Grace John-Stewart, MD, MPH, PhD

Professor of Global Health, Epidemiology, Pediatrics, and Medicine, University of Washington

Dr. Grace John Stewart, MD, MPH, PhD, has conducted research over the past >25 years, with her research growing from an initial focus on HIV transmission and pathogenesis in women and children, as part of a collaborative research team in Kenya. The first studies she conducted were designed to define risk and timing of mother-to-child HIV transmission, particularly to understand breastmilk transmission of HIV. Her group has contributed comprehensively across a spectrum of research that has included clinical trials, molecular epidemiology, implementation science, and large-scale evaluations. In addition, through mentorship she has sought to catalyze new research with young investigators to advance studies of growth, co-infections (herpes viruses, TB), HIV prevention and treatment support in mothers, adolescents, and children. Overall, her research has been disseminated in >400 peer-reviewed publications. The work she does with women and children also led naturally to studies on pathogenesis and interventions to improve outcomes in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and infected children and adolescents. She has been a Co-Investigator on studies focused on infectious diseases in women and children and was the Founding Director of the Center for Global Health of Women, Adolescents and Children (Global WACh) for which she currently serves as Co-Director. She is a long-standing member of the UW Kenya Research and Training Center (KRTC) and the team’s research is predominantly based in Kenya. She is committed to mentoring next generation scientific leaders.

Publications

  1. Mullen, B, Githua, J, Escudero, JN, Mecha, J, Kijaro, L, Ndunge, M et al.. Evaluation of non-sputum-based diagnostics for pediatric tuberculosis: the Pediatric TB Diagnostic (PDTBDx) cohort protocol. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.04.01.26350011. PubMed PMID:41959800 PubMed Central PMC13060392.
  2. Mogaka, JN, Mugambi, M, Abuna, F, Akim, E, Gómez, L, Morroni, C et al.. Prevalence and Incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Among Women Who Initiated HIV PrEP During Pregnancy in Kenya. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2026;101 (4):346-354. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003804. PubMed PMID:41954102 .
  3. Larsen, A, Kinuthia, J, Abuna, F, Dettinger, JC, Gomez, L, Marwa, M et al.. Perinatal Depression, Maternal Engagement and Child Social-Emotional Development: A Cohort Study. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2026; :. doi: 10.1111/ppe.70140. PubMed PMID:41924862 .
  4. Oja, D, Kundu, C, Onyango, A, Mugo, C, Njuguna, I, Morra, H et al.. Navigating viral load information flow and provider decision-making for adolescent clients at HIV clinics in Kenya. HIV Res Clin Pract. 2026;27 (1):2650034. doi: 10.1080/25787489.2026.2650034. PubMed PMID:41923269 .
  5. Onyango, DO, Mecha, JO, Njagi, LN, Aoro, S, Malika, T, Kinuthia, J et al.. Outcomes of the three-month weekly isoniazid with rifapentine (3HP) versus the six-month isoniazid preventive therapy (6H) among people newly enrolled in HIV care in western Kenya. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.03.04.26347621. PubMed PMID:41867187 PubMed Central PMC13001390.
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