A-Z Index × Submit A-Z Index × Submit A-Z Index Search Dropdown × Submit Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate Emerging Infectious Disease journal ISSN: 1080-6059 Disclaimer: Early release articles are not considered as final versions. Any changes will be reflected in the online version in the month the article is officially released.
Figure . Nancy J. Cox (1948–2026) in June 2008. Photograph courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Italian usage, influenza refers broadly to influence, which Treccani defines as the “influence or action exerted by the stars on human character and destinies” ( 1 ). Nancy J. Cox, PhD ( Figure ), has had an enduring and tremendous influence on the global public health and influenza scientific communities. Over a distinguished career spanning nearly 4 decades, she advanced ideas, systems, and people that shaped contemporary influenza science and practice. Through her work in epidemiology, virology, outbreak response, prevention, vaccinology, surveillance, and One Health, her leadership and diplomacy influenced institutions worldwide. She was recognized with numerous awards and leaves a legacy that will continue to shape future generations of public health scientists.
Nancy was born in rural Iowa in 1948 and earned a National Science Foundation scholarship to Iowa State University, completing her degree with highest honors. She then attended Cambridge University as a Marshall Scholar and entered the influenza field in the Division of Virology, Department of Pathology at Cambridge. Her early work examined molecular aspects of influenza virus replication, a foundation that shaped the rest of her career ( 2 ).
Her focus on the fundamental biology of influenza viruses, especially how they evolved and interacted with the immune system, led her to understand how subtle genetic and antigenic differences affect epidemics. That insight contributed to one of her most enduring public health roles: guiding the selection of influenza viruses for use in the influenza vaccine. Nancy set the standards for how an influenza virus is characterized by using genomic and antigenic testing. As the head of a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Control of Influenza at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she provided globally recognized leadership for the process used for preparing and selecting viruses for updating influenza vaccines.
Over 37 years at CDC, Nancy helped transform a small team of scientists into the preeminent global center for influenza surveillance, epidemiology, research, and preparedness. She authored more than 278 scientific publications and helped define 3 pillars of modern influenza work: quantifying disease burden, characterizing emerging viruses, and using global systems for surveillance and response.
There were 2 settings where Nancy was most comfortable in her professional life. The first was when she was diving deep into the testing of viruses. At weekly meetings, Nancy was always at the head of the table, often wearing a tailored suit jacket, and leading her staff as they reviewed detailed spreadsheets of virus test data. Such gatherings were an odd hybrid of cutting-edge biotechnology and priestly ritual, divining the future of each virus.
The other setting was at small international meetings, where Nancy would engage in deep conversations on virus protein structure with colleagues during the day and then sta…