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. Bulterys, MA, Garcia, S, Njuguna, I, Schenkel, S, Thankane, K, Kitsi, I et al.. "It is the foundation for the child": a qualitative study examining caregiver perspectives on the Nurturing Care Framework in Kenya and Botswana. BMJ Public Health. 2026;4 (2):e004261. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2025-004261. PubMed PMID:42158544 PubMed Central PMC13182436.
  2. Moraa, H, Mutahi, J, Atieno, W, John-Stewart, G, Kinuthia, J, Kumar, M et al.. Correction: "When a man is stressed, it replicates in the house": Kenyan women's perspectives on the influence of male partners on perinatal mental health among women affected by HIV. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026;6 (5):e0006451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006451. PubMed PMID:42101972 PubMed Central PMC13155598.
  3. Wara, NJ, Mvududu, R, Marwa, MM, Gómez, L, Mashele, N, Orrell, C et al.. Community PrEP delivery preferences among pregnant and breastfeeding women using oral PrEP in south africa and kenya. AIDS. 2026; :. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000004528. PubMed PMID:42013450 .
  4. 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.
  5. 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 .
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