Einstein Experts for Media

Betsy Herold, M.D.

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Professor and Harold and Muriel Block Chair in Pediatrics, Einstein

Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Einstein

Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women, Einstein

Chief, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore and Einstein

Infectious diseasesHIV/AIDSMicrobicides

Human papillomavirus (HPV)Sexually transmitted infections (STI)

Dr. Herold is developing safe and effective topical microbicides for preventing HIV, genital herpes and other sexually transmitted infections. She is currently conducting NIH-funded studies to develop microbicide-releasing vaginal rings to prevent HIV transmission.

Microbicides that kill viruses in laboratory tests often fail to protect against infection under real world conditions. Dr. Herold is a basic and translational scientist who has played a major role in explaining why this happens. She discovered that the impact of semen on microbicide efficacy needs to be considered, and she devised a laboratory test for predicting whether microbicides against HIV are safe for human use. In addition, her team discovered why several supposedly "safe" microbicides actually made women more susceptible to HIV infection.

Dr. Herold is chair of the Biomedical Science Working Group of the Microbicide Trials Network and a member of the editorial board of the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. She has served on the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council, which advises the NIH and HHS on AIDS research, and on the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Council.

Additional Areas of Expertise

Antibiotic resistance, Antimicrobial resistance, Community-acquired MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), HSV (herpes simplex virus), Transplant infectious diseases