Jennifer Slyker, MS, PhD

Associate Professor, Global Health

Adjunct Associate Professor, Epidemiology

 

Dr. Jennifer Slyker, MSc, PhD, received her BA (Biology) from Colgate University, her MSc (Integrative Bioscience) from Oxford University, and her Ph.D. (Immunology) from Open University. She began working with the Kenya group in 2000 as a Research Assistant in Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Slyker’s major research interest is in understanding the unique way in which the infant immune system handles viral infection. Birth is a time of transition from a mostly sterile environment to one brimming with pathogens.  In infants, HIV infection occurs at a time when many infants also acquire persistent viral infections (herpes viruses: EBV/CMV/HHV-8). Though usually asymptomatic, these herpes viruses can cause severe disease in individuals that are immunosuppressed by HIV-1. Conversely, these herpes viruses themselves may accelerate HIV disease progression. Understanding the bi-directional interactions between HIV and herpes viruses, and the way in which this is modified by HIV therapy, maternal pMTCT prophylaxis, and antiviral suppressive therapy will enable the design of alternative preventative and therapeutic strategies to improve the health of HIV-infected children.

Publications

  1. Begnel, ER, Maqsood, R, Holland, LA, Ojee, E, Owiti, P, Adhiambo, J et al.. Comparison of gut virome in Kenyan infants born to women with and without HIV. iScience. 2026;29 (3):114900. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114900. PubMed PMID:41736871 PubMed Central PMC12927066.
  2. Kang, YJ, Wang, N, Malik, A, Lu, P, Njuguna, I, Maleche-Obimbo, E et al.. An Fc receptor and IgA functional signature identifies TB disease in children living with HIV. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.02.08.26345833. PubMed PMID:41728310 PubMed Central PMC12919122.
  3. Willoughby, MT, Wylie, AJ, Mugala, H, Kamau, R, Collett, B, Begnel, E et al.. Early life trajectories of head circumference predict executive function and fluid cognitive skills at age 4 in Kenya. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2025;16 :e45. doi: 10.1017/S2040174425100275. PubMed PMID:41403298 PubMed Central PMC12926735.
  4. Ojee, E, Odiyo, J, Adhiambo, J, Mabele, E, Omondi, V, Begnel, ER et al.. A cost analysis of postpartum home visit programming in Kenya: estimates to aid policymakers. Front Health Serv. 2025;5 :1644078. doi: 10.3389/frhs.2025.1644078. PubMed PMID:41323153 PubMed Central PMC12657431.
  5. Gasper, MA, Happel, AU, Dzanibe, S, Slyker, J, Jaspan, HB. Immunology of infants who are HIV-exposed uninfected in the parental combination antiretroviral therapy era. Lancet HIV. 2025;12 (11):e789-e801. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(25)00184-5. PubMed PMID:40885205 .
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