Dr. Marisa Azad is an Infectious Diseases clinician-scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, and a recognized Canadian expert in orthopedic infections, particularly periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). She earned her MD/PhD in Biochemistry from McMaster University in 2016, completed Internal Medicine residency there in 2019, then trained in Infectious Diseases at the University of Ottawa and Orthopedic Infectious Diseases at the Mayo Clinic in 2022.

At The Ottawa Hospital, Dr. Azad leads Canada’s first dedicated PJI clinical program and basic science laboratory at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, integrating patient care, translational microbiology, and innovation. Her research focuses on biofilms, antimicrobial peptides, rapid diagnostics, nanoparticles, and bacteriophage therapy. In 2024, she led Canada’s first Health Canada-approved phage therapy for PJI and is now building the country’s first orthopedic phage program from this work. She leads the Canadian ROADMAP Trial Microbiology Repository and additional clinical trials.

Dr. Azad’s work has been featured by CBC, CTV, and the National Post where she has commented on antimicrobial resistance, emerging infections, and implant-associated infections. She is a frequently invited speaker and contributes to microbiology guidelines for implant-associated infections.

Beyond her scientific work, Dr. Azad advocates for integrating humanism and art into medicine. An accomplished painter, she has published on art in healing, bereavement, and patient experience. She also supports equality, the advancement of women in science, and inclusive opportunities in STEM. Her research, leadership, and national profile establish her as a leading voice in infectious diseases and orthopedic infections in Canada.

For information about supporting Dr. Azad's research program through philanthropic donations, please contact Shannon Mason at shamason@toh.ca. 

Selected Publications

1. Bourget-Murray J, Feibel R, Azad MA. Five things to know about: periprosthetic joint infections. CMAJ. 2026, Accepted.

2. Cammuso MT, Cook BWM, Cameron DW, Ryan S, Tamayo M, Peters MJ, Arnaud T, Lau S, Almblad H, Fournier N, LoVetri K, Lightly TJ, Chung YM, Roy R, Theriault N, Theriault SS, Suh GA, Azad MA. First use of phage therapy in Canada for the treatment of a life-threatening, multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis periprosthetic joint infection. Viruses. 2025;17(8):1118. doi:10.3390/v17081118.

3. Azad MA, Patel R. Practical guidance for clinical microbiology laboratories: Microbiologic diagnosis of implant-associated infections. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 2024;37(2):e00104-23. doi:10.1128/cmr.00104-23.

4. Tubin N, Bourget-Murray J, Bureau A, Morris J, Azad MA, Abdelbary H, Grammatopoulos G, Garceau S. Fellowship training in arthroplasty improves treatment success of debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention for periprosthetic knee infections. Arthroplasty Today. 2024;27:101378. doi:10.1016/j.artd.2024.101378.

5. Bourget-Murray J, Azad MA, Gofton W, Abdelbary H, Garceau S, Grammatopoulos G. Is the routine use of local antibiotics in the management of periprosthetic joint infections justified? Hip Int. 2023;33(1):4–16. doi:10.1177/11207000221139467.

6. Azad MA, Wolf MJ, Strasburg AP, Daniels ML, Starkey JC, Donadio AD, Abdel MP, Greenwood-Quaintance KE, Patel R. Comparison of the BioFire Joint Infection Panel to 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based targeted metagenomic sequencing for testing synovial fluid from patients with arthroplasty failure. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2022;60(12):e01126-22. doi:10.1128/jcm.01126-22.

7. Flurin L, Hemenway JJ, Fisher CR, Vaillant JJ, Azad MA, Wolf MJ, Greenwood-Quaintance KE, Abdel MP, Patel R. Clinical use of a 16S ribosomal RNA gene-based targeted metagenomic sequencing assay to test preoperative synovial fluid for periprosthetic joint infection diagnosis. mBio. 2022;13(6):e01322-22. doi:10.1128/mbio.01322-22.

8. Azad MA, Deslandes V. Photo quiz: Spiraling down the rabbit hole: The case of the curious Gram stain. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2022;60(10):e00117-22. doi:10.1128/jcm.00117-22.

9. Krueger C, Azad MA, Ramotar K, Deslandes V, Jessamine P. Robinsoniella peoriensis: An emerging pathogen and rare cause of wound infection in children. J. Assoc. Med. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. Can. 2022;7(3):279–282. doi:10.3138/jammi-2021-0038.

10. Azad MA, Swinton M, Clarke FJ, Takaoka A, Vanstone M, Woods A, Boyle A, Hoad N, Toledo F, Piticaru J, Cook DJ. Experiences of bereaved family members receiving commemorative paintings: A qualitative study. JAMA Netw. Open. 2020;3(12):e2027259. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.27259.

11. McArthur AG, Waglechner N, Nizam F, Yan A, Azad MA, Baylay AJ, Bhullar K, Canova MJ, De Pascale G, Ejim L, Kalan L, King AM, Koteva K, Morar M, Mulvey MR, O’Brien JS, Pawlowski AC, Piddock LJV, Spanogiannopoulos P, Sutherland AD, Tang I, Taylor PL, Thaker M, Wang W, Yan M, Yu T, Wright GD. The comprehensive antibiotic resistance database. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2013;57(7):3348–3357. doi:10.1128/AAC.00419-13.

12. Azad MA, Wright GD. Determining the mode of action of bioactive compounds. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2012;20(6):1929–1939. doi:10.1016/j.bmc.2011.10.088.

13. Azad MA, Huttunen-Hennelly HEK, Friedman CR. Bioactivity and the first transmission electron microscopy immunogold studies of short de novo-designed antimicrobial peptides. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2011;55(5):2137–2145. doi:10.1128/AAC.01148-10.