Our portfolio
Studies & projects
Our research spans vaccines, HIV and HPV prevention, perinatal mental health, and child health, from early-phase trials to large implementation programmes. Filter by focus area or status below.
Young Women/clinic
Drug trial
Ongoing
EXPrESSIVE (MK-8527)
First Kenyan site activated for a multinational trial of a once-monthly oral medicine for HIV prevention in adolescent girls and young women aged 18–25.
HIV prevention  MSD / Gates
Infant Vaccine TrialÂ
Implementation
Ongoing
Vijana Shamba Maisha
Assessing the effects of a multisectoral climate-smart agricultural intervention on the reproductive and sexual health of adolescent girls and young women
Adolescent health       NIH
School health/Adolescents
Vaccine trial
Ongoing
PEARL / VAD00004
Phase III, randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in infants and toddlers. 99% study retention.
RSV vaccine          Sanofi
Mentor mothers/ antenatalÂ
Implementation
Active
Tunawiri
Mentor-mother delivery of problem-management therapy for perinatal women living with HIV and common mental health conditions, integrated into antenatal and HIV care.
Perinatal mental health         NIH
Oral HPV Study
Cohort study
Completed
Oral HPV
Oral HPV prevalence, persistence, and risk factors in HIV-positive and at-risk HIV-negative men and women in south-western Kenya.
HPVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MERCK
postpartum Care
Implementation
Active
Tatua
Adapting a lay health worker problem-solving therapy intervention for at-risk pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV.
Maternal mental health     NIH (R34)
Maternal Mental Health
Implementation
Active
Perinatal Mental Health
A study on maternal mental health and its effects on mother–infant bonding and parenting among adolescent girls and young women in western Kenya.
Perinatal mental health           Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
VACCINE TRIAL
Vaccine trial
Completed
STV
An international trial evaluating the effectiveness of novel COVID-19 vaccines in preventing virologically confirmed infection.
Vaccine              WHO,KAVI,UON
PREP DIGITAL HEALTH
Digital health
complete
ConceptPrEP
Evaluation of a digital health intervention for on-demand PrEP among adolescent girls and young women in Kisumu.
HIV prevention             AGYW
VACCINE TRIAL
Implementation
Completed
VAT00008
Evaluation of two SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccines (monovalent and bivalent) for COVID-19 prevention in adults aged 18 years and older.
COVID-19 vaccine       Sanofi
HPV VACCINATION
Vaccine trial
Ongoing
KEN SHE
A landmark trial of single-dose HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer in women aged 15–20, shaping HPV vaccine policy across the region. 97% retention over 4-year follow-up.
HPV · Cervical cancer    Bill and Melinda GatesÂ
HPV BURDEN STUDYÂ
Cohort study
complete
ECHO-HPV
Evaluation of HPV burden among young women in Africa, a follow-on study to the ECHO contraceptive trial.
HPV · Contraception Bill and Melinda Gates /University of Washington
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
Completed
ADOLESCENT SHAMBA MAISHA
Assessment of a multisectoral agricultural intervention and its effects on sexual and reproductive health among HIV-affected adolescent girls.
Adolescent health     NIMH
COHORT STUDY
Contraception
Completed
ECHO-BM
Evaluation of changes in sexual behavior following initiation of effective contraceptive methods using biological and behavioral measures.
Reproductive health Bill & Melinda Gates
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
MOTIVATE 2
Assessment of antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women as a sub-study of the MOTIVATE trial.
Maternal HIVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIHÂ Â Â Â
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
HIV
Completed
SHAMBA MAISHA (AGYW)
Assessment of an income-generating agricultural intervention and its effects on sexual behavior and psychological wellbeing among adolescent girls and young women in Western Kenya.
Adolescent health UCSF-Bay Area CFAR
CLINICAL STUDY
Contraception
Completed
HORMONAL CONTRACEPTIVES
Effects of hormonal contraceptives on genital immunity and potential HIV susceptibility among women..
Reproductive healthÂ
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
PII E NGIMA
Assessment of health consequences of household water insecurity among HIV-infected postpartum women and their infants in Kenya.
Water insecurity  Northwestern University
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
PMTCT
Completed
MOTIVATE 1
Evaluation of text messaging and community-based interventions to improve ART adherence and retention among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Kenya.
CLINICAL TRIAL
Contraception
Completed
ECHO
A multicenter randomized trial comparing HIV incidence among women using DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs.
Contraception   Bill and Melinda Gate
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
FAMILY PLANNING
Evaluation and development of a toolkit to support integration of family planning services into HIV care and treatment in Kenya.
Family planning · HIV care integration
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
PMTCT
Completed
MNCH
Community-based intervention to strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child health service uptake in Homa Bay County, Kenya.
Community health  MNCH
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 2
Cohort study examining the effects of food and nutrition insecurity on HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women and their infants in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal & child health  NIMH
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
TUPANGE
Integrated family planning within maternal and newborn health programs to improve access and quality of reproductive health services in urban Kenya.
