Jonathan Friedland
Professor Jonathan Samuel Friedland is a British physician and medical researcher. He serves as Vice-President and Professor of Infectious Diseases at City St George's, University of London.
Early life and education
Jonathan Friedland is the son of Albert and Rosalind Friedland. He was educated at St Paul's School in London before studying medicine at Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, and King's College Hospital.He completed his junior medical training at the Royal Brompton Hospital, the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Friedland later undertook a Clinical Research Fellowship funded by the Medical Research Council at St George's, University of London.
Career
Academic RolesFriedland was appointed Senior Lecturer at The Royal Postgraduate Medical School and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Disease at the Hammersmith Hospital. In 2004, he became Professor of Infectious Diseases and Head of Infectious Diseases and Immunity at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, later Imperial College London. He served as Director of the Hammersmith campus, Imperial College London, from 2010. Friedland maintained an active clinical practice as Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Medicine, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, from 1994 to 2018, and served as Chief of Clinical Service from 2004 to 2013.
In 2018, Friedland joined St George's, University of London as Deputy Principal and Professor of Infectious Diseases. Following the merger of City and St George’s, University of London, he became Deputy Vice-President.
Regulatory and Advisory Roles
Friedland has held numerous regulatory and advisory positions. He is a non-executive board member of the UK Health Security Agency, where he chairs the Science & Research Committee and sits on the Audit & Risk Committee.
He chaired the MHRA Expert Working Group on COVID-19 Therapeutics from 2020 to 2023 and served as Vice-Chair of the Commission on Human Medicines. Friedland also chaired the MHRA Expert Advisory Group on Infection from 2015 to 2022.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a member of the COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance Methodologies Expert Working Group. He previously served on the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation and the Chief Medical Officer's National Expert Panel on New and Emerging Infections.
Leadership in Professional Societies
Friedland was President of the British Infection Association from 2007 to 2009. In 2020, he was elected to the executive committee of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, initially taking up the role of Scientific Affairs Secretary. He has held various other roles within ESCMID, including serving on the programme committee of ESCMID Global, the largest infection conference in the world. In 2024, he was appointed ESCMID Secretary General and President-elect.
Contributions to Research and Charitable Organisations
Friedland has contributed extensively to medical research and education. He was a member of the Medical Research Council Clinical Training and Career Development Panel from 2009 to 2013. Additionally, he has served on various grant-giving bodies for charitable organizations, contributing to the advancement of clinical research and training.