Robert Cox

Ph.D. in Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2013

Robert Cox, assistant professor at Georgia State University, specializes in negative sense RNA virus replication and pathogenesis, and the development of antivirals against RNA viruses of pandemic potential. His research is primarily focused on identifying effective small molecule therapeutics to inhibit different stages in the viral life cycle using high-throughput screening techniques.

Dr. Cox earned his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham characterizing the structure, function and interactions of different components of the paramyxovirus RNA dependent RNA polymerase complex using multiple structural and biophysical techniques. Before joining the faculty, he received his postdoctoral training in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, focusing on the identification, characterization and development inhibitors of different viral polymerases, including antivirals against SARS-CoV-2, measles virus, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus and human parainfluenza virus.

Research Interest

High-throughput screening, identification and development of antiviral therapies against RNA viruses of pandemic potential. As part of a national Antiviral Drug Development (AViDD) center, Dr. Cox works with collaborators across the globe to develop and utilize high-throughput screening (HTS) assays to identify the next generation of antiviral drugs. The primary focus of research in the Cox lab is the identification of novel small molecule antivirals against RNA viruses of pandemic potential, including members of the Paramyxoviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae and Coronaviridae families. His lab employs an array of fully automated systems to execute large scale HTS campaigns to identify the next generation of antiviral therapies. The Cox lab utilizes HTS facilities in BLS2 and BSL3 laboratory space to target a wide array of viruses with pandemic potential. His lab uses an innovative system combining cheminformatics with a robust system of in vitro and in silico methods to quickly screen, identify and rapidly characterize new small molecule antivirals to prepare for and combat future pandemic threats.