I am interested in how nutrition underpins human health and in particular in relation to interactions with infections, other conditions like sickle cell disease and maternal and child health. My research aims to provide an evidence base to support nutrition-based interventions to improve health outcomes in populations in low and middle income countries. 
Current ongoing studies are summarised below:

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Nutrition and TB
I am leading research on nutrition and diabetes in TB patients in the Philippines, with a hospital based inpatient cohort which started in July 2016  & a cross-sectional outpatient study starting in 2017. The outpatient study is being conducted in TB-DOTS centres in metro Manila and rural sites in Negros Occidental. I am collaborating with investigators from San Lazaro Hospital, Manila, the Nutrition Centre, Philippines and the National TB programme. 

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Malnutrition in children 
In Nepal I am leading a research project assessing the prevalence of malnutrition in pediatric admissions at Siddhi Memorial Hospital, Bhaktapur and associated risk of developing or worsening of nutritional status and risk of re-admission during 6 months follow-up post discharge. In Cambodia, we are conducting a study nested within a birth cohort (Research Title: Follow up survey on factors the influence on chronic malnutrition among children until two-years-old in rural Cambodia." Dr. Azusa Iwamoto, NCGM, Prof Rathvy, Director of National Maternal and Child Health Center) investigating the determinants of wasting in young children, with a focus on infections and gut inflammation. 

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Maternal and child health, nutrition and malaria
I am also involved in ongoing research on malaria elimination strategies and impacts on maternal and child health in Western Kenya, with collaborators from Osaka City University & Karolinska Institute, (Prof Akira Kaneko). I am also interested in how nutritional factors may affect risk and severity of malaria, in particular iron and iron supplementation. 

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Nutrition as a modulator of sickle cell disease 
I have been conducting research with the Muhimbili Sickle Cohort in Tanzania, My research has focused on nutritional and genetic modulation of sickle cell disease (SCD) and recently completed a clinical trial of a nutraceutical intervention in children with SCD with primary endpoints of growth and improved vascular function. The data are currently being analysed. My main collaborators in MWP are Dr Julie Makani, (Muhimbili University of Health & Allied Sciences & University of Oxford) & Professor Charles Newton (University of Oxford & KEMRI-Kilifi, Kenya).

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Key words:  Malnutrition, Malaria, Nutrition, TB, Maternal Health, Sickle Cell Disease