Prof. Dr. Alex W. Friedrich, born 23.02.1971 in Nürnberg, studied human medicine at the universities of Würzburg, Coimbra and Rome. In 1998 he did his MD and PhD at the University of Würzburg. Since 2011 he is head of the department and Chair of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) in the Netherlands.

As a specialist in medical microbiology he coordinates large international and cross border research networks for the prevention of infections due to antimicrobial resistant microorganisms (http://www.eurhealth-1health.eu; http://mrsa-net.org; http://www.health-i-care.eu). He coordinates the full-area regional network for the prevention of antimicrobial resistance to create a vivid network of hospitals, long-term care facilities, PHS and GP’s for the prevention of infections caused by MDRO ((www.remis-plus.net). His research focus lies in the Genomics for Infection Prevention pointing out the need of close co-operation between academic and public health institutions as well as veterinary medicine under a One-health-aspect. These trans disciplinary research is done within the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health (AJSPH).

His main activity is the prevention of Healthcare associated Infections (HCAI), antimicrobial resistant microorganisms (ARM), and zoonotic infections (STEC). He aims at fostering interdisciplinary and meta-competent approaches in infection prevention and control in International and European training programs. He is Member of the Executive Committee of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Clinical Director of the European Committee on Infection Control (EUCIC) of the ESCMID and Chair of the non-profit EurSafety-Fund of the UMCG for fostering patient safety and infection prevention.