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UCL Awarded Funding to Host New NIHR Health Protection Research Unit
1 November 2024
University College London (UCL) has been awarded funding to host the next National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BBSTI). This prestigious unit, a collaborative partnership between UCL and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will commence on the 1st April 2025. UCL has held the HPRU since its inception in 2014, making this the third consecutive award.
Professor Caroline Sabin from the Institute for Global Health at UCL will continue to lead the new HPRU as its Director. The unit aims to continue delivering a world-leading research programme designed to support the UKHSA in its mission to protect the country against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
Since its inception in 2014, the HPