genome Sciences acquired by GlaxoSmithKline - Washington Business Journal}}</ref> He was a scientific advisor and collaborator for Theratechnologies, a Canadian biotechnology company that developed Egrifta, the only treatment indicated to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.egrifta.com/ |title = Egrifta}}</ref> He was also the co-founder and chairman of the Canadian genomics company Ecopia BioSciences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biohealthmatics.com/Companies/Profile/Ecopia_Biosciences/212/ |title=Company Profile for Ecopia Biosciences |website=www.biohealthmatics.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222103648/http://www.biohealthmatics.com/Companies/Profile/Ecopia_Biosciences/212/ |archive-date=2015-12-22}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohen, Eric A.}} Category:Living people Category:Canadian medical researchers Category:Université de Montréal alumni Category:HIV/AIDS in Canada Category:HIV/AIDS researchers Category:1958 births Category:Canadian biologists Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Category:McGill University Faculty of Science alumni Category:Harvard Medical School alumni Category:Academic staff of the Université de Montréal Category:Academic staff of McGill University