Family planning Bill and Melinda Gates
Â
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 1
Formative qualitative study exploring causes and consequences of food insecurity during pregnancy and lactation among women and households in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal health    NIMH
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 2
Cohort study examining the effects of food and nutrition insecurity on HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women and their infants in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal & child health  NIMH
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
TUPANGE
Integrated family planning within maternal and newborn health programs to improve access and quality of reproductive health services in urban Kenya.
Family planning Bill and Melinda Gates
Â
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 1
Formative qualitative study exploring causes and consequences of food insecurity during pregnancy and lactation among women and households in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal health    NIMH
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
ICCM
Training of community health workers on WHO-guided classification and management of childhood illnesses to improve community-based care in Homa Bay County, Kenya.
Child health         UNICEFÂ
CLINICAL STUDY
PMTCT
complete
PMTCT FAILURE STUDY
Assessment of factors associated with prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) outcomes in a Kenyan setting with widely available services.
Maternal HIVÂ Â Â Â Â NIH
Young Women/clinic
Drug trial
Ongoing
EXPrESSIVE (MK-8527)
First Kenyan site activated for a multinational trial of a once-monthly oral medicine for HIV prevention in adolescent girls and young women aged 18–25.
HIV prevention  MSD / Gates
PREP DIGITAL HEALTH
Digital health
complete
ConceptPrEP
Evaluation of a digital health intervention for on-demand PrEP among adolescent girls and young women in Kisumu.
HIV prevention             AGYW
CLINICAL STUDY
PMTCT
complete
PMTCT FAILURE STUDY
Assessment of factors associated with prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) outcomes in a Kenyan setting with widely available services.
Maternal HIVÂ Â Â Â Â NIH
Oral HPV Study
Cohort study
Completed
Oral HPV
Oral HPV prevalence, persistence, and risk factors in HIV-positive and at-risk HIV-negative men and women in south-western Kenya.
HPVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MERCK
VACCINE TRIAL
Implementation
Completed
VAT00008
Evaluation of two SARS-CoV-2 recombinant protein vaccines (monovalent and bivalent) for COVID-19 prevention in adults aged 18 years and older.
COVID-19 vaccine       Sanofi
HPV VACCINATION
Vaccine trial
Ongoing
KEN SHE
A landmark trial of single-dose HPV vaccination to prevent cervical cancer in women aged 15–20, shaping HPV vaccine policy across the region. 97% retention over 4-year follow-up.
HPV · Cervical cancer    Bill and Melinda GatesÂ
HPV BURDEN STUDYÂ
Cohort study
complete
ECHO-HPV
Evaluation of HPV burden among young women in Africa, a follow-on study to the ECHO contraceptive trial.
HPV · Contraception Bill and Melinda Gates /University of Washington
VACCINE TRIAL
Vaccine trial
Completed
STV
An international trial evaluating the effectiveness of novel COVID-19 vaccines in preventing virologically confirmed infection.
Vaccine              WHO,KAVI,UON
School health/Adolescents
Vaccine trial
Ongoing
PEARL / VAD00004
Phase III, randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine in infants and toddlers. 99% study retention.
RSV vaccine          Sanofi
Mentor mothers/ antenatalÂ
Implementation
Active
Tunawiri
Mentor-mother delivery of problem-management therapy for perinatal women living with HIV and common mental health conditions, integrated into antenatal and HIV care.
Perinatal mental health         NIH
Infant Vaccine TrialÂ
Implementation
Ongoing
Vijana Shamba Maisha
Assessing the effects of a multisectoral climate-smart agricultural intervention on the reproductive and sexual health of adolescent girls and young women
Adolescent health       NIH
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
Completed
ADOLESCENT SHAMBA MAISHA
Assessment of a multisectoral agricultural intervention and its effects on sexual and reproductive health among HIV-affected adolescent girls.
Adolescent health     NIMH
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
MOTIVATE 2
Assessment of antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women as a sub-study of the MOTIVATE trial.
Maternal HIVÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â NIHÂ Â Â Â
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
Implementation
complete
PII E NGIMA
Assessment of health consequences of household water insecurity among HIV-infected postpartum women and their infants in Kenya.
Water insecurity  Northwestern University
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
PMTCT
Completed
MOTIVATE 1
Evaluation of text messaging and community-based interventions to improve ART adherence and retention among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV in Kenya.
IMPLEMENTATION STUDY
PMTCT
Completed
MNCH
Community-based intervention to strengthen maternal, neonatal, and child health service uptake in Homa Bay County, Kenya.
Community health  MNCH
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 1
Formative qualitative study exploring causes and consequences of food insecurity during pregnancy and lactation among women and households in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal health    NIMH
COHORT STUDY
Nutrition
Completed
PITH MOROMO 2
Cohort study examining the effects of food and nutrition insecurity on HIV-positive and HIV-negative pregnant women and their infants in Nyanza, Kenya.
Maternal & child health  NIMH
Maternal Mental Health
Implementation
Active
Perinatal Mental Health
A study on maternal mental health and its effects on mother–infant bonding and parenting among adolescent girls and young women in western Kenya.
Perinatal mental health           Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
postpartum Care
Implementation
Active
Tatua
Adapting a lay health worker problem-solving therapy intervention for at-risk pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV.
Maternal mental health     NIH (R34)