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

SEVUparin as a potential Adjunctive Treatment in children with severe malaria: A phase I trial safety and dose finding trial (SEVUSMAART).
Maitland, K., Hamaluba, M., Obonyo, N., Oguda, E., Mogoka, C., Williams, T. N., Chaponda, M., Miti, S., Kamavu, L. K., Jonathan Gwasupika, J., Connon, R., Gibb, D. M., Dondorp, A., Day, N., White, N., Walker, A. S., George, E. C.
Wellcome Open Res, (2023). 8:484

A Phase I trial of Non-invasive Ventilation and seizure prophylaxis with levetiracetam In Children with Cerebral Malaria Trial (NOVICE-M Trial).
Maitland, K., Obonyo, N., Hamaluba, M., Ogoda, E., Mogaka, C., Williams, T. N., Newton, C., Kariuki, S. M., Gibb, D. M., Walker, A. S., Connon, R., George, E. C.
Wellcome Open Res, (2024). 9:281

Legume-supplemented feed for children hospitalised with severe malnutrition: A Phase II trial.
Walsh, K., Kiosia, A., Olupot-Oupot, P., Alaroker, F., Okiror, W., Nakuya, M., Ssenyondo, T., Amorut, D., Okalebo, C. B., Muhindo, R., Mpoya, A., George, E. C., Frost, G., Maitland, K.
Br J Nutr, (2024). :1-25

Core sepsis-related competencies for medical students: an international consensus by Delphi technique.
Gomersall, E. L. M., Ling, L., Reinhart, K., Bion, V., Ekesh, A., Adu-Takyi, C., Azevedo, L. C. P., Banguti, P. R., Cohen, J., Diaz, J. V., Du, B., Goldfarb, D. M., Gorordo-Delsol, L. A., Graham, C. A., Iramain, R., Jacob, S. T., Kecskes, Z., Kissoon, N., Lipman, J., Lundeg, G., Maitland, K., Mergani, K. O., Moschides, C., Nakalembe, M., Ndu, I. K., Oon, J., Sale, T., Shresthra, A., Stockley, S., Talmor, D., Tse, A. B., Zachariah, A., Joynt, G. M.
BMC Med Educ, (2024). 24:653

Nutritional supplementation in children with severe pneumonia in Uganda and Kenya (COAST-Nutrition): a phase 2 randomised controlled trial.
Kiguli, S., Olupot-Olupot, P., Hamaluba, M., Giallongo, E., Thomas, K., Alaroker, F., Opoka, R. O., Tagoola, A., Oyella, S., Nalwanga, D., Nabawanuka, E., Okiror, W., Nakuya, M., Amorut, D., Muhindo, R., Mpoya, A., Mnjalla, H., Oguda, E., Williams, T. N., Harrison, D. A., Rowan, K., Briend, A., Maitland, K.
EClinicalMedicine, (2024). 72:102640