Nhial Tutlam, an assistant professor, and Flavia Namuwonge, a doctoral student in social work, both at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, received 2025 Provost Research Excellence Awards the 2025 Global Research Excellence Showcase on Nov. 10.
The event that recognizes interdisciplinary research across the university. Tutlam was honored in the faculty category, while Namuwonge received a graduate student award.
Tutlam, an associate director of research at the Brown School‘s International Center for Child Health and Development (ICHAD), also received a global spotlight designation. His research focuses on the mental health effects of war trauma and related risks of suicide, substance use, and HIV among youth affected by conflict. He aims to develop and test culturally relevant community-based interventions in both refugee settlements and resettlement settings.
He is currently leading an NIH-funded study in Uganda’s refugee settlements to examine factors influencing adherence to HIV treatment, trauma-associated disorders, psychological functioning, and sexual decision-making. The study is expected to help inform strategies to address the dual public health challenges of mental health and HIV among vulnerable populations.
Namuwonge’s research focuses on children, adolescents, and families impacted by poverty and poor mental health challenges. Before joining the PhD program, she spent eight years at ICHAD field office in Uganda as head of operations and research coordinator, implementing multiple NIH-funded studies in Uganda.
The showcase also featured presentations by recipients of the 2024 Global Incubator Seed Grants, which support innovative international research aligned with WashU’s strategic plan.
Among the presenters was Aytakin Huseynli, research assistant professor, who joined Vugar Bayramov, a member of the National Parliament of Azerbaijan, and Dinara Yessimova, president of the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers in Kazakhstan. They presented their project, Energy Transition for Child Health and Well-Being: A Child Development Account Strategy, during the “Flourishing Communities” session.
Proscovia Nabunya, associate professor, presented her project, PrEP-AI: Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Model to Identify High-Risk Adolescent Girls and Young Women Unlikely to Initiate HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis in Uganda. Her team includes Samuel Kizito of New York University and Imelda Nabbosa of Makerere University, Uganda. Nabunya spoke during the “Healthier Lives” session, highlighting research addressing global public health challenges.