Mara Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, DTM&H
Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
Director, Infectious Diseases Diagnostics & Biopreparedness Council
Director, U.S. Region 7 Emerging Pathogens Laboratory & Nebraska Biocontainment Unit Laboratory
Section Head, Parasitology & Mycology
Mara Jana Broadhurst, MD, PhD, is an associate professor in the UNMC Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. As a clinical pathologist, microbiologist, and immunologist, she focuses on the development and implementation of infectious disease diagnostic tools for clinical and public health applications.
She serves as the clinical laboratory director for the U.S. Region 7 Special Pathogens Treatment Center as well as the Emerging Pathogens Laboratory, a diagnostic and research laboratory that supports novel assay development and clinical research for emerging and high-consequence infectious diseases. Applying novel technology to solve patient- and community-centered challenges in infectious disease case management is a central theme of her work.
Dr. Broadhurst strives to keep use cases and implementation strategies at the heart of her research and service endeavors. She gained critical field experience as the diagnostics lead for the Partners In Health Ebola Response Team during the West Africa Ebola epidemic, and then as an international mentor for the American Society of Microbiology. In each of these roles – whether performing as a clinical microbiologist, researcher, or public health responder – she has been committed to developing and translating novel technologies into effective tools for underserved communities facing both pervasive and emerging infectious disease threats.
- Bachelor's: Biology, University of Oregon
- MD/PhD, Biomedical Sciences, University of California San Francisco
- Pathology residency and medical microbiology fellowship: Stanford University
- Diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
My current COVID-19 research spans NIH- and CDC-funded projects for novel diagnostic and infection prevention and control (IPC) technology development, immune profiling of patient and community cohorts, and implementation of SARS-CoV-2 testing programs in underserved community settings. My research team in the Emerging Pathogens Laboratory collaborates with the Emerging Threats Epidemiology Group (UNMC College of Public Health) to manage a portfolio of health care- and community-based clinical research studies to characterize host and pathogen aspects of emerging infectious diseases of public health concern. I also lead a team within the Global Center for Health Security to develop and implement innovative tools and strategies to strengthen IPC in frontline health care facilities and outbreak response settings (innovateipc.org).
- Gilmore Distinguished New Investigator Award, UNMC, 2023
- Global Virus Network Rising Star, 2021
- UNeMed Innovator of the Year, UNMC, 2020
- Warrington Yorke Medal in International Community Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, 2017
- Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, University of California San Francisco, 2013
- American Society for Clinical Pathology
- American Society for Microbiology
- American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene