Robert Read is Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Southampton, and Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at University Hospital Southampton, United Kingdom. An NIHR Senior Investigator, Read conducts early phase vaccine research and in particular uses controlled human infection models to investigate potential novel vaccines, microbial pathogenesis, mucosal immunity and novel diagnostics. In parallel with this, Read collaborates with engineers to test novel diagnostic technologies. He has published over 300 peer reviewed papers with an H index of 77.

His experience in meningococcal, influenza and pneumococcal disease research, and clinical trials expertise have led to membership of the UK Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) (2013-2024), and expert advisory groups of the European Medicines Agency (2011-2016) and the UK Commission on Human Medicines (2008-2014).


He is Editor in Chief of Journal of Infection and Current Opinion in Infectious Disease.