Michael Marks
@drmichaelmarks.bsky.social
NIHR Research Professor
Professor of Medicine at LSHTM.
Lead for Integrated Academic Training at LSHTM.
Consultant in Infectious Diseases at UCLH.
Syphilis & STIs, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Group A Strep, Pragmatic Trials
Professor of Medicine at LSHTM.
Lead for Integrated Academic Training at LSHTM.
Consultant in Infectious Diseases at UCLH.
Syphilis & STIs, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Group A Strep, Pragmatic Trials
Wiping clean the last year of grant applications & preparing for this one.
As always grateful to a stellar group of colleagues & collaborators who keep the show on the road.
As always grateful to a stellar group of colleagues & collaborators who keep the show on the road.
January 13, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Wiping clean the last year of grant applications & preparing for this one.
As always grateful to a stellar group of colleagues & collaborators who keep the show on the road.
As always grateful to a stellar group of colleagues & collaborators who keep the show on the road.
Reposted by Michael Marks
We are recruiting! We are looking for statistical methodologists at Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow level for our new Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Clinical Trial Innovation. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please share!
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 10:59 AM
We are recruiting! We are looking for statistical methodologists at Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow level for our new Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Clinical Trial Innovation. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please share!
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Out @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social & led @amberbarton.bsky.social We used WGS to look at Treponema population dynamics during community MDA for yaws tinyurl.com/bd6zu6xm
Intriguingly found sublineage associated w longer ulcer duration & lower antibody titres. Whether occurs in syphilis needs exploring
Intriguingly found sublineage associated w longer ulcer duration & lower antibody titres. Whether occurs in syphilis needs exploring
January 7, 2026 at 8:49 AM
Out @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social & led @amberbarton.bsky.social We used WGS to look at Treponema population dynamics during community MDA for yaws tinyurl.com/bd6zu6xm
Intriguingly found sublineage associated w longer ulcer duration & lower antibody titres. Whether occurs in syphilis needs exploring
Intriguingly found sublineage associated w longer ulcer duration & lower antibody titres. Whether occurs in syphilis needs exploring
I LOVE THIS COURSE. I have watched it every year for 3 years in a row. Strong recommend.
And we're live, Lecture A1 is online. Introduction to Bayesian workflow, generative models, estimands, estimators, estimates, error checking, beginnings of probability theory and Bayesian updating. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztbY...
January 6, 2026 at 3:02 PM
I LOVE THIS COURSE. I have watched it every year for 3 years in a row. Strong recommend.
As ever from Lorenzo, @nicolelieberman.bsky.social & the team at @uwnews.uw.edu a great paper showing variation in Penicillin Binding Proteins in T.pallidum do not appear to impact susceptibility - consistent with what we have observed clinically for 50+ years.
journals.lww.com/stdjournal/a...
journals.lww.com/stdjournal/a...
January 3, 2026 at 6:05 PM
As ever from Lorenzo, @nicolelieberman.bsky.social & the team at @uwnews.uw.edu a great paper showing variation in Penicillin Binding Proteins in T.pallidum do not appear to impact susceptibility - consistent with what we have observed clinically for 50+ years.
journals.lww.com/stdjournal/a...
journals.lww.com/stdjournal/a...
Still time to apply and come and do modelling PhD on STI transmission and partner notification with me!
UK fees & stipend covered.
Get in touch to discuss before the application deadline of 14th January.
@tah-sci.com @rozeggo.bsky.social @adamjkucharski.bsky.social @drlouisedyson.bsky.social
UK fees & stipend covered.
Get in touch to discuss before the application deadline of 14th January.
@tah-sci.com @rozeggo.bsky.social @adamjkucharski.bsky.social @drlouisedyson.bsky.social
👋Our MRC-LID studentships are now open for applications with @citystgeorges.bsky.social
MRC-LID provides research opportunities focused on improving #GlobalHealth with skills, training & the expertise of 2 specialist institutions.
Apply by 14 Jan 2026👉 mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
MRC-LID provides research opportunities focused on improving #GlobalHealth with skills, training & the expertise of 2 specialist institutions.
Apply by 14 Jan 2026👉 mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
December 29, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Still time to apply and come and do modelling PhD on STI transmission and partner notification with me!
UK fees & stipend covered.
Get in touch to discuss before the application deadline of 14th January.
@tah-sci.com @rozeggo.bsky.social @adamjkucharski.bsky.social @drlouisedyson.bsky.social
UK fees & stipend covered.
Get in touch to discuss before the application deadline of 14th January.
