Ben Marais

Professor Ben Marais serves as Director of the Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute and is affiliated with the Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School at the University of Sydney. A pediatric infectious diseases specialist with global health expertise, he leads research on childhood tuberculosis (TB), multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB), and cross-disciplinary ecological health approaches. He is actively involved in international collaborations across Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Mongolia, and South Africa.

• Key Research Areas: Tuberculosis epidemiology, child health, pathogen genomics, planetary health ethics, and infection control
• Leadership: NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Tuberculosis Control, Australasian Tuberculosis Forum
• Global Impact: Coordinated WHO MDR-TB program reviews, developed clinical standards for pediatric TB, and advised on cross-border health initiatives

His recent publications focus on pediatric TB diagnostics, genomic tracking of TB transmission, and planetary health frameworks for child health. He supervises research students working on TB control in NSW and pediatric drug monitoring. Professor Marais combines clinical expertise with policy advocacy, particularly for improved TB control in the Asia-Pacific region.