Professor Marta Cohen awarded OBE

Professor Marta Cohen, Head of the Department of Histopathology and Clinical Director of Pharmacy, Pathology, and Genetics, was awarded an OBE earlier this year in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her groundbreaking services to the treatment of Sudden Death Syndrome. 

Marta, who has worked for the Trust for 17 years, is a global opinion leader in paediatric pathology and the investigation of sudden infant death, and was the first woman in the UK to be appointed a Professor in Paediatric Pathology. 

Chief Executive John Somers said: “On behalf of the whole Trust, I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations to Marta for this great honour, and our most sincere gratitude for the outstanding work she does in her field. She has been a fantastic asset to the team here at Sheffield Children’s since joining our ranks in 2003, and I look forward to many more successful years working together.”

Professor Marta Cohen OBE said: “I am delighted with this achievement, having completed my medical and postgraduate education in Argentina and having come to this country just 17 years ago as a minority in terms of my gender, my Jewish surname and my accent. I recognise the inclusive values of the UK that are represented by this award.

“I feel at home in the leadership team at Sheffield Children’s, and am proud of the prestige this achievement brings, not just for myself and my work, but on behalf of the Trust and the whole city of Sheffield.” 

Marta’s main current research focus is the Molecular of Sudden Death in Infancy, Inner ear study in SIDS: The rib in SIDS and the Clinical yield of the molecular autopsy in sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. Many of these projects are conducted in collaboration with The University of Sheffield    

She was the Chair of the Scientific Committee of the world congress of ISPID 2016: International Society for Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death, a Board member of The International Society for Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant Death, and the Past President of the International Paediatric Pathology Association. 

She is on the editorial board of Pediatric and Developmental Pathology, and has co-edited three books and one book series with Cambridge University Press.