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Craig Cameron, PhD, the Jeffrey Houpt Distinguished Investigator and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, is now the President of the American Society of Virology.


This June, Craig E. Cameron, PhD, the Jeffrey Houpt Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, became the President of the American Society of Virology, a prestigious organization that promotes the exchange of information and stimulates discussion and collaboration among virologists.

“Craig Cameron is an exceptional virologist and leader,” says Blossom Damania, PhD, UNC School of Medicine Vice Dean for Research. “We are so grateful for his scholarly contributions and leadership in our school, and we are very proud to have him lead this national organization.”

Cameron became the chair of the UNC Department of Microbiology and Immunology on September 1, 2019. His research focuses on RNA polymerases and RNA-binding proteins required for viral replication or mitochondrial function, and he combines virology, enzymology, and biochemistry in his studies.

Recently, Cameron used his expertise to collaborate with Jamie Arnold, research associate professor in the UNC Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, to screen Riboscience’s library of nucleotide analogues to identify those with efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 replicase, the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase needed for multiplication of all RNA viruses.

Cameron has received a number of awards including the Howard Temin Award from the National Cancer Institute, an Established Investigator Award from the American Heart Association, the Genesis Scholar Award from HBCU Digest, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Eberly College of Science. In addition to the American Society of Virology, Cameron is a member of the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, Molecular Genetics B Study Section, and is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“With his outstanding track record of research, service, and leadership, it is no surprise that Craig Cameron has been elected to lead the American Society for Virology,” Damania said. “We are extremely fortunate to have Craig at the helm during the time of a global COVID-19 pandemic and we congratulate him on this highly deserved honor.”