Global WACh

News

February 17, 2026

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

Categories: ,

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. (more…)

February 6, 2026

Global WACh Certificate Student Maggie Nickel supports efforts to improve birth outcomes in Kenya

Categories: , ,

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in pregnancy are associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth rate, infant mortality, and increased mother-to-child HIV transmission. The prevalence of STIs among pregnant women in East Africa remains high and is higher among women living with HIV. In Kenya, the standard-of-care (SOC) model only treats visible symptoms, leaving many pregnant women with asymptomatic infections left untreated or treated inappropriately. It is critical to focus on moving beyond SOC toward more precise diagnostic strategies to treat pregnant women accordingly and improve birth outcomes.

A collaborative study led by researchers from the School of Nursing, Department of Global Health, and Kenyatta National Hospital is evaluating perinatal outcomes using different models for STI testing, as well as the implementation and cost outcomes within routine antenatal care in Kenya. Known as the PrIMI study, it is comparing the SOC model with a universal testing strategy and an asymptomatic testing strategy.

During Fall Quarter 2025, Margaret (Maggie) Nickel, a second-year MPH student in the Department of Global Health and the Global WACh Certificate Program, joined the qualitative researchers of the PrIMI team to fulfill the Certificate’s 90-hour capstone requirement. The team included Tessa Concepcion (Global WACh) and Kenyan colleagues Eunita Akim, Benito Odhiambo, and Salphine Watoyi. Maggie’s role assisted with a study objective to interview research participants (pregnant women living with and without HIV receiving antenatal care) on their perceptions on acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, and satisfaction of the STI testing methods. (more…)

February 5, 2026

Global WACh Certificate Student Brooke Erickson supports efforts to strengthen perinatal research recruitment in Seattle

Categories: , , ,

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) are prevalent mental health conditions that occur during pregnancy or within the first year postpartum. Poor mental health in this period is associated with adverse outcomes for both mothers and children, including maternal morbidity and mortality, and hindered child development. Although PMADs are common, a significant treatment gap remains, with more than half of women experiencing symptoms not receiving timely, high-quality mental health care.

To help fill that treatment gap, Brooke Erickson, a second-year MPH student in the Department of Global Health and Global WACh Graduate Certificate Student, is supporting the “Maternal Infant and Dyadic Care (MInD)” randomized control trial that is evaluating the feasibility of integrating depression care with Promoting First Relationships Brief (PFR-B), an evidence-based program that promotes children’s social-emotional development by focusing on caregiver-child relationships. (more…)

February 2, 2026

Researchers convene to disseminate findings that can inform future HIV and TB care in Kenya

Categories: ,

Researchers convened in Nairobi, Kenya on November 14, 2025.

In November 2025, researchers on multiple UW and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) collaborative projects focusing on HIV and tuberculosis (TB) convened in Nairobi to share key findings and discuss future directions. Dr. Sylvia LaCourse (Associate Professor with joint appointments in Department of Medicine – Allergy & Infectious Diseases and Global Health) presented on the role of HIV on TB infection detection, prevention strategies and immunity in pregnant women and children. The shared results concluded more than 10 years of dedicated work by collaborators at UW (Dr. Grace John-Stewart, Dr. Tom Hawn, Dr. Barbra Richardson, Dr. Irene Njuguna), Emory University (Dr. Cheryl Day, Dr. Lisa Marie Cranmer), University of Nairobi (Dr. Lisa Maleche-Obimbo), and Kenyatta National Hospital (Dr. John Kinuthia). Future directions include considerations for policy to guide HIV and TB treatment and preventative strategies to improve health outcomes in Kenya.
(more…)

January 16, 2026

Researchers share the latest science at the 2025 D&I Conference

Categories: , , ,

Global WACh researchers among a group of researchers University of Washington Department of Global Health and partner organizations

In December 2025, Global WACh faculty, staff, and student researchers presented the latest science at the 18th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination & Implementation (D&I), co-hosted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and AcademyHealth. The conference theme, “Realizing the Benefits of Dissemination & Implementation Science,” highlighted success stories and challenges in turning evidence into impact across health systems and communities.

Our team participated in a larger network of fellow researchers from the UW Department of Global Health and partner organizations. It was an enriching and insightful opportunity to learn about emerging trends and evidence in the implementation science field for all.
(more…)

December 19, 2025

MIND study collaborators convene at UW to discuss future directions for childhood neurodevelopment research

Categories: , , ,


MIND meeting collaborators at the University of Washington

Earlier this month, the Drug, microbiome, and immune determinants of birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with exposure to HIV infection (MIND) study collaborators based at the University of Washington convened for a day of knowledge sharing and discussions on projects focusing on adverse birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in young children exposed to HIV but are uninfected (CHEU). (more…)

Spotlight on Dr. Arianna Means named in Top 10 UW public health stories of 2025

Categories: ,


Photo credit: Elizar Mercado

A spotlight on Dr. Arianna Means’s (Associate Professor, UW Global Health and implementation scientist) contributions to prevent childhood illnesses around the world was named in the UW School of Public Health’s top 10 public health stories of 2025. Congratulations to Dr. Means on this recognition!

Read the May 2025 spotlight: Arianna Means shares why preventing childhood illnesses is imperative for global health 

December 5, 2025

Researchers receive major grant to study impact of HIV/ART exposure on child neurodevelopment

Categories: , , ,

Multiple Principal Investigators Grace John-Stewart, Dalton Wamalwa, Kathleen Powis, and Andrew Prendergast leading the newly awarded U19 RISE Project

An international research team with Global WACh and partners in the U.S., Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Botswana received a five-year long $36 million dollar grant from the National Institute of Health to better understand how HIV or antiretroviral (ART) exposure in utero influences child health outcomes, including neurodevelopment.

“Researching Interventions and Implementation Strategies to Evaluate the Health and Development of Children Affected by HIV (RISE)” is a large NIH-funded U19 Program to evaluate tools for screening children for neurodevelopmental delays and to identify interventions to optimize neurodevelopment among children with and without in utero HIV/ART exposure. The RISE Program includes three distinct research Projects and three Cores that provide shared resources, focusing on scientific administrative support, data management and analysis, and dissemination and stakeholder engagement, to facilitate the Projects.
(more…)

December 4, 2025

Dr. Keshet Ronen receives award to assess inclusion in digital community health services in Kenya

Categories: , ,

Congratulations to Dr. Keshet Ronen, Assistant Professor in Global Health, for receiving funding for “Empowering Women through Digital Connectivity: Advancing Community Health in Kenya” that leverages the ongoing CHV-NEO (Community-based digital communication to support neonatal health) trial activities. CHV-NEO uses text messaging, integrated into Kenya’s national electronic community health information system (eCHIS),  to remotely connect mothers of newborns with community health workers for enhanced care during the high-risk neonatal period. CHV-NEO has the potential to reduce neonatal mortality and improve coverage of community-based perinatal preventative care in medically underserved communities in Kenya. (more…)

December 2, 2025

Global WACh Co-Director Anjuli Wagner nominated for the 2025 UW Minority Faculty Mentoring Award

Categories:

Congratulations to Dr. Anjuli Wagner, Associate Professor in the Department of Global Health and Global WACh Co-Director, for being nominated for the UW School of Medicine’s Committee on Minority Faculty Advancement (CMFA) Minority Faculty Mentoring Award.

This award recognizes faculty who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to mentoring faculty from communities underrepresented in medicine and science. Its purpose is to celebrate someone who fosters inclusive professional growth and improves diversity, equity, and representation within the University of Washington School of Medicine.
(more…)


Next page