Paul M. Luethy

Paul M. Luethy, PhD, serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Associate Director of the Clinical Microbiology and Virology Laboratories at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He directs the CPEP-accredited Medical and Public Health Microbiology Fellowship, training future laboratory leaders in infectious disease diagnostics.

His educational background includes:

• BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University (2006-2010)
• PhD in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2010-2015)
• Fellowship in Medical and Public Health Laboratory Microbiology at the NIH Clinical Center (2015-2017)

Dr. Luethy's research pioneers molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases, with groundbreaking work in Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) clinical implementation and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry optimization. His laboratory focuses on translating novel diagnostic tools into actionable clinical protocols, particularly for bacterial and fungal pathogen identification, while investigating the real-world utility of these technologies in hospital settings to improve patient outcomes.

His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory toward clinical-translational microbiology, with recent work emphasizing diagnostic accuracy in bloodstream infections, sepsis pathogen identification, and resolving molecular diagnostic ambiguities in complex cases like malaria persistence. The research demonstrates sophisticated integration of basic microbiology with frontline clinical laboratory needs.

Professional Certification:

• Diplomate, American Board of Medical Microbiology

As Fellowship Program Director, Dr. Luethy mentors trainees in clinical microbiology while leading diagnostic innovation at UMMC. His administrative role as Associate Director involves strategic oversight of laboratory operations, quality assurance, and implementing novel diagnostics. Though specific grants aren't detailed, his research focus suggests active NIH and clinical funding streams supporting diagnostic development.

Dr. Luethy leads the Clinical Microbiology and Virology Laboratories team at UMMC, where his dual research-clinical environment enables rapid validation of diagnostic tools. His lab bridges basic science discovery with immediate clinical application, particularly in molecular diagnostics for challenging pathogens and diagnostic interference scenarios.