The Maternal-Child Health Unit within the Malaria Research Program focuses on understanding the impact of infectious diseases on mothers' and children's health to maximize health and well-being. We initially piloted our approach to understanding how exposure to infection in utero alters infant immunity through studies of malaria in maternal-infant cohorts. We have now expanded our projects to include HIV, SARS-CoV-2, and CMV infection. Our studies explore the short- and long-term outcomes of infants and children born to mothers with these infections and will inform future interventions to prevent and ameliorate these detrimental effects. We are also interested in exploring the impact of climate change on maternal-infant health.

The unit is led by Dr. Miriam Laufer, a pediatric infectious diseases physician by training and now a leader in translating research to malaria control and elimination policy. She serves as a Director of the Malaria Research Program at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health and the Associate Dean for Student Research for the University of Maryland School of Medicine.