Martin Friede

Coordinator, Initiative for Vaccine Research
World Health Organization Initiative for Vaccine Research
Switzerland

Martin Friede leads the vaccine research unit at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.  In this position Dr Friede provides leadership to WHO’s activities on vaccine research including development of vaccine research policies, strategies and priorities, and assistance to countries to establish vaccine R&D and production.

In addition, Martin leads WHOs activities on technology transfer for vaccines, and expanding local vaccine production capacity: he led the team building pandemic influenza vaccine capacity in low- and middle-income countries, has established vaccine adjuvant technology transfer facilities, and currently leads the WHO/MPP mRNA technology transfer programme.

Prior to joining WHO, Dr Friede held several senior management positions in the vaccine industry. Dr Friede earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Cape Town.