Fatima El-Assaad

Dr Fatima El-Assaad is an early-mid career medical science researcher at UNSW Sydney. She leads a program of multidisciplinary research focusing on the role of inflammation and the microbiome in women's health, mental health, and healthy ageing. She has overseen the development and operations of the Microbiome Research Centre (since 2018), as the first of its kind in Australia, she has driven and coordinated all the innovative, translational and collaborative research, education and partnership activity within it.

She graduated with First Class Honours in Medical Science and was awarded a PhD in Medicine (by publications) at The University of Sydney (2013) for work in the field of inflammation, infectious diseases, and neuroscience. She is a former UNSW Vice Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2015 - 2017).

She is also the director of The Still Nest (established in 2023) a consumer-led organisation, providing a safe space for diverse families who have experienced infertility, birth trauma and, adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage and stillbirth. Her advocacy for consumers impacted by pregnancy loss is where her medical research and operational skills translate into real-world impact.