Martina Sanderson-Smith

Martina Sanderson-Smith is Professor in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience at the University of Wollongong. She leads research on host-pathogen interactions and antimicrobial resistance.

Her research investigates molecular mechanisms of bacterial pathogenesis, focusing on Streptococcus pyogenes interactions with human proteins and glycans. Current projects examine bacterial evasion of host immunity and development of novel anti-infective strategies.

Publications demonstrate expertise in streptococcal biology, evolving from molecular studies of virulence factors to applications in public health surveillance. Recent work shows increased engagement with wastewater epidemiology and microbiome analysis.

Sanderson-Smith has received NHMRC funding for wastewater-based genomic surveillance platforms. She leads projects on streptococcal exotoxins and antimicrobial resistance patterns.

She currently supervises doctoral candidates researching antimicrobial resistance, microplastic degradation, and novel anti-biofilm strategies.

Sanderson-Smith leads research on streptococcal pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance at the University of Wollongong.