Barbara Friedland

Barbara Friedland is a senior associate and Project Director of Clinical and Behavioral Research, HIV Product Development at the Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research based in New York. Since joining the Council, Friedland has implemented clinical and behavioral research to advance the development of vaginal microbicides and multipurpose prevention technologies.

Friedland’s current research focuses on how product, provider, and end-user factors influence acceptability, adherence, and method continuation. She leads two mixed-methods studies in Zimbabwe and South Africa comparing adherence, acceptability, and preference of a dual prevention pill containing PrEP and oral contraception versus products taken separately. She also investigates characteristics of intravaginal rings to improve acceptability and reduce the risk of expulsions.

In collaboration with stakeholders and with funding from USAID, Friedland also coordinated updates to the People Living with HIV Stigma Index. Updates included the development and validation of a new Resilience Scale for people living with HIV. Friedland has published over 50 articles and nearly 100 abstracts at domestic and international conferences.

Friedland has a Master of Public Health, with a focus on community health education, from Hunter College of the City University of New York.