Lily Novak Frazer

Lily Novak Frazer is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics at The University of Manchester and serves as Senior Molecular Scientist at the Mycology Reference Centre Manchester (MRCM) located at MFT Wythenshawe Hospital. In her diagnostic role, she develops and implements molecular tools for fungal infection detection as part of a UK-wide service, having implemented an Aspergillus PCR for aspergillosis detection (2017) and a pyrosequencing assay for triazole resistance testing (2018).

Her educational background includes a Doctor of Science from The University of Manchester (1996), a Master in Science from the University of Toronto (1990), and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto (1988). She pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Manchester before joining Dr. Riina Richardson's laboratory at Wythenshawe Hospital where she has focused on medical mycology.

Dr. Novak Frazer's research centers on fungal pathogenesis with particular expertise in Candida albicans biofilms and their potential carcinogenicity through acetaldehyde production, Aspergillus fumigatus resistance mechanisms, and the development of novel diagnostic platforms. Her work spans molecular diagnostics using PCR, pyrosequencing, and MALDI-TOF for fungal identification, with applications in wound, vaginitis, and cystic fibrosis models. Her research fingerprint demonstrates strong expertise in Biofilm (100%), Aspergillus (90%), Aspergillus fumigatus (86%), and Candida Albicans (77%).

Her recent publications (2020-2024) reveal a consistent focus on improving diagnostic accuracy for fungal infections, understanding resistance patterns in Aspergillus fumigatus, and developing novel mycobiome-based diagnostic approaches that advance clinical mycology practice.

• British Society of Medical Mycology
• European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• International Society for Human and Animal Mycology

She has substantial teaching experience, having coordinated the MSc Medical Mycology programme (2013-17), and currently serves as Deputy Director of the MRes Infection Biology programme and coordinator of the Immune responses unit in the Clinical Immunology Masters programme. Her teaching spans undergraduate microbiology tutorials, dental school problem-based learning, and multiple postgraduate programs in infection biology and medical microbiology, with supervisory responsibilities for PhD students in Biological Sciences and Dentistry.

Her collaborative network includes Dr. Riina Richardson, Prof. David Denning, Dr. Paul Bowyer (Manchester Fungal Infection Group), Prof. Malcolm Richardson, and international colleagues such as Dr. Mikko Nieminen from Finland.