Professor Cheryl Cohen

Cheryl Cohen is Professor in epidemiology at the University of the Witwatersrand and Heads the Centre for Respiratory Disease and Meningitis at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa. Through her work she aims to generate evidence to guide policy for the control of respiratory diseases and meningitis. She heads up a team responsible for national surveillance of respiratory diseases and meningitis for South Africa. Her main research focus is infectious respiratory diseases including burden of disease, disease transmission and risk groups for severe illness. This includes assessment of the impact and effectiveness of interventions, such as vaccination, aiming to reduce disease burden. She is a member of several national and international advisory committees and working groups mainly related to influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory diseases.