James T. Gaensbauer, M.D., M.S.

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SUMMARY

The research of James T. Gaensbauer, M.D., M.S., spans both clinical medicine and public health. In clinical medicine, Dr. Gaensbauer uses data-driven approaches to understand and improve how to practice medicine. He focuses on identifying effective and resource-responsible approaches to diagnosing and treating pediatric infectious diseases. In the area of public health, Dr. Gaensbauer's primary research is on tuberculosis and finding ways to identify children with latent tuberculosis and enter them into effective preventative treatment.

Focus areas

• Artificial intelligence to identify patients with latent tuberculosis. Dr. Gaensbauer's research leverages machine learning. This assesses hundreds of variables from the medical records to identify patients who need screening for latent tuberculosis.
• Comparison of two interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for diagnosis of pediatric tuberculosis.This is a collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research analyzes data from a national multicenter study to clarify if the two available IGRAs are interchangeable.
• Optimal testing strategy for herpes simplex virus (HSV) meningoencephalitis. Using Mayo Clinic laboratory and clinical data, Dr. Gaensbauer assesses the optimal use of two available assays for diagnosing HSV infections in the central nervous system. This research ascertains if both tests should be performed simultaneously to maximize the diagnostic yield, and when resources are better preserved by utilizing only one test.

Significance to patient care

In the clinical area, Dr. Gaensbauer strives to identify practices that minimize potential harm, unnecessary testing and treatment. This optimizes patient outcomes, tolerability and cost-effectiveness in the treatment of pediatric infectious diseases. The overall goal of this public health and tuberculosis research is to contribute to national efforts to achieve tuberculosis elimination and prevent potentially severe disease in children.

Professional highlights

• Medical Director of Education, Mayo Clinic Center for Tuberculosis, A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TB Center of Excellence, Mayo Clinic, 2023-present.
• Associate editor, Journal of Clinical Tuberculosis and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, 2022-present.