Global Child Health Research
Arboviruses. Newborn health. Gender-based violence. Our group is actively investigating questions about how to reduce the burden of disease and improve the health of children around the world. Our research also includes parasites, child nutrition and development, educational interventions, and novel diagnostics.
While our work ranges from laboratory work to sites abroad, our unifying goal is to improve the health of underserved children in low-resource settings.
Faculty Research Highlights
Infectious disease detection
The Maldonado epi lab is investigates disease transmission and circulation of various infectious diseases, from polio to HIV. The lab has conducted research into aspects of SARS-COV2 transmission, epidemiology, and diagnostics. Maldonado and her team also provides expertise in infectious diseases epidemiology and infection control for the development of novel indoor biosensor technology.
Combatting arboviral threats
The LaBeaud lab is studying arboviral epidemiology and virology, influencing factors on childhood immune system development, and vaccine response. The LaBeaud Lab’s main research questions focus on the risk factors for arboviral infections, the development of diagnostic tests that can be administered in the field to quickly determine what kind of arboviral infection a person has, and the genetic and immunologic investigation of why different people respond differently to the same infection.
Gender norms, early childhood Development, and WASH
Dr. Gary Darmstadt, associate dean for maternal and child health and professor of pediatrics, is leading multiple initiatives to promote the health and development of women and children worldwide. He led the 2019 The Lancet Series on Gender Equality, Norms and Health and authored a collection of 15 manuscripts on lessons learned from evaluation of a statewide reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition program in 100+ million population in Bihar, India. Dr. Darmstadt is leading the establishment of a Gender Innovation Hub in Nairobi, Kenya, and is pioneering emollient therapy for improving the survival, health, growth and development of newborn infants and the health and growth of children with severe acute malnutrition.
Combatting syndemics
The Sarnquist lab focuses on applied teaching and research on the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions to decrease gender-based violence, improve mental health, and prevent HIV infection outcomes, especially among adolescents and children. She is particularly interested in rights-based approaches that tackle the complex interplay of factors that lead to poor health for many children and families.
Resuscitation science
Dr. Pete Meaney's research addresses the barriers to quality care for critically ill children in resource-limited environments. Using epidemiological as well as quantitative and qualitative studies, his lab promotes implementation of essential care best practices to providers in rural African healthcare settings. He has developed, implemented, and led education programs at 11 sites in 8 countries.
Updated 10/31/2025
Dr. Maldonado and colleagues in Mexico