Prof. Mark Ojogba Okolo is a Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Jos, Nigeria, and a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist with extensive experience in medical microbiology, infectious disease research, molecular diagnostics, genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and public health. He currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, University of Jos, where he contributes to medical education, clinical service, research, postgraduate training, and institutional development.

Professor Okolo obtained his MBBS degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Jos in 2001, followed by an MSc in Medical Microbiology in 2012 and Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP) in Medical Microbiology in 2013. He has undertaken additional specialised training in biomedical research, genomics, global health, and biostatistics and epidemiology, including a Global Health Fellowship in Bethesda, USA, and training at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston.

His research focuses on infectious diseases of major public health importance, particularly neonatal sepsis, fungal infections, antimicrobial resistance, molecular diagnostics, genomics, HIV-associated infections, and emerging infections. His work integrates conventional microbiological methods with molecular and genomic technologies to address diagnostic and treatment challenges in resource-limited settings.

Professor Okolo served as Principal Investigator of the study on neonatal fungal sepsis in Jos, North-Central Nigeria, supported by the Fogarty International Center through award D43TW010130. He also led research on cryptococcal meningitis among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients, supported by D43TW010543, and contributed to research on Zika virus epidemiology among pregnant women in North-Central Nigeria.

His current research focuses on precision diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, including identification of causative pathogens and characterization of antimicrobial resistance genes using phenotypic, molecular, and genomic approaches. His research programme seeks to integrate rapid diagnostics, genomics, host biomarkers, and health-systems research to improve infectious disease diagnosis and management.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Professor Okolo led the team for COVID-19 screening at the Jos University Teaching Hospital Molecular Biology Laboratory. He has also held several leadership positions, including Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology, Head of the Molecular Biology Laboratory, and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences. He became Professor of Medical Microbiology in 2023 and has served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Minnesota since 2024.

Professor Okolo has received competitive research funding and professional recognition, including a Grand Challenges Nigeria Grant and Travel Scholarship from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a Global Health Fellowship Award from the National Institutes of Health, and a Fogarty International Center Seed Grant. Through research, teaching, mentorship, clinical service, and academic leadership, he continues to advance infectious disease research and strengthen laboratory and health systems in Nigeria and internationally.

Contribution to Science

1. Characterized fungal agents of neonatal sepsis using molecular methods During my mentored research year, I worked on Neonatal fungal sepsis during which time gene sequences of fungal agents of sepsis were determined and deposited in the GeneBank (MN165395, MN165396, MN165397, MN165398, MN165399, MN165400, MN165401, MN165402, MN165403, MN165404, MN165405, MN165406, MN165407) funded by the FIC award number D43TW010130.
   1. Okolo OM, Toma AB, Envulado AE, Olubukunnola I, Izang A, Onyedibe K, Maktep DD, Egah ZD. Indoor Air and Surface Fungal Contamination in the Special Care Baby Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in Jos, Nigeria. Western Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences. 2020; 1(2):170--175.
   2. Ojogba Okolo Mark, Grace Ayanbimpe M, Bose Toma O, Esther Envuladu A, Inyang Olubukunnola, Abel Izang, Emmanuel Obishakin F, Nanma Dashe, Kenneth Onyedibe, Bobmanuel Echeonwu, others. Neonatal fungal sepsis in Jos North-Central Nigeria. Journal of Medicine in the Tropics. 2020; 22(2):80--85.
   3. Okolo OM, Ayanbimpe MG, Toma AB, Envulado AE, Olubukunnola I, Izang A, Obishakin FE, Onyedibe K, Echeonwu B, Sagay AS, others. Neonatal Oral Colonization with Candida in Jos, North-Central Nigeria. Journal of BioMedical Research and Clinical Practice. 2020; 3(4):430--434.
2. Studies on infectious agents, antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular studies.

Complete List of Published Work in My Bibliography:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1LeZ9M4Nxz69mu/bibliography/public/