David Engelthaler

David Engelthaler is a Professor and Director at TGen North (Translational Genomics Research Institute), where he leads the Division of Immunology and Microbial Genomics. He is co-appointed as Executive Director of the Health Observatory at Arizona State University (ASU). His work focuses on pathogen genomics, biodefense, and public health, including the development of FDA-allowed COVID-19 diagnostic tests and genomic surveillance for infectious disease outbreaks.

Dr. Engelthaler holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s in Microbiology from Colorado State University. His research integrates next-generation sequencing for microbial forensics, multi-drug resistance detection, and outbreak investigations, such as invasive Group A Strep, Cryptococcus, and tuberculosis.

His publications and patents reflect his expertise in genomic epidemiology and clinical diagnostics, with over 170 peer-reviewed articles and 20+ patented inventions. He has also contributed to public health emergency preparedness, including Arizona’s biodefense coordination and CDC work on plague and tularemia.

Dr. Engelthaler’s current efforts involve advancing rapid diagnostic tools for hospitals and analyzing real-world disease outbreaks, blending clinical, public health, and biodefense applications.