Sarah Cusick

Sarah Cusick, PhD, serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, with additional faculty appointments in the Center for Neurobehavioral Development and as an Instructor in the School of Public Health. Her research is centered on improving child health outcomes in resource-limited settings through the study of nutrition and infectious disease interactions.

Dr. Cusick's research interests focus on the interplay between micronutrient status (particularly iron and choline) and infectious diseases (such as malaria and HIV) in early childhood development. She aims to develop safe and effective nutritional interventions that support optimal neurobehavioral development in children living in impoverished regions. Her work integrates laboratory science, field epidemiology, and policy analysis to translate findings into real-world health improvements.

Her current research is based in Kampala, Uganda, where she leads two major clinical trials:

• SupCHO study (Thrasher Research Fund): A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating choline supplementation alongside iron therapy for infants with iron deficiency anemia, assessing effects on neurobehavioral outcomes.
• Optim Study (NIH/NICHD R01): A trial comparing immediate versus delayed iron supplementation after antimalarial treatment in anemic children with malaria, to evaluate impacts on iron status, infection recurrence, and development.

Dr. Cusick directs the Cusick Lab for Global Nutrition Research, which operates field sites at Mulago Hospital and the Joint Clinical Research Centre in Kampala. The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical, laboratory, and analytical methods to address critical gaps in pediatric nutrition and infectious disease management.