David Margolis

David Margolis is the Sarah Graham Kenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with additional appointments as Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Epidemiology. He serves as Director of the UNC HIV Cure Center, leading cutting-edge research in HIV persistence and cure strategies.

Dr. Margolis received his AB in Biology from Harvard University in 1981 and his MD from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1985. His training included residency at Tufts-New England Medical Center and fellowships at University of Massachusetts Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of HIV proviral latency and persistence despite antiretroviral therapy. He has pioneered work on the role of epigenetic factors in HIV expression restriction, leading to innovative translational studies. As Principal Investigator of CARE (Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication), an NIH-funded research organization, he develops tools to advance HIV cure research from bench to clinic. His laboratory conducts FDA-approved investigations combining immunotherapies and small-molecule anti-latency agents to document depletion of persistent HIV infection.

Analysis of Dr. Margolis' recent publications reveals a strong focus on HIV reservoir characterization across multiple tissue compartments, latency reversal strategies using compounds like AZD5582 and HDAC inhibitors, and the immunological features of post-treatment controllers. His work spans molecular virology, immunology, and clinical translation, with particular emphasis on understanding and targeting persistent HIV infection in various anatomical sites including the brain and lymph nodes.

As Director of the UNC HIV Cure Center, Dr. Margolis oversees a multidisciplinary team advancing toward therapies that induce HIV remission. His leadership in the Collaboratory of AIDS Researchers for Eradication (CARE) has established a robust research infrastructure for HIV cure studies. His laboratory maintains extensive collaborations with virologists, immunologists, and clinicians across multiple institutions, contributing significantly to the global effort to develop an HIV cure.