Global WACh

HIV and Co-Infections


November 20, 2020

Dual HIV/syphilis rapid diagnostic test cost-effectiveness analysis, that changed WHO recommendation, published in the Lancet Global Health

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Dual elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and syphilis is a public health priority.  Global efforts for the prevention of MTCT of HIV have led to substantial reductions in new pediatric HIV infections, but progress for preventing congenital syphilis—a sexually transmitted infection that causes stillbirths and other infant health problems—is much slower. While dual HIV and syphilis RDT have some promise to curb pediatric HIV and syphilis, the cost-effectiveness of using these tests in antenatal care settings in a variety of settings has not been explored. (more…)


September 28, 2020

Dr. Sarah Benki-Nugent with UW and University of Nairobi collaborators receive award to build environmental health research capacity in Kenya

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There is very little data on air pollution exposures in sub-Saharan Africa, and even less is known about the impact of this important exposure on early childhood brain development. Dr. Sarah-Benki (Clinical Assistant Professor, Global Health) and a multi-disciplinary team of maternal-child health researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Nairobi lead the Kenya Healthy Home Healthy Brain Project (KHHOP), a research partnership focused on the impact of environmental pollutants on child neurodevelopment in urban Kenya. (more…)


July 11, 2020

Global WACh Researchers Share Findings Virtually at AIDS 2020

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In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020) moved from San Francisco, CA to a virtual platform this year.  The largest conference on HIV/AIDS research was held from July 6-10, 2020 and gathered researchers from around the world.  Global WACh faculty, staff, and students within the HIV and Co-Infections Scientific Priority Area shared 9 poster abstracts, 1 oral abstract, and moderated 1 oral poster discussion session on an innovative and interactive global platform to influence discussions on HIV science, research, and policy.  See the abstract titles below and click on the titles to learn more.

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July 1, 2020

Randomized controlled trial of isoniazid to prevent primary TB infection in Kenyan HIV-exposed uninfected infants published in Clinical Infectious Diseases

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Mother and infant pair at a health facility in Kenya. Paul J. Brown Photography.

Children born to mothers living with HIV are at an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection, and young infants are particularly vulnerable to rapidly progressing to TB disease. Isoniazid preventative therapy (IPT) is used routinely to prevent TB after known TB exposure, but recent data suggest most transmission (70-90%) to young children occurs outside the household without identified exposure. Whether IPT can be used to prevent TB initial infection is unknown. (more…)


May 22, 2020

New study will investigate how latent co-infections affect clinical outcomes in HIV-infected Kenyan children

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African children with delayed HIV diagnosis have a high risk of death, and there is an urgent need for novel strategies to improve their care.  As HIV treatment expands across Africa, Global WACh researchers seek to understand the complex interplay of infectious diseases and HIV infections, which is pivotal to the development of more effective treatments. Dr. Jennifer Slyker (Associate Professor, Global Health; Adjunct Associate Professor, Epidemiology) is leading a new study funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH) to investigate how common, asymptomatic co-infections affect clinical outcomes in critically ill HIV-infected Kenyan children during hospitalization. (more…)


May 18, 2020

View recorded Global WACh research talks at UW

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Over the spring academic quarter at UW, Global WACh investigators and student research assistants shared their work across various presentation platforms across campus.  Research span from assessing environmental enteric dysfunction on child health and survival to evaluating risks of depression among HIV-infected adolescent girls, to improved treatment of TB and HIV co-infections.

Click on the presentation titles below to access the recordings to view and learn more about our research.  A list of upcoming virtual presentations can be found below.

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March 24, 2020

World TB Day 2020: Researchers explore preventative interventions to stop TB infections in children and pregnant women

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The observation of World TB Day each year on March 24th provides an opportunity to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and the measures needed to find, treat, and prevent this devastating disease that surpasses HIV as the leading infectious cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.  With the success of HIV treatment globally, most children born to mothers living with HIV will remain HIV-negative. However, these HIV-exposed children remain at high risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease. (more…)


March 11, 2020

Researchers share latest findings virtually at CROI 2020

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The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) brings together top basic, translational, and clinical researchers from around the world to share the latest studies, important developments, and best research methods in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases. Due to concerns of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the US, CROI 2020 was virtually held from March 8 to March 11, 2020. (more…)


December 6, 2019

Research Assistant, Anna Larsen, awarded grants to guide journey towards an independent maternal-child HIV research career

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Anna Larsen (second right) with PrIMA Kenya-based study staff members (left to right): Joseph Sila (Data manager), Daniel Odinga (Laboratory Manager), Salphine Watoyi (Data Manager), Marwa Motongori (Data Manager), and Harison Lagat (Study Coordinator)

Anna Larsen, second year PhD student in the Department of Epidemiology and Global WACh research assistant, is the recipient of two notable funding awards that will shape her academic journey towards an independent research career in maternal-child HIV.  She is one of 11 student awardees of the Department of Global Health’s 2019 Thomas Francis Jr. Fellowship and one of an even more limited group of awardees of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) prestigious F31 predoctoral training fellowship to support her dissertation research.  The awards provide funding support for fieldwork activities and dedicated supervised research training. (more…)


November 25, 2019

New NIH study will test strategies to improve PrEP delivery to women receiving MCH services in Western Kenya

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Left to right: Dr. Grace John-Stewart, Dr. Pamela Kohler, Dr. Anjuli Wagner, Dr. John Kinuthia

In February 2020, Global WACh researchers of ongoing PrEP implementation studies are launching a new five-year study titled, “PrEP in pregnancy, accelerating reach and efficiency (PrEPARE).”  PrEPARE is funded through a National Institute of Health supplement to the AGYW study, led by Global WACh Director, Dr. Grace John-Stewart and Dr. Pamela Kohler (Global Health, Psychosocial and Community Health) to evaluate PrEP adherence among adolescent girls and young women, and a K01 grant awarded to Dr. Anjuli Wagner (Acting Assistant Professor, Global Health).

Principal investigators, Drs. John-Stewart, Kohler, Wagner, and Dr. John Kinuthia (Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya) will lead the PrEPARE study team that includes Global WACh researchers, Dr. Jillian Pintye (School of Nursing), Dr. Kristin Beima-Sofie (Global Health), Julia Dettinger (Global Health) and Laurén Gomez (Global Health).

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