@tah-sci.com @rozeggo.bsky.social @adamjkucharski.bsky.social @drlouisedyson.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Marks
🧪 🦠 #Mpox virus “acquired during pregnancy should be regarded as a congenital pathogen” particularly in the first trimester
MBOTE-SK project followed 89 pregnant women in DR Congo
@labgenpath.bsky.social @ispm.unibe.ch @itmantwerp.bsky.social
🧵 1/2
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
MBOTE-SK project followed 89 pregnant women in DR Congo
@labgenpath.bsky.social @ispm.unibe.ch @itmantwerp.bsky.social
🧵 1/2
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Maternal and neonatal outcomes after infection with monkeypox virus clade I during pregnancy in DR Congo: a pooled, prospective cohort study
Monkeypox virus (MPXV) has been linked to vertical transmission, but systematic data are scarce. We aimed to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, …
www.sciencedirect.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🧪 🦠 #Mpox virus “acquired during pregnancy should be regarded as a congenital pathogen” particularly in the first trimester
MBOTE-SK project followed 89 pregnant women in DR Congo
@labgenpath.bsky.social @ispm.unibe.ch @itmantwerp.bsky.social
🧵 1/2
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
MBOTE-SK project followed 89 pregnant women in DR Congo
@labgenpath.bsky.social @ispm.unibe.ch @itmantwerp.bsky.social
🧵 1/2
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Finally attempting to clear my 2025 'to-read-list' before the end of year. Just 71 papers to go.....
December 21, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Finally attempting to clear my 2025 'to-read-list' before the end of year. Just 71 papers to go.....
Reposted by Michael Marks
📣 UKHSA survey on gonorrhoea testing practices in England
UKHSA is inviting sexual health services & diagnostic labs to take part in a national survey on current gonorrhoea testing practices across England.
⏱️ 15 minutes
🗓️ Deadline: 14 Jan 2026
🔗 Take part here: surveys.ukhsa.gov.uk/s/sg01bo
UKHSA is inviting sexual health services & diagnostic labs to take part in a national survey on current gonorrhoea testing practices across England.
⏱️ 15 minutes
🗓️ Deadline: 14 Jan 2026
🔗 Take part here: surveys.ukhsa.gov.uk/s/sg01bo
Starting survey...
surveys.ukhsa.gov.uk
December 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
📣 UKHSA survey on gonorrhoea testing practices in England
UKHSA is inviting sexual health services & diagnostic labs to take part in a national survey on current gonorrhoea testing practices across England.
⏱️ 15 minutes
🗓️ Deadline: 14 Jan 2026
🔗 Take part here: surveys.ukhsa.gov.uk/s/sg01bo
UKHSA is inviting sexual health services & diagnostic labs to take part in a national survey on current gonorrhoea testing practices across England.
⏱️ 15 minutes
🗓️ Deadline: 14 Jan 2026
🔗 Take part here: surveys.ukhsa.gov.uk/s/sg01bo
Reposted by Michael Marks
Symposium & workshop on inequalities in infectious disease dynamics at LSHTM in April 2026. We aim to will bring together leading researchers and practitioners to share ideas, discuss recent advances, and reflect on future directions. Details & application: iddconf.org/lshtm-sympos... Closing 21 Jan
Social Inequalities in Infectious Disease Dynamics: a Symposium and Workshop
iddconf.org
December 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Symposium & workshop on inequalities in infectious disease dynamics at LSHTM in April 2026. We aim to will bring together leading researchers and practitioners to share ideas, discuss recent advances, and reflect on future directions. Details & application: iddconf.org/lshtm-sympos... Closing 21 Jan
Reposted by Michael Marks
Leaders at @ukri.org should be seriously looking at the lottery first idea. 68% lower economic costs, increase in diversity of award holders and well received.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Lottery before peer review is associated with increased female representation and reduced estimated economic cost in a German funding line - Nature Communications
The authors show evidence from a German funding line that a lottery-first approach followed by peer review is accompanied by increased female representation both at the submission stage and among fund...
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Leaders at @ukri.org should be seriously looking at the lottery first idea. 68% lower economic costs, increase in diversity of award holders and well received.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Super proud of my student Philippe Ndzomo awarded PhD today at University of Yaounde.
His work focused on the emergence of Hameophilus ducreyi as a cause of cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon & Globally
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39961439/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38150487/
His work focused on the emergence of Hameophilus ducreyi as a cause of cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon & Globally
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39961439/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38150487/
December 11, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Super proud of my student Philippe Ndzomo awarded PhD today at University of Yaounde.
His work focused on the emergence of Hameophilus ducreyi as a cause of cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon & Globally
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39961439/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38150487/
His work focused on the emergence of Hameophilus ducreyi as a cause of cutaneous ulcers in Cameroon & Globally
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40338972/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39961439/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38150487/
We have a PhD project as part of this scheme focused on mathematical modelling of STI transmission. Do get in touch if you are interested.
👋Our MRC-LID studentships are now open for applications with @citystgeorges.bsky.social
MRC-LID provides research opportunities focused on improving #GlobalHealth with skills, training & the expertise of 2 specialist institutions.
Apply by 14 Jan 2026👉 mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
MRC-LID provides research opportunities focused on improving #GlobalHealth with skills, training & the expertise of 2 specialist institutions.
Apply by 14 Jan 2026👉 mrc-lid.lshtm.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
We have a PhD project as part of this scheme focused on mathematical modelling of STI transmission. Do get in touch if you are interested.
Incredible retirement talk by Prof. Paul Fine @lshtm.bsky.social Career dedicated to global health, critical enquiry & passion for training next generation in UK & esp Malawi where he left huge legacy. Privilege spend 10+yrs at same institution & humbling to know its not even 1/3 time hes been here.
December 9, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Incredible retirement talk by Prof. Paul Fine @lshtm.bsky.social Career dedicated to global health, critical enquiry & passion for training next generation in UK & esp Malawi where he left huge legacy. Privilege spend 10+yrs at same institution & humbling to know its not even 1/3 time hes been here.
Reposted by Michael Marks
Please come along tomorrow to celebrate Prof Paul Fine's decades-long work @lshtm.bsky.social and for #PublicHealth worldwide. ❤️🩹🌍
📅 9 December 2025
⏲️ 17.30
📍LSHTM | John Snow Lecture Theatre
🔗 bit.ly/3KDk6Ay
📅 9 December 2025
⏲️ 17.30
📍LSHTM | John Snow Lecture Theatre
🔗 bit.ly/3KDk6Ay
Professor Paul Fine’s retirement lecture and celebration | LSHTM
Please join us to celebrate and commiserate Professor Paul Fine’s retirement after many decades of service to the LSHTM. The event will consist of a special lecture by Paul reflecting on aspects of
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Please come along tomorrow to celebrate Prof Paul Fine's decades-long work @lshtm.bsky.social and for #PublicHealth worldwide. ❤️🩹🌍
📅 9 December 2025
⏲️ 17.30
📍LSHTM | John Snow Lecture Theatre
🔗 bit.ly/3KDk6Ay
📅 9 December 2025
⏲️ 17.30
📍LSHTM | John Snow Lecture Theatre
🔗 bit.ly/3KDk6Ay
UK Sexual Health Clinicians - can you spare a few minutes to contribute to a survey led by colleagues in Australia on the role of AI in improving diagnosis of anogenital skin conditions?
Survey is here: go.unimelb.edu.au/b3a2
@drlaurajwaters.bsky.social @manikkohli.bsky.social
Survey is here: go.unimelb.edu.au/b3a2
@drlaurajwaters.bsky.social @manikkohli.bsky.social
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
go.unimelb.edu.au
December 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM
UK Sexual Health Clinicians - can you spare a few minutes to contribute to a survey led by colleagues in Australia on the role of AI in improving diagnosis of anogenital skin conditions?
Survey is here: go.unimelb.edu.au/b3a2
@drlaurajwaters.bsky.social @manikkohli.bsky.social
Survey is here: go.unimelb.edu.au/b3a2
@drlaurajwaters.bsky.social @manikkohli.bsky.social
Excited to announce launch of IVM-KIDS consortium.
Funded by @globalhealthedctp3.bsky.social & Open Philanthropy & Swiss Government.
Aim to deliver data & paediatric friendly formulation to extend use of ivermectin for NTDs to include youngest children who are currently excluded from programmes.
Funded by @globalhealthedctp3.bsky.social & Open Philanthropy & Swiss Government.
Aim to deliver data & paediatric friendly formulation to extend use of ivermectin for NTDs to include youngest children who are currently excluded from programmes.
IVMKIDS – Parasite control for those who need it most
Making ivermectin safe and accessible for all ages An opportunity to extend treatment for multiple Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) worldwide Providing clinical evidence to support the use of ive...
ivmkids.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Excited to announce launch of IVM-KIDS consortium.
Funded by @globalhealthedctp3.bsky.social & Open Philanthropy & Swiss Government.
Aim to deliver data & paediatric friendly formulation to extend use of ivermectin for NTDs to include youngest children who are currently excluded from programmes.
Funded by @globalhealthedctp3.bsky.social & Open Philanthropy & Swiss Government.
Aim to deliver data & paediatric friendly formulation to extend use of ivermectin for NTDs to include youngest children who are currently excluded from programmes.
Congratulations to Burrell St Sexual Health: First UK patient into SOS Global - Evaluating mucosal shedding of spirochetes in heterosexual individuals with syphilis.
Great collaboration led by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre focused on understanding syphilis transmission.
Great collaboration led by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre focused on understanding syphilis transmission.
December 2, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Congratulations to Burrell St Sexual Health: First UK patient into SOS Global - Evaluating mucosal shedding of spirochetes in heterosexual individuals with syphilis.
Great collaboration led by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre focused on understanding syphilis transmission.
