Sir Farrar is a clinical scientist and Director of Wellcome the world’s second-largest not-for-profit organization dedicated to science and public health. Before joining Wellcome in October 2013, Sir Farrar spent 18 years as Director of the Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City. His research interests relate mainly to infectious diseases and global health, with a focus on emerging infections.
He has published some 600 articles, mentored dozens of students and fellows, and served as the chair of several advisory boards for governments and global organizations.
He was ranked 12th in Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders in 2015 and was awarded the Memorial Medal and the Ho Chi Minh City Medal from the government of Vietnam. In 2018 he was awarded the President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian of the Year Award. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in the UK, the National Academies in the US, the European Molecular Biology Organisation and the Royal Society.
Sir Farrar was knighted in the Queen’s 2019 New Year’s Honours for services to global health, and in 2020 was awarded The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, by the government of Japan.
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