Mark R. Schleiss

Mark R. Schleiss, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with additional affiliations at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, Institute for Molecular Virology, and Center for Immunology. He is a nationally recognized expert in cytomegalovirus (CMV) research, focusing on vaccine development, congenital infections, and clinical virology.

• MD, Oregon Health & Sciences University School of Medicine
• Residency in Pediatrics, Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon
• Fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington
• Fellowship in Molecular Medicine, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Dr. Schleiss’s research spans basic, translational, and clinical studies on CMV, including molecular genetics, vaccine trials, and neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital CMV. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in global health and health equity. Recent publications highlight CMV vaccine innovation (mRNA-1647), neurological sequelae in asymptomatic congenital cases, and CMV reactivation in tropical diseases like malaria.

Awards include the National CMV Foundation Professional Impact Award (2022), UMMC Clinical Research & Innovation Award (2021), and Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine 'Top Doctor' (2020-2022). He has led NIH-funded projects, Moderna-sponsored vaccine trials, and CDC longitudinal surveillance of congenital CMV.

Dr. Schleiss also contributes to media commentary on infectious disease policy, including herd immunity ethics and COVID-19 vaccine development. He directs the Schleiss Lab, which collaborates internationally on pediatric virology and antiviral research.