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Dr. Patrick M. Schlievert is Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Hennepin Life Sciences. He is also Professor and Department Executive Officer of the Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Dr. Schlievert and his clinical colleagues have described the causes of 27 newly recognized infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. These include the first description, in 1981 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, of toxic shock syndrome toxin, the major cause of the tampon-associated toxic shock syndrome in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 1987, Drs. Larry Cone and Schlievert provided the first description of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (also known as the “flesh-eating streptococcal disease”) and its cause in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Most recently, Dr. Schlievert has focused his attention on the establishment of Hennepin Life Sciences and its development of dual-acting anti-infective technologies, which contain broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The CDC has noted that infections constitute the greatest healthcare costs in the United States. The top four infections include catheter-associated urinary tract infections, catheter-associated bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, and Clostridium difficile infections. Other important infections include genital infections, including sexually-transmitted infections, skin infections, and upper respiratory tract infections. Through Hennepin Life Sciences, it is Dr. Schlievert’s hope that a dual-acting anti-infective can significantly reduce these infections.

In addition to Dr. Schlievert’s scientific accomplishments, he has trained large numbers of new scientists and physicians. He has received multiple teaching awards for his teaching of graduate and medical students, including being recognized by the 2016 American Society for Microbiology Graduate and Medical Teacher of the Year.