0709 203000 - Nairobi 0709 983000 - Kilifi
0709 203000 - NRB 0709 983000 - Kilifi
0709 203000 - NRB | 0709 983000 - Kilifi

Clinical Research

Bio

Kath Maitland's research excellence spans the entire translational cycle; from the bench through to clinical investigation and ultimately change in clinical practice and healthcare policy. In the challenging environment of the rural hospital emergency rooms in Africa, her team has conducted high-quality physiological studies and clinical trials generating the essential evidence base for patient management and informing both national and international policy. She has led large multicentre trials examining key supportive treatments for critically sick children including the ground-breaking fluid resuscitation (FEAST) and transfusion (TRACT) trials both bring new high-quality evidence leading to refinements of the guidelines. The childrens oxygen strategy trial (COAST) brought new understanding in oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation strategies. She is a Professor of Paediatric Tropical Infectious Diseases at the Faculty of Medicine and Director of the ICCARE Centre at the Global Centre of Health Innovation, Imperial College, London and an Honorary Fellow at MRC Clinical Trials Unit, University College, London.

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Current Work

Currently I am leading a Wellcome funded Severe Malaria Africa – A consortium for Research and Trials (SMAART) consortium which is a multi-disciplinary team whose membership includes world leaders in severe malaria and experts in clinical trials with track records of successful high quality and collaborative research programmes across the continent. The overarching aim of SMAART is to improve outcomes from severe malaria in African children (since one in ten hospitalised with severe malaria continue to die by conducting better research studies faster. In severe malnutrition (SAM) we have ‘deconstructed’ key physiological elements’ provided definitive evidence to show that myocardial function in children with SAM is not aberrant and investigated fluid management, specifically in children with dehydrating diarrhoea. I am part of a large collaboration (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/hunger-project/) which have provided multiple lines of evidence indicating that there are several domains of gut function are aberrant. Our ultimate aim is to investigate whether a locally-manufactured feed incorporating legumes as a lactose-free, fermentable carbohydrate-containing alternatives, aimed at supporting global gut function compared to traditional milk-based SAM formulae, can reduce mortality. Fermentable carbohydrates provide a rich source of long chain fatty acids which improve the composition of normal gut microbes and positively influence immunological and metabolic function of the gut.

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Recent publications

Cardiac output measurement in Malawian children ages 2 months-12 years hospitalised with severe anaemia (COM-TRACT).
Chintolo, E., Connon, R., George, E. C., Chagaluka, G., M'Baya, B., Walker, A. S., Kennedy, N., Maitland, K.
Int Health, (2025). :

Epidemiological dynamics of influenza B virus across multiple seasons in Kenya and Uganda inferred from sequence data, 2010-2021.
Nyarango, B. K., Owuor, D. C., Isoe, E., Mutunga, M., Cheruiyot, R., Katama, E. N., Makori, T., Lambisia, A., Nyiro, J., Githinji, G., Kiguli, S., Olupot-Olupot, P., Maitland, K., Agoti, C. N.
BMC Infect Dis, (2025). 25:1080

Single low dose primaquine to block the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum-proposed stand-alone and ACT-adapted regimens.
Taylor, W. R. J., Olupot-Olupot, P., Onyamboko, M. A., Chimjinda, N., Taya, C., Pouplin, J. N. N., Williams, T. N., Maitland, K., Fanello, C. A., Day, N. P. J., Tarning, J., White, N. J., Mukaka, M.
BMC Med, (2025). 23:397

Early weaning from oxygen therapy in African children with severe pneumonia.
Maitland, K., Giallongo, E., Hamaluba, M., Alaroker, F., Opoka, R. O., Tagoola, A., Nalwanga, D., Nabawanuka, E., Okiror, W., Nakuya, M., Aromut, D., Williams, T. N., Thomas, K., Harrison, D. A., Mouncey, P., Bush, A., Fraser, J. F., Rowan, K., Olupot-Olupot, P., Kiguli, S.
BMC Med, (2025). 23:366

Supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food has no effect on adverse outcomes among undernourished children aged 6-59 months with severe pneumonia.
Nalwanga, D., Giallongo, E., Musiime, V., Kiguli, S., Olupot, P. O., Alaroker, F., Opoka, R., Tagoola, A., Hamaluba, M., Mogaka, C., Nabawanuka, E., Karamagi, C., Briend, A., Maitland, K.
Front Nutr, (2025). 12:1507360