Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

Prof. Dr. med. Alexander W. Friedrich (44) is since 2011 Head of Department and Chair of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention at the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. He studied human medicine at the Universities of Würzburg (Germany), Coimbra (Portugal) and Rome (Italy) and did his specialist training in Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention at the University Hospitals in Würzburg and Münster.

Till 2010 he was head of unit for infection control and responsible physician for the microbiological laboratories, including the EHEC diagnostics of the national consulting laboratory of the Institute of Hygiene of the University of Münster. His research focus lies in the Genomics for Infection Prevention pointing out the need of close co-operation between academic and public health institutions and veterinary medicine under a One-health-aspect. His research activities comprise basic and translational microbiological research in the field of multi-drug resistant microorganisms causing healthcare associated infections. His research combines most modern techniques, such as next gen-sequencing and a network analysis approach to understand the source, the transmission dynamics and continuous pathoadaptation of the microorganisms.

In 2010 he received the Robert Koch Young investigator Award, in 2012 the Statal Health Award of NRW for his research and for his crossborder project-initiatives fostering patient safety and infection prevention in the Netherlands and in Germany. Since 2014 he is holder of the Johan Peter Frank-Medal of the Federal Society for Public Health.