SUMMARY
The research of Robin Patel, M.D., focuses on three major areas related to infectious diseases:
- Improving next-generation diagnostic techniques for infectious diseases.
- Defining the inherent biology of periprosthetic infection.
- Understanding antibiotic resistance through a clinical lens.
Dr. Patel directs two Mayo Clinic labs:
Dr. Patel's research has appeared in over 650 peer-reviewed publications. The National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention support her research.
Dr. Patel's continued commitment to mentorship translates into a long list of trainees from around the world. She has dedicated hours of teaching to train the next generation of clinical and research laboratory scientists.
Focus areas
- Biofilm-mediated infections.
- Novel approaches to diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection.
- Novel therapeutics for bacterial infections.
- Animal models of infection, such as mouse periprosthetic joint infection, wound infection and pneumonia, rabbit and rat foreign body bone and joint infection, and swine wound infection.
- Clinical microbiology diagnostic assay development and implementation science studies.
Significance to patient care
Most bacterial infections that healthcare professionals see today are linked to bacteria growing in layers called biofilms. Examples of infections that involve biofilms are joint infections after replacement surgery, wound infections and infections of heart valves. These infections can be hard to treat. That's because biofilms help protect bacteria from the body's defenses and from regular antibiotics. Dr. Patel and her team are working to find better ways to treat these tough infections.
Professional highlights
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA):
- Associate editor, Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2025-present.
- Member, Item Review Committees, U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, 2015-present.
- Member, National Board of Medical Examiners, 2009-present.
- Member, 1997-present.
- Member, COVID-19 Diagnostics Guidelines Group, 2020-2023.
- Associate editor, Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2016-2022.
- Maxwell Finland Award, IDWeek, 2019.
- Chair, Microbiology and Immunology Test Development Committee, 2014-2017.
- Member, Microbiology and Immunology Test Development Committee, 2009-2014.
- Member, Publications Committee, 2004-2006.
- National Institutes of Health:
- Member, Systems Biology Scientific Advisory Board, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2024-present.
- Director, Laboratory Center, Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group, 2019-present.
- Member, Mentoring Committee, Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group, 2013-present.
- Member, Biomaterials and Biointerfaces Study Section, 2022-2026.
- Member, Council, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Subcommittee, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 2017-2021.
- Director of diagnostics and MASTERMIND, Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group, 2015-2019.
- Ad hoc reviewer, Clinical Center, Laboratory Medicine Department, Board of Scientific Counselors, 2017.
- Ad hoc member, P50 Centers of Research Translation Review, 2016.
- Ad hoc member, ZRG1-MOSS D10 Study Section, 2016.
- Ad hoc member, Special Emphasis Panel/SRG 2015, ZGM1 TRN-B(LR), 2015.
- Chair, Diagnostics and Devices Subcommittee, Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group, 2013-2015.
- Ad hoc member, DDR Study Section, 2012.
- Ad hoc member, IMST-12 SBIR Study Section, 2012.
- Member, ZRG1 IDM-H(10) Study Section, 2003-2010.
- Ad hoc member, Microbiology and Infectious Disease Review Committee Study Section, 2006.
- Member, Special Emphasis Panel, RFP NIH-NIAID-DMID-98-24, NARSA, 1998-1999.
- Mayo Clinic:
- Chair, Distinguished Investigator and Transformative Science Award selection committees, 2023-present.
- Member, Named Professorship Committee, 2023-present.
- Member, Distinguished Educator Selection Committee, 2022-present.
- Co-director, Clinical Bacteriology Laboratory, 2007-present.
- Director, Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, 2000-present.
- Director, Microbiology Course and Curriculum, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, 2001-2024.
- Distinguished Investigator Award, 2022.
- Distinguished Educator Award, 2021.
- Chair, Division of Clinical Microbiology, 2011-2020.
- Member, Infectious Diseases Research Committee, 1996-2019.
- Member, Research Space and Equipment Subcommittee, 2016-2019.
- Member, Conflict of Interest Review Board, 2009-2019.
- Elizabeth P. and Robert E. Allen Professor of Individualized Medicine, 2017.
- Member, Research Finance Subcommittee, 2010-2015.
- Basic Science Theme leader, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 2007-2012.
- Program director, Clinical Microbiology M.D. Fellowship Program, 2007-2012.
- Chair, Basic Science Theme Committee, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, 2007-2010.
- Member, Student Promotions Committee, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, 2007-2010.
- Chair, Infectious Diseases Research, Department of Medicine, 2000-2009.
- American Society for Microbiology:
- Member, Finance Committee, 2020-present.
- Member, 1992-present.
- Secretary, 2023-2026.
- Member, Subcommittee on Elections, 2021-2025.
- Chair, Governance Committee, 2019-2024.
- President, 2020-2021.
- Member, board of directors, 2017-2021.
- President, 2019-2020.
- President elect, 2018-2019.
- Associate editor, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009-2019.
- Co-chair, Microbe Program Planning Committee, 2016-2018.
- Member, Becton Dickinson (BD) Scherago-Rubin Award Selection Committee, 2015-2018.
- Member, Clinical Awards Selection Committee, 2015-2018.
- Member, Microbe Program Planning Committee, 2011-2018.
- BD Award for Research in Clinical Microbiology, 2015.
- Vice chair, Microbe Program Planning Committee, 2013-2015.
- Member, BD Award for Research in Clinical Microbiology Nominations Committee, 2010-2013.
- Member, Editorial Board, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2002-2013.
- Member, Editorial Board, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2001-2010.
- Member, Program Planning Committee, Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), 2002-2007.
- Member, Program Planning Committee, ICAAC/IDSA Committee, 2007.
- Member, editorial board, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1999-2007.
- American Board of Pathology:
- Member, Clinical Pathology for ABPath CertLink Test Writing Committee, 2018-present.
- Member, Test Development and Advisory Committee, 2015-present.
- Member, Microbiology Test Writing Committee, 2015-2025.
- Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2025.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Member, Infectious Diseases Laboratory Working Group, 2024-2025.
- Member, Laboratory Work Group, Advisory Committee to the Director, 2022-2024.
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute:
- Adviser, Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 2018-2023.
- Member, Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 2015-2017.
- Adviser, Subcommittee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing, 2013-2014.
- Member, Carba NP and Oritavancin ad hoc working groups, 2013-2014.
- Hamao Umezawa Memorial Award, International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2022.