1. /
  2. About us /
  3. Our people and structure /
  4. Working groups /
  5. HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention
Prepxlogo V2
Aoife Hurley Alisa Pedrana Mark A Stoové
+11

HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention

We conduct innovative research aimed at understanding the transmission and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

About

We conduct innovative epidemiological and implementation research aimed at understanding the transmission, diagnosis and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. We have a particular focus on priority populations including gay and bisexual men, trans and gender diverse people, young people and people who inject drugs.

In Australia, HIV notifications have steadily declined among some groups over the past decade. These declines are linked to the scale up of biomedical HIV prevention strategies. However, challenges remain for ensuring their equitable deployment and optimal strategic investment.  

HIV is also a major public health issue across Southeast Asia,  approximately 10 per cent of the world’s 37 million adults and children living with HIV reside.  

Our main aims are: 

  • undertaking research involving the groups most at risk of HIV and STIs, including gay and bisexual men, trans and gender diverse people, people who inject drugs, young people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities 

  • integrating findings from our surveillance, epidemiology and research work to inform policy and practice to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STIs. 

Burnet Logo Trademark Presentation (1)
1/3
BDO 2013 News Pic 510 X 288
Prep Pic
Meeting With Dr. Sithu Aung Director Disease Control On Discussion About Collaboration Cooperation On HIV Surveillance Monitoring System Between Burnet And NAP
1/3

Tap an image to expand it in focused view

Past projects

View 9 more
Novel Point-of-care Testing for Diagnosis of Active Syphilis in Pregnant Women and Infants in Fiji

Novel Point-of-care Testing for Diagnosis of Active Syphilis in Pregnant Women and Infants in Fiji

Congenital syphilis (CS), caused by mother-to-child transmission of spirochete bacterium Treponema Pallidum (TP), is a major global health problem associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in children. Without adequate treatment CS causes significant developmental, neurological and musculoskeletal disability in children, and many infected infants will die within the first year of life. In 2016, estimated global incidence for CS was 473 (385-561) cases per 100,000 live births with a total of 661,000 (538,000-784,000) cases, including 355,000 (290,000-419,000) adverse birth outcomes (143,000 stillbirths; 61,000 neonatal deaths; 41,000 preterm/low- birth weight births; and 109,000 infants with clinical CS). Treatment of syphilis is simple, effective and inexpensive; however, definitive diagnosis of active syphilis requires confirmatory testing which requires laboratory facilities, and not always available in many low-resource settings in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 40 of the 81 LMICs which account for more than 95 per cent maternal deaths and more than 90 per cent of deaths in children under five years old, 74 per cent of pregnant women who had at least four antenatal care visits were not tested for syphilis. A combination of treponemal and non-treponemal tests is required for diagnosis of active syphilis but there is no point-of-care test (POCT) that can effectively distinguish between past/treated and active syphilis. There is no POCT for diagnosis of CS available on the market.

ACCESS Myanmar: Assessing the feasibility of an integrated HIV cascade of care surveillance system in Myanmar

ACCESS Myanmar: Assessing the feasibility of an integrated HIV cascade of care surveillance system in Myanmar

ACCESS Myanmar will implement and evaluate an electronic health records data linkage system that effectively monitors the progress of patients through HIV testing and treatment episodes of care across a network of partnering community and government services.

Ageing Well with HIV

Ageing Well with HIV

Ageing Well with HIV aims to address the psychosocial and health needs of older people living with HIV.

View 9 more

Group contacts

Professor Mark A  Stoové

Professor Mark A Stoové

Head of Public Health
View profile

Student supervisor contacts

Professor Mark A  Stoové

Professor Mark A Stoové

Head of Public Health
View profile

Group members

Professor Mark A  Stoové

Professor Mark A Stoové

Head of Public Health
View profile
Associate Professor Alisa Pedrana

Associate Professor Alisa Pedrana

Senior Research Fellow; Deputy Discipline Head, Public Health; Eliminate Hepatitis C Australia Coordinator
View profile
Dr Aoife Hurley

Dr Aoife Hurley

Public Health Registrar
View profile
Bernadette Ryan

Bernadette Ryan

Research Assistant
View profile
Brendan Harney

Brendan Harney

Research Assistant
View profile
David Wang

David Wang

Research Assistant, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevention Group
View profile
Dean Cassano

Dean Cassano

International Health Project Officer
View profile
Dr Elly Layton

Dr Elly Layton

Public Health Registrar
View profile
Flynn Halliwell

Flynn Halliwell

Research Assistant
View profile
Hein Htet Aung

Hein Htet Aung

Master’s student
View profile
Professor Margaret Hellard AM

Professor Margaret Hellard AM

Deputy Director, Programs; Adjunct Professor, Monash University, DEPM.
View profile
Dr Michael  Traeger

Dr Michael Traeger

Research Officer
View profile
Dr Phone Myint Win

Dr Phone Myint Win

Country Representative, Myanmar
View profile
Dr Tafireyi  Marukutira

Dr Tafireyi Marukutira

TB Specialist – Public Health
View profile
On this page