Dr. Shannon Leahy

Shannon Leahy is a clinician-researcher in paediatrics and child health whose work centres on neonatal and infant infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries. Her scholarship is closely aligned with major multicountry collaborations examining invasive Group B Streptococcus (iGBS), with contributions published in leading global health and infectious diseases journals. She is also involved in national clinical guideline development, including updated South African recommendations on childhood enuresis.

Her research focuses on the long-term neurodevelopmental, emotional-behavioural, and economic consequences of iGBS disease. Through matched cohort studies and health economic analyses across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, she has helped clarify the persistent burden faced by survivors and their families. This includes work on quality of life, healthcare utilisation, and acute care costs, informing cost-effectiveness models and maternal immunisation strategies.

Additional contributions address neonatal acute kidney injury and congenital renal disorders, reflecting broader expertise in paediatric nephrology and complex neonatal care. Collectively, her work strengthens evidence for prevention, early detection, and long-term follow-up of vulnerable infants, with clear implications for policy, clinical practice, and global child health equity.