Grants per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
I am a Pediatric Infectious Diseases specialist at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, with a particular academic interest and clinical expertise in infections affecting newborns and infants. I am passionate about improving accurate diagnosis of sepsis and appropriate antibiotic use in infants through research and education.
My clinical-translational research focus is to improve early, reliable identification of neonatal sepsis. Through several collaborative projects, I study aspects of neonatal sepsis diagnostics including biomarkers of immune response and molecular pathogen detection using proteomics and metagenomics techniques in umbilical cord blood. I am also interested in perinatal management of maternal infection risk, including intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. By understanding sepsis mechanisms and microbe-host interactions and applying this knowledge to development of novel clinical approaches, we can improve neonatal outcomes and judicious use of antimicrobials. My other research interests include congenital cytomegalovirus, the link between perinatal microbiome and neurobehavioral development, and molecular diagnostics.
As an Infectious Diseases physician, I diagnose and treat a variety of severe and atypical infections in infants and children. I have a special interest in infants and complex infections in the neonatal intensive care unit. I also lead the evaluation and treatment of neonates with congenital cytomegalovirus infection at Lurie Children’s. Other clinical interests include bacterial sepsis, bone and joint infections, device-related infections, and tuberculosis.
Training Experience
2011 | Residency, Baylor College of Medicine |
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
MSCI, Clinical Investigation, Northwestern University
… → 2016
Medicine, MD, Northwestern University
… → 2008
Research interests keywords
- Clinical Research
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Diseases in Children
- Microbiome
- Neonatology
- Premature Infants
- Sepsis
- Translational Research
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Grants
- 9 Finished
-
OPTIMIZING CONGENITAL CMV DIAGNOSIS THROUGH EDUCATION AND PROCESS
Mithal, L. B. (PD/PI)
8/15/19 → 2/28/21
Project: Research project
-
Molecular Signatures of Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis in Umbilical Cord Blood
Mithal, L. B. (PD/PI)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2/4/19 → 3/31/24
Project: Research project
-
Molecular Signatures of Early Onset Neonatal Sepsis in Umbilical Cord Blood
Mithal, L. B. (PD/PI)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2/4/19 → 3/31/24
Project: Research project
-
Biomarker Signatures for Diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis in Umbilical Cord Blood
Mithal, L. B. (PD/PI)
The Gerber Companies Foundation
8/13/18 → 12/31/21
Project: Research project
-
Umbilical Cord Blood Biomarkers to Diagnosis Sepsis in Premature Infants
Mithal, L. B. (PD/PI)
Northwestern Memorial Foundation
9/1/17 → 12/31/20
Project: Research project
-
Characterizing Olfactory Brain Responses in Young Infants
Shanahan, L. K., Mithal, L. B., Messina, M., Office, E., Wakschlag, L., Seed, P. & Kahnt, T., Mar 12 2025, In: Journal of Neuroscience. 45, 11, e1780242025.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Evolution of the umbilical cord blood proteome across gestational development
Mithal, L. B., Lancki, N., Ling-Hu, T., Goo, Y. A., Otero, S., Rhodes, N. J., Cho, B. K., Grobman, W. A., Hultquist, J. F., Scholtens, D., Mestan, K. K. L. & Seed, P. C., Dec 2025, In: Scientific reports. 15, 1, 2233.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Infections Related to Prosthetic or Artificial Devices
Tan, T. Q. & Mithal, L. B., Jan 1 2025, Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 9th Edition: 2-Volume Set. Elsevier, Vol. 1-2. p. 744-762.e11Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
Parental Perceptions of Early Childhood In-Home Research with Monitoring: A Qualitative Study
Smith, G. B., Jones, M. D., Akel, M. J., Barrera, L., Heffernan, M., Seed, P., Macy, M. L., Fisher, S. A. & Mithal, L. B., Mar 2025, In: journal of pediatrics. 278, 114437.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Using "pop-up" clinics and live-attenuated influenza vaccine to reduce barriers to flu vaccination among college students
Benzaken, C., Mithal, L., Tan, T. & Jhaveri, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of American College Health.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Datasets
-
Placental Pathology After SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Pre-Variant of Concern, Alpha / Gamma, Delta, or Omicron Eras
Shanes, E. D. (Creator), Miller, E. S. (Creator), Otero, S. (Creator), Ebbott, R. (Creator), Aggarwal, R. (Creator), Willnow, A. S. (Creator), Ozer, E. A. (Creator), Mithal, L. B. (Creator) & Goldstein, J. A. (Creator), SAGE Journals, 2022
DOI: 10.25384/sage.c.6021478, https://sage.figshare.com/collections/Placental_Pathology_After_SARS-CoV-2_Infection_in_the_Pre-Variant_of_Concern_Alpha_Gamma_Delta_or_Omicron_Eras/6021478
Dataset