Dr. Paul Alan Cox

Paul Alan Cox is an American ethnobotanist whose career encompasses rainforest conservation, drug discovery, and neuroscience research. Cox's scientific work centers on discovering new medicines by studying patterns of wellness and illness among indigenous peoples, contributing to advancements in ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, and pharmaceutical development.

As a Fulbright Fellow, Cox earned an M.Sc. in Ecology at the University of Wales and later received a Ph.D. in Biology from Harvard University, where he was a Danforth Fellow and a National Science Foundation Fellow. At Harvard, he was twice awarded the Bowdoin Prize in Literature. Following his tenure as a Miller Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, Cox was named a Presidential Young Investigator. He served as professor and later dean at Brigham Young University before being appointed King Carl XVI Gustaf Professor of Environmental Biology in Uppsala.

Cox's fieldwork in the Pacific Islands led to significant discoveries in ethnobotany. Although trained in evolutionary ecology, he shifted his focus to ethnomedicine after the loss of his mother to breast cancer. Collaborating with colleagues at the National Cancer Institute, Cox contributed to the discovery of the anti-HIV/AIDS properties of prostratin, a compound found in the bark of the mamala tree of Samoa. His experiences in Samoa inspired his book, "Nafanua: Saving the Samoan Rainforest," which has been translated into multiple languages. In recognition of his conservation efforts, Cox was bestowed the Nafanua matai chief title by Falealupo, one of the highest legendary titles in Samoa. He also served as director of the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Hawaii and Florida.

Cox founded the environmental nonprofit organization Seacology, based in Berkeley, California, which has preserved more than 1.5 million acres of island forests and coral reefs. He was named a Laureate for the Prince's Prize for Innovative Philanthropy by Albert II, Prince of Monaco. Cox led the effort to establish the 50th U.S. National Park, the National Park of American Samoa, and served as a delegate to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Lausanne, Switzerland, to protect flying fox species in Pacific islands. He received the Goldman Environmental Prize for his work in preserving Samoan rain forests and later shared the Rachel Carson Award with Senator Tom Harkin. Cox has served as president of the Society for Economic Botany and the International Society for Ethnopharmacology.

Cox has applied his ethnobotanical expertise to neurodegenerative disease research, comparing patterns of illness and wellness in island villages. His work in Guam contributed to discoveries that led to clinical trials for potential treatments for ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Cox is executive director of Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He is the author of more than 250 scientific papers, reviews, and books, and was recognized by Time Magazine as one of eleven "Heroes of Medicine" for his search for new medicines from plants. Cox is known for his scientific rigor, cross-cultural fluency, and commitment to advancing human health at the intersection of indigenous knowledge and modern medicine.