Zeda F. Rosenberg, ScD

Dr. Zeda Rosenberg is the founder and chief executive officer of the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM), a nonprofit product development partnership established in 2002 dedicated to developing new HIV prevention, and sexual and reproductive health products for women.

A microbiologist, epidemiologist, and widely recognized expert in HIV prevention, Dr. Rosenberg has been on the forefront of research on biological and behavioral factors for reducing HIV transmission for the past 30 years. Under Dr. Rosenberg’s vision, leadership and strategic direction, IPM developed the monthly dapivirine ring — the first long-acting product and first microbicide clinically shown to reduce women's HIV risk — in just 10 years, and secured support from donors and partners worldwide to develop a robust pipeline of promising HIV prevention products for women.

As a staunch supporter of women’s health and empowerment, Dr. Rosenberg was one of the earliest advocates of microbicides as a potential self-initiated HIV prevention option for women. From 1999 to 2002, she served as scientific director for the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) at Family Health International, where she chaired the HPTN Microbicides Science Working Group and managed scientific and operational coordination of domestic and international HIV prevention clinical trials.

From 1987 to 1999, Dr. Rosenberg served in several capacities at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). As senior scientist in the Division of AIDS, she was responsible for a global program of HIV prevention clinical research in adult populations. As assistant director for prevention research, she coordinated prevention activities in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis. Dr. Rosenberg represented NIH on the Public Health Service Task Force to Combat Multi-Drug Resistant TB and co-chaired the TB research subcommittee. 

Dr. Rosenberg has published numerous articles in leading scientific journals, book chapters and conference abstracts. She has been a featured speaker at many international conferences and events, including the International AIDS Society Conference, the International Conference on AIDS, the HIV Research for Prevention Conference, the International Conference on Family Planning, Women Deliver, and the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Rosenberg received her undergraduate degree (AB) in biology and mathematics with honors from Douglass College, Rutgers University; a master’s degree (SM) in epidemiology and a doctoral degree (ScD) in microbiology from the Harvard School of Public Health.