Sharon Achilles

Dr. Sharon Achilles leads the foundation’s efforts in drug discovery and innovative approaches to improving reproductive and sexual health, with a focus on women in low-resource settings. She leads a team that focuses on:

• Development of novel live biotherapeutics for treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis
• Prevention of cervical cancer through development of innovative immunologic, biologic, and antiviral-based approaches to clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV), including development of a therapeutic HPV vaccine
• Development of a global syphilis vaccine
• Filling foundational knowledge gaps in reproductive and endometrial biology to promote novel product development
• Innovation in sustainable menstrual health and hygiene products
• Partnerships to develop novel nonhormonal contraceptives

Before joining the foundation in 2021, Sharon was an academic physician-scientist at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Womens Research Institute, where she served as director of the Center for Family Planning Research for more than 10 years. Sharon’s research centered on the development of novel contraceptives, including multipurpose prevention technologies with dual efficacy for contraception and HIV prevention.

Sharon has a bachelor’s degree in biology and criminal justice from Indiana University, a Ph.D. in biology from Johns Hopkins University, and an M.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, with subspecialty certifications in complex family planning and reproductive infectious disease.