Beth K Thielen

Beth K Thielen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School, specializing in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Transplant and Cellular Therapy. She holds both an MD and a PhD, and is actively engaged in research, clinical practice, and public health outreach. Her work is supported by major funding agencies including the NIH, CDC, and the Minnesota Department of Health.

• University: University of Minnesota
• School: Medical School
• Department: Department of Pediatrics
• Division: Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Academic Rank: Assistant Professor
• Email: thie0149@umn.edu
• ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5922-0241

Dr. Thielen’s research focuses on understanding mucosal immune responses, the microbiome and virome, and host-pathogen interactions in children, particularly those who are immunocompromised or undergoing transplantation. Her work spans clinical diagnostics, pathogen genomics, and public health surveillance, with a strong emphasis on respiratory viral infections and opportunistic infections. She employs advanced techniques such as plasma metagenomic sequencing to detect infections that are difficult to diagnose through conventional methods.

Her recent publications highlight trends in pediatric infectious disease research, including the application of genomics in diagnosing Toxoplasma gondii infections, the role of the microbiome in juvenile arthritis flares, and gender disparities in academic medicine. Her work integrates molecular diagnostics with clinical insight, contributing significantly to both patient care and scientific knowledge.

• Contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in health and well-being
• Active Principal Investigator on multiple NIH and CDC-funded projects
• Expert commentator in media on infectious disease topics including West Nile virus, measles, and influenza
• Accepting PhD students for research mentorship

Dr. Thielen is a principal investigator on several major research projects, including studies on mucosal immune responses to respiratory viruses, the role of the virome in autoimmune flares, and pathogen genomics in public health. These projects are funded by the NIH, CDC, and the Minnesota Department of Health, reflecting her leadership in translational and public health research. She collaborates with national and regional institutions, including the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Arkansas Children's Research Institute.

She is actively involved in mentoring and training the next generation of physician-scientists and is committed to advancing equity in academic medicine. Her laboratory and research team focus on integrating clinical data with cutting-edge genomic and immunological analyses to improve outcomes for vulnerable pediatric populations.