Dr Mark Mawer

Before joining the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), I completed a PhD at the University of Aberdeen, specialising in fungal immunology and antibody therapeutics. My research focused on developing recombinant monoclonal antibodies targeting Candida albicans cell surface glycoproteins to enhance immune response and reduce fungal burden in infection models. 

After my PhD, I joined the UK Health Security Agency, where I developed a lung-on-chip model to study respiratory viral infections and immune responses. I focused on a human lung alveolus model infected with SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A, integrating immune system cells to better understand host-pathogen interactions and evaluate antiviral therapeutics. 

At LSTM, my research focuses on developing a high-throughput B cell screening platform to generate monoclonal antibodies for lateral flow assays detecting Rift Valley fever virus antigens. By improving early detection, my work aims to enhance outbreak response and disease surveillance, contributing to the development of accessible, rapid diagnostic tools for affected regions.

My research focuses on developing antibody-based tools to tackle infectious diseases, with a particular emphasis on rapid diagnostics and immunotherapeutics. I’m especially interested in using monoclonal antibodies for early detection of high-consequence pathogens, including Rift Valley Fever Virus, Oropouche Virus, and Marburg Virus. At LSTM, I’m building a high-throughput B cell screening platform to generate antibodies for lateral flow assays, which are designed to be low-cost, field-deployable tools to strengthen surveillance and outbreak response, particularly in resource-limited settings.