About Professor Mark Nicol
Professor of Microbiology, Marshall Centre, The University of Western Australia
Honorary Professor of Microbiology, University of Cape Town
Director, Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Consulting (IDDx)
Professor Mark Nicol is a clinical microbiologist and Professor at The University of Western Australia, with an honorary position at the University of Cape Town. He leads research teams focused on the development and evaluation of novel diagnostics for infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, and on understanding the role of the early-life microbiota in childhood respiratory health. His work has significantly contributed to global tuberculosis diagnostic policies. Professor Nicol’s recent research also explores the impact of human microbial ecology on child health, with a particular focus on respiratory illnesses.
Professor Nicol’s current research is investigating probiotic bacteria in human milk as a potential non-antibiotic approach to prevent mastitis in breastfeeding women. The study aims to understand how the human milk microbiome differs between mothers with and without mastitis, with the goal of developing novel, non-antibiotic treatments to reduce the burden of mastitis and prevent early breastfeeding cessation.
