Stephen E. Straus, MD
About the Author
Stephen E. Straus, MD, is Director at the National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. An internationally recognized expert in clinical research and clinical trials, Dr. Straus is also Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). He has extensive basic and clinical research experience related to many conditions for which there are alternative or complementary remedies, including chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, chronic hepatitis B virus, and genital herpes infections and chronic postherpetic pain. Dr. Straus has an extensive background in investigations of the molecular biology, pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of human viral infections and immunologic diseases. Among his accomplishments in these areas was his demonstration that Acyclovir suppresses recurrent genital and oral herpes, and the characterization of a previously unrecognized genetically determined disease, the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome. Dr. Straus’ academic training began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where in 1968 he obtained his bachelor of science degree in life sciences. In 1972, he received his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. His career at the National Institutes of Health began in 1979, when he joined NIAID as a senior investigator. Dr. Straus is board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Straus’ professional achievements have been recognized by election to many prestigious professional societies, including the Association of American Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and by appointment to the editorial boards of several scholarly journals. He is a recipient of 5 medals and other commendations from the U.S. Public Health Service, including the Distinguished Service Medal for innovative clinical research, and the HHS Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award for drafting the blueprint to reinvigorate clinical research at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Straus has published more than 375 research articles and edited several books.