Great collaboration led by Melbourne Sexual Health Centre focused on understanding syphilis transmission.
Reposted by Michael Marks
A group of ID clinical researchers passionate about clinical research and evidence appraisal has just launched the CLARITY initiative (clarityinitiative.org), which aims to improve the generation and interpretation of evidence in ID and Microbiology.
Clarity Initiative
Clinical Literature Appraisal and Research education in InfecTious diseases
clarityinitiative.org
November 30, 2025 at 11:40 PM
A group of ID clinical researchers passionate about clinical research and evidence appraisal has just launched the CLARITY initiative (clarityinitiative.org), which aims to improve the generation and interpretation of evidence in ID and Microbiology.
REMINDER
1) Last week to apply for a PhD studentship working on near patient syphilis diagnostics - deadline 5th December.
2) We also have an STI modelling PhD open for applications until mid January.
If interested do get in touch.
1) Last week to apply for a PhD studentship working on near patient syphilis diagnostics - deadline 5th December.
2) We also have an STI modelling PhD open for applications until mid January.
If interested do get in touch.
Two syphilis/STI related UK PhD Studentships with our group:
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
November 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
REMINDER
1) Last week to apply for a PhD studentship working on near patient syphilis diagnostics - deadline 5th December.
2) We also have an STI modelling PhD open for applications until mid January.
If interested do get in touch.
1) Last week to apply for a PhD studentship working on near patient syphilis diagnostics - deadline 5th December.
2) We also have an STI modelling PhD open for applications until mid January.
If interested do get in touch.
Reposted by Michael Marks
New preprint: with increasing resistance to ceftriaxone, the last recommended antibiotic for gonorrhea, we urgently need new drugs. Two--zoliflodacin & gepotdiacin--are up for approval by the FDA in Dec. Here we show a point mutation can result in cross-resistance. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Zoliflodacin and gepotidacin cross-resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Resistance to zoliflodacin, a first-in-class antibiotic for gonorrhea treatment, can occur through gyrBD429N, but this mutation's impact on fitness and resistance to other topoisomerase targeting drug...
www.biorxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:39 AM
New preprint: with increasing resistance to ceftriaxone, the last recommended antibiotic for gonorrhea, we urgently need new drugs. Two--zoliflodacin & gepotdiacin--are up for approval by the FDA in Dec. Here we show a point mutation can result in cross-resistance. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Great event at the Red Run for World Aids Day - a bracing, wet, windy but highly enjoyable 10km. Still accepting final donations for an excellent cause - @thelovetankcic.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Great event at the Red Run for World Aids Day - a bracing, wet, windy but highly enjoyable 10km. Still accepting final donations for an excellent cause - @thelovetankcic.bsky.social
Two funded PhD studentships available to come and work with us.
Through my @nihr.bsky.social Professorship & the Health Protection Research Unit on STIs - come & work on syphilis diagnostics.
Through MRC LID scheme @lshtm.bsky.social - come & work on mathematical modelling of STI interventions.
Through my @nihr.bsky.social Professorship & the Health Protection Research Unit on STIs - come & work on syphilis diagnostics.
Through MRC LID scheme @lshtm.bsky.social - come & work on mathematical modelling of STI interventions.
Two syphilis/STI related UK PhD Studentships with our group:
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
November 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Two funded PhD studentships available to come and work with us.
Through my @nihr.bsky.social Professorship & the Health Protection Research Unit on STIs - come & work on syphilis diagnostics.
Through MRC LID scheme @lshtm.bsky.social - come & work on mathematical modelling of STI interventions.
Through my @nihr.bsky.social Professorship & the Health Protection Research Unit on STIs - come & work on syphilis diagnostics.
Through MRC LID scheme @lshtm.bsky.social - come & work on mathematical modelling of STI interventions.
Reposted by Michael Marks
𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 🎓 Applications are now open for OUCRU’s fully funded #PhD programme at @ox.ac.uk , offering world-class research training for scientists and clinicians from Vietnam & Indonesia.
👉 Explore more: linktr.ee/oucru
👉 Explore more: linktr.ee/oucru
November 19, 2025 at 3:18 AM
𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 🎓 Applications are now open for OUCRU’s fully funded #PhD programme at @ox.ac.uk , offering world-class research training for scientists and clinicians from Vietnam & Indonesia.
👉 Explore more: linktr.ee/oucru
👉 Explore more: linktr.ee/oucru
Reposted by Michael Marks
Two syphilis/STI related UK PhD Studentships with our group:
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
November 10, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Two syphilis/STI related UK PhD Studentships with our group:
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share
Evaluating near-patient syphilis tests with @uclglobalhealth.bsky.social inyurl.com/aw9sapma deadline 5th Dec 2025
Mathematical models to understand partner notification tinyurl.com/2re7xasj deadline 14th Jan 2026
Please do share