Dr. Renate Strehlau

Renate Strehlau is a South African clinician-scientist whose work centers on pediatric HIV, maternal–child health, and infectious diseases in high-burden settings. Affiliated with leading academic and clinical institutions in Johannesburg, her research integrates clinical trials, immunology, microbiology, and implementation science to improve outcomes for mothers and children affected by HIV and other infections.

Her publications highlight expertise in early antiretroviral therapy, pharmacokinetics and safety of contemporary HIV regimens in young children, and the long-term effects of early treatment on growth and immune development. She has contributed to pivotal studies on in-utero HIV transmission, immune correlates such as CCR5 expression, oral microbiota in treated children, and disclosure practices, shaping evidence-based pediatric HIV care.

Beyond HIV, her scholarship addresses neonatal infection prevention, genomic epidemiology of invasive pathogens, maternal vaccination against group B streptococcus, and climate-related risks to maternal and neonatal health. This breadth underscores a sustained commitment to translational research that informs policy, strengthens health systems, and advances equitable care for vulnerable populations.