DrSmitha Sukumar

Smitha's examines oral microbial ecosystems and human health, focused on how oral health influences systemic health and broader ecosystems (antimicrobial resistance). She leads a multidisciplinary team of scientists, clinician‑researchers and social scientists to address complex, clinically relevant questions. Her program is strongly translational, bridging microbiome science with surgical and medical contexts e.g. exploring the role of the oral microbiome in post‑operative outcomes. The Oral Microbiome group she leads has two objectives i)  advancing oral health as a critical component of whole‑of‑body health and ii) building inclusive research environments where clinician researchers are supported and mentoring emerging researchers is a priority.