Lars Westblade

Lars Westblade, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, with additional appointments in Pediatrics and Medicine. He is a board-certified specialist by the American Board of Medical Microbiology and functions as Associate Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

Dr. Westblade received his Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham (UK) in 2004, following an M.Phil. (2000) and B.Sc. (1998) from the same institution. His career trajectory includes a 5-year post-doctoral position at Rockefeller University, a brief industry stint at Amyris Biotechnologies, a year at Touro College of Pharmacy, and a clinical microbiology fellowship at Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine before beginning his professional career at Emory University School of Medicine.

His research focuses on antimicrobial resistance, particularly examining resistance patterns in Gram-negative pathogens (including Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, and Enterobacterales) and Gram-positive organisms like Staphylococcus. His work addresses critical diagnostic challenges in clinical microbiology, with emphasis on improving antibiotic susceptibility testing methods and interpretation for patient care, especially in vulnerable populations such as cancer patients and transplant recipients.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent research trajectory focused on emerging resistance mechanisms, novel antimicrobial agents, and diagnostic innovations. His work frequently involves multicenter collaborations that address clinically relevant questions about resistance epidemiology and diagnostic methodologies across diverse healthcare settings.

• American Board of Medical Microbiology certification
• Active research funding from National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases
• Principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded projects

As Associate Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Dr. Westblade oversees diagnostic operations, quality assurance, and implementation of new testing methodologies. His work bridges clinical practice and laboratory science, ensuring that diagnostic information effectively guides therapeutic decisions while advancing the field through rigorous research and scholarly contributions.