Mark McGuire

Mark McGuire is the Associate Director of COBRE and a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Idaho. He holds a dual affiliation within the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences and the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences. His research focuses on the biological and nutritional aspects of lactation, including human milk composition, microbiome interactions, mastitis pathogenesis in dairy cattle, and the implications of maternal health behaviors (e.g., cannabis use, diet) on lactational outcomes.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Maternal-infant microbiome relationships
• Immunological components of milk
• Mastitis pathophysiology in dairy animals
• Multifactorial influences on milk biochemistry
• Pandemic-related impacts on breastfeeding safety

His work integrates omics technologies (proteomics, metabolomics) with evolutionary and ecological frameworks to understand how environmental, dietary, and physiological factors shape lactational biology. Notable contributions include groundbreaking studies on SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics in breastfeeding dyads and the role of plant-based supplementation in modulating infant microbiota.

Research awards and collaborations have positioned him as a leader in interdisciplinary milk science, bridging veterinary medicine, human nutrition, and public health. Current projects involve developing thermal control systems for dairy preservation and exploring cannabinoid transfer mechanisms in lactation.