Global WACh

Research


November 24, 2020

Gut Health and Child Survival researchers present findings at virtual infectious diseases conferences

Categories: , ,

This month, researchers and collaborators from Global WACh’s Gut Health and Child Survival scientific priority area participated in two annual conferences virtually to share their latest research activities and discoveries related to pediatric infectious diseases and neglected tropical diseases.

(more…)


November 20, 2020

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

Categories: , ,

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…)


October 19, 2020

Researchers receive new award for pregnancy and breastfeeding PrEP adherence mHealth intervention

Categories: , , ,

Congratulations to Dr. John Kinuthia (Affiliated Associate Professor, UW Global Health; Obstetrician Gynecologist, Kenyatta National Hospital) and Dr. Jillian Pintye (Assistant Professor, UW School of Nursing) for receiving a National Institute of Health R01 award!  They are Multiple Principal Investigators of a new five-year randomized trial titled, “mWACh-PrEP: A SMS-based Support Intervention to Enhance PrEP Adherence during Pregnancy and Breastfeeding,” to evaluate the effects of a tailored two-way SMS communication tool on PrEP adherence among Kenyan women during the pregnancy and postpartum periods, when the risk of acquiring HIV is high. (more…)


October 14, 2020

UW, Kenyatta National Hospital, and University of Nairobi researchers receive award to develop HIV screening strategies in Kenya

Categories: , , , ,

As prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programs globally continue to increase reach and effectiveness, fewer children are living with HIV, but a growing proportion has had HIV exposure.  HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) children in sub-Saharan Africa are a rapidly growing population in need of care to ensure their optimal health and well-being.  Compared to HIV-unexposed children, HEU children are more vulnerable to risks of illness and death and may have poorer neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes. (more…)


September 16, 2020

Dr. Keshet Ronen and the Somali Health Board partner to increase COVID-19 testing equity in King County, WA

Categories: , ,

Congratulation to Dr. Keshet Ronen (Acting Assistant Professor, Global Health) and Dr. Ahmed Ali (Executive Director, Somali Health Board) for receiving a COVID-19 Population Health Equity Grant from the University of Washington to increase access to COVID-19 testing among the Somali community in King County, WA.  Led in partnership with the Somali Health Board, a Somali-led grassroots organization, this project aims to understand barriers to testing in this heavily impacted community and identify approaches to improve health equity in King County’s testing strategy. (more…)


August 26, 2020

Dr. Irene Njuguna receives NIH Emerging Global Leader Award to support HIV+ adolescents thrive in schools

Categories: , , ,

Congratulations to Dr. Irene Njuguna (Pediatric Infectious Disease Resarcher, Kenyatta National Hospital) for receiving a National Institutes of Health K43 Emerging Global Leader Award!  Dr. Njuguna is currently involved in multiple University of Nairobi-Global WACh collaborative studies focused on pediatric and adolescent HIV.  This five-year award supports her growing research career in this field.  The new study titled “Understanding the role of schools in supporting HIV treatment outcomes among HIV infected adolescents,” — also known as TIMIZA, the Swahili word for “achieve” – focuses on the role of schools in supporting HIV treatment for adolescents in Kenya. (more…)


July 29, 2020

Dr. Patty Pavlinac receives NIH R01 grant to explore the roles of enteric pathogens and antimicrobial resistance to improve child health outcomes in SSA

Categories: , ,

Children hospitalized with severe illness in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are at high risk of morbidity and mortality following discharge from hospital, but mechanisms driving this vulnerability are poorly understood and there are no recommended interventions specifically targeting the post-discharge period.  Dr. Patty Pavlinac, Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Health and Co-Director of Global WACh’s Gut Health and Child Survival Priority Area, is the Principal Investigator of a newly awarded National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant to explore the mechanisms underlying this risk, including how azithromycin—an antibiotic commonly used to treat pediatric infections—affects children’s health and nutritional outcomes in SSA.  The findings will inform the development of interventions to reduce the risk of death, re-hospitalization, and growth faltering following hospitalizations among this vulnerable group of children.

(more…)


July 16, 2020

Dr. Arianna Means awarded NIH grant to develop strategies to improve pediatric treatment guideline adherence at healthcare facilities

Categories: , ,

Primary causes of death for children under five include pneumonia and diarrhea, and nearly half of deaths are attributable to undernutrition.  It is estimated that over half of these deaths are preventable with simple, existing, appropriately applied evidence-based interventions, synthesized within pediatric clinical treatment guidelines.  Although health workers in low-and-middle-income countries are trained on pediatric treatment guidelines, adherence to guidelines is often low and there is a need to identify strategies to improve quality of care in settings with the highest burden of preventable child deaths.

(more…)


July 11, 2020

Global WACh Researchers Share Findings Virtually at AIDS 2020

Categories: , ,

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.

(more…)


July 1, 2020

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

Categories: , ,

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…)



Previous page Next page