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Dr. Kain's translational research program focuses on global and emerging infectious disease threats. His research program employs the latest and most cost-effective biotechnical developments to monitor, diagnose and treat the diseases that result in the greatest harm to the greatest number. His research also focuses on understanding the molecular basis of severe infections (e.g. sepsis, severe malaria), especially in vulnerable populations (e.g. maternal-child health in low income settings), with the goal of developing new diagnostics and interventions to decrease mortality and reduce brain injury in survivors. This includes mechanistic studies of severe infections in pre-clinical models all the way to clinical trials that test new diagnostics and interventions based on these insights. Current projects include clinical studies of sepsis, pneumonia, malaria and HIV-1 in pediatric and pregnant populations in LMICs including Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi, DRC, Tanzania and SEA.