February 17, 2026

Dr. Kirk Tickell receives award to contribute to Kenyan national surveillance of highly drug-resistant organisms

Congratulations to Dr. Kirk Tickell, Research Assistant Professor in Global Health, for receiving a UW Royalty Research Award for “Epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli from children being discharged from referral hospitals in Kenya.”  Over a 12-month span, this study aims to contribute to the Kenyan national surveillance of emerging highly drug-resistant organisms.

The emergence of resistance to last line antibiotics poses an existential threat to the health of unwell children and adults. As a result of antibiotic resistance, limited treatments become ineffective and infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death. This research will expand on the knowledge of these types of resistance in Kenya and inform public health efforts to prevent the widespread development of these conditions.

Study collaborators include Dr. Kevin Kariuki (Research Scientist, Kenya Medical Research Institute) and Dr. Ferric Fang (Professor, Laboratory Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology at UW School of Medicine).

We look forward to sharing results next year.