The Timeline
Breakthroughs and Collaborations
A History of Innovation
Discover the defining moments that led to the formation of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases.
Following is a selection of milestones in the Institute’s history that have shaped the values of Carolina’s global health community, and contributed to the workforce of the future. In fact, the Institute’s success is a critical contributor to the recognition of UNC as a “leading global university,” one that will have a lasting influence for generations of learners to come.
1986 – Earliest Footprint in China
UNC professors Gail Henderson and Myron Cohen (front center) working in China in the early 1980s.
1987 – Chapel Hill CRS Receives Funding
The Chapel Hill Clinical Research Site received the first funding as one of the original AIDS Clinical Trials Units (ACTG). Since then, the CRS has been funded by many feeder networks for trials that range from HIV to COVID-19.
1990 – UNC Project-China
UNC
1992 – Greensboro CRS
Greensboro CRS was added with the first ACTG re-competition in 1992. ACTG Funded CRS
Kees Van Dam CRS Leader/Kim Epperson CRS Coordinator
1992 – UNC Project-Malawi
UNC Project-Malawi was co-founded by Dr. Myron (Mike) Cohen and Irving Hoffman. What started with a modest HIV and STI research agenda is now an internationally recognized, academically diverse center of excellence.
First global health study that was broadly recognized by other global health investigators. See here. Transmission of HIV-1 is predominantly by heterosexual contact, It was this first study of HIV in semen, and Mike’s vision, that led to the concept for HPTN 052, which took over 10 years to prepare and implement.
1997 – First Global Health Study
Reduction of concentration of HIV-1 in semen after treatment of urethritis: implications for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV-1. AIDSCAP Malawi Research Group
1998 – UNC Center for AIDS Research
UNC Center for AIDS Research was initiated by Myron Cohen and Ron Swanstrom, established by an NIH P30 infrastructure grant to provide support for HIV researchers. This grant has been successfully renewed without interruption. Its last renewal received a perfect score. A consortium between UNC-Chapel Hill, RTI and FHI 360 was made to bring together reinforcing research interests and to enhance the research potential at each institution. In 2023, CFAR celebrated 25 years of HIV research.
1999 – Malawi CRS
Malawi CRS established in Lilongwe Malawi. Collaborations with investigators from Malawi on treatment of STIs were well underway.
Malawi began participation in the HPTN in 1999. In 2005 expanded to affiliate with ACTG, MTN, and IMPAACT. Only CRS to participate in all DAIDS Networks.
2004 – UNC Project-Nicaragua
Started with Doug Morgan around
Sylvia started there in 2006.
Setting a Course for Global Education
UNC set a priority to become recognized as a global university. It was during this time that our portfolio and global infrastructure, and developing global sites, became formally identified as IGHID. Established officially as the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. The synergy of our work was recognized by Chancellor Moeser, designed to foster the spirit of cross-campus collaboration.
2007 – Establishing the Institute
“Health concerns do not respect borders, and the University can only reach its true potential and best serve the people of North Carolina through the globalization of our programs. We gain valuable knowledge through this work that we can put to use here at home for treatment and disease prevention,” says Dr. William L. Roper, then vice chancellor for medical affairs, dean of the School of Medicine, and chief executive officer of UNC Health Care (and current interim president of the UNC system), as the University announces the creation of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases.
2008 – Project Sites Grow
UNC Project-Malawi in Lilongwe and UNC Project-China in Guangzhou emerge as the Institute’s first two sites with a research focus on HIV prevention and treatment.
UNC and the University of Nicaragua sign a memorandum of understanding to begin joint research on gastrointestinal diseases and preventable childhood illnesses.
2009 – Early Training
We begin participating in the Doris Duke International Clinical Research Fellowship to send medical students to developing countries for one year. The UNC Department of Surgery launches a surgical residency program at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi.
2011 – Breakthrough of the Year
The backbone of the Institute’s portfolio has always been in the area of HIV/AIDS. UNC is home to a top-10 ranked AIDS program. In May 2011, Institute researchers announced a major discovery in the fight against HIV/AIDS, proving that treating people for HIV makes them less infectious. The study, HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052, demonstrated that early treatment of HIV with antiretroviral therapy reduces sexual transmission by 96 percent. Institute Director Myron Cohen was the architect and principal investigator of this large, international study.
In December 2011, the journal Science named HPTN 052 as the “Breakthrough of the Year,” inspiring the hope for an AIDS-free generation. Grants from the NIH Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Program as well as pharmaceutical company Gilead support Malawians interested in a clinical career.
2012 – Fogarty Global Health Fellows
UNC becomes one of four U.S. universities to participate in the National Institutes of Health Fogarty Global Health Fellows program. The 12-month fellowship supports mentored research training opportunities for promising postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students. To date, 133 fellows have completed the program.
Add text
2012 – UNC Project-Zambia
The Institute recruits an entire team of internationally recognized global health researchers working in Zambia. The majority of the faculty recruits are obstetrician-gynecologists and seven of the nine live in Zambia full time. The addition of this team, combined with two new full-time OB-GYNs in Malawi, gives UNC the largest global women’s health division.
Add text
2013 – Cancer Director
Dr. Satish Gopal becomes cancer director of UNC Project-Malawi and the country’s only medical oncologist.
Add text
UNC’s Center for Infectious Diseases and Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases merge, becoming the Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases. Today the combined organization generates approximately $75 million in research revenue with more than 75 affiliated faculty members working on four continents.
UNC Project-China Director Dr. Joseph Tucker receives $3 million from the NIH to examine the use of crowdsourcing to promote HIV testing and linkage to care in South China.
2014 – Ebola Outbreak
Institute researchers respond to the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, leading to the establishment of our Liberia site and continuing research into Ebola, Lassa fever, and more.
Add text
The Institute becomes the second largest research organization at UNC with more than $43 million in revenue.
Institute researchers respond to the devastating Ebola outbreak in West Africa, leading to the establishment of our Liberia site and continuing research into Ebola, Lassa fever, and more.
2016 – Training in South Africa
In partnership with the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, UNC enrolls the first cohort of master’s in implementation science trainees. It is the only program of its kind in Africa.
Add text
The Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication or CARE, led by UNC’s Dr. David Margolis, receives $23 million from the NIH to identify a cure for HIV.
notification type=”alert-info” close=”false”]
2017 – HPTN 084
UNC Project-Malawi Scientific Director Dr. Mina Hosseinipour co-leads the HTPN 084 study, the first trial to test a long-acting injection to prevent HIV in women.
Add text
UNC researchers discover Ebola can persist in the semen of survivors more than two years after infection.
Add Project Liberia
2020 – The Pandemic
Add text
The outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19 begins in China and spreads globally. Our infectious diseases and public health experts respond, advising state and University policy and answering media requests.
As our researchers work to better understand infectious diseases, the Institute is well-positioned to continue improving the health of people around the world.