Robert Read is Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Southampton, and Honorary Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases at University Hospital Southampton., UK. 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. Nationally, in the UK, he has contributed to the NIHR research portfolio by chairing the national Infectious Disease and Microbiology Specialty Group for the NIHR Clinical Research Network (2010-2015) and as Director of the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre 2017-2022. His experience in meningococcal, Bordetella, influenza and pneumococcal disease research, and clinical trials expertise 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 the Journal of Infection.