Dr. Marisa Azad

Cross-Appointed Member, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The Ottawa Hospital, Senior Scientist, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

Biography

Dr. Marisa Azad completed a combined MD/Ph Dat McMaster University in Biochemistry and Microbiology in 2016. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at McMaster University and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of Ottawa prior to completing an advanced fellowship in Orthopedic Infectious Diseases in 2022 at the Mayo Clinic. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ottawa Hospital, an Associate Clinical Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and a Mayo Clinic Research Collaborator.

The Azad Laboratory focuses on exploiting the molecular and microbial mechanisms of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI)to develop novel rapid diagnostics and therapeutics. Her research also focuses on translational clinical studies which aim to ultimately offer better treatment, care, and prevention of patients suffering from PJI.

Dr. Azad also developed and currently leads Canada’s first PJI clinical program where patients from around the world are referred to her for her expertise in managing these complex and debilitating infections.

Some of her current research projects include the rational drug design of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and other small molecules which inhibit biofilm formation in osteoarticular infections, and the development of novel targeted drug delivery systems and culture-independent rapid diagnostic assays for PJI. In collaboration with Cytophage Technologies Ltd., the Azad Laboratory is the first in Canada to offer bacteriophage (phage) therapy to a patient suffering from PJI, with approval from Health Canada. Dr. Azad and her team will be using this N of 1trial as a platform for future phage therapy research for the treatment of PJI.

Aside from basic science, Dr. Azad is passionate about exploring the relationship between art and medicine. She is an avid painter who enjoys bridging art and science to offer patients hope and more holistic care.

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Selected Publications:

1. Azad, M. A., and Patel, R. Practical Guidance for Clinical     Microbiology Laboratories: Microbiologic diagnosis of implant-associated     infections. 2024 Clinical Microbiology Reviews doi:     https://doi.org/10.1128/cmr.00104-23
2. Azad, M. A., Wolf, M. J., Strasburg, A. P., Daniels, M. L.,     Starkey, J. C., Donadio, A. D., Abdel, M. P., Greenwood-Quaintance, K. E.,     and Patel, R. Comparison of the BioFire Joint Infection Panel to 16S     Ribosomal RNA Gene-Based Targeted Metagenomic Sequencing for Testing     Synovial Fluid from Patients with Arthroplasty Failure. Journal of     Clinical Microbiology. 2022 Nov 21;e0112622. doi: 10.1128/jcm.01126-22.
3. Flurin, L., Hemenway, J., Fisher, C., Vaillant, J., Azad, M.     A., Wolf, M., Greenwood-Quaintance, K. E., Abdel, M., and Patel, R.     Clinical use of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based targeted metagenomic     sequencing assay to test preoperative synovial fluid for periprosthetic     joint infection diagnosis. mBio. 2022 Nov 10;e0132222. doi:     10.1128/mbio.01322-22
4. Bourget-Murray, J., Azad, M. A., Gofton, W., Abdelbary, H., and     Grammatopoulos, G. Is the routine use of local antibiotics in the     management of periprosthetic joint infections justified? HIP     International. 2023 Jan;33(1):4-16. doi: 10.1177/11207000221139467
5. Tubin, N., Bourget-Murray, J., Morris, J., Bureau, A., Azad, M.     A., Abdelbary, H., Grammatopoulos, G., Garceau, S. Fellowship training in     arthroplasty improves treatment success of debridement, antibiotics, and     implant retention for periprosthetic knee infections. 2024, in press,     Arthroplasty Today
6. Azad M. A., Deslandes V. Photo Quiz: Spiraling down the Rabbit     Hole: the case of the curious Gram stain. J Clin Microbiol. 2022 Oct     19;60(10):e0011722. doi: 10.1128/jcm.00117-22. Epub 2022 Oct 19. PMID:     36259778; PMCID: PMC9580344.
7. Krueger, C., Azad, M. A., Karamchand R., Deslandes, V., and     Jessamine, P. Robinsoniella peoriensis: an emerging pathogen and rare     cause of wound infections in children. 2022 3(7) Journal of the     Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada.
8. Azad, M. A., Swinton, M., Clarke, F., Takaoka, A., Vanstone,     M., Woods, A., Boyle, A., Hoad, N., Toledo, F., and Cook, D. Healing     through art: experiences of bereaved family members receiving     commemorative paintings. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2020     1;3(12):e2027259. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27259.
9. McArthur, A. G., Waglechner, N., Nizam, F., Yan, A., Azad, M.     A., … Wright, G. D.. 2013. The comprehensive antibiotic resistance     database. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 57(7):3348-3357.
10. Azad, M. A. and Wright, G. D. 2011. Determining the mode of     action of bioactive compounds.  Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.     20(6):1929-1939.
11. Azad, M. A., Huttunen-Hennelly, H. E. K., and Friedman, C. R.     2011. Bioactivity and the first transmission electron microscopy     immunogold studies of short de novo-designed antimicrobial peptides.     Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 55:2137-2145.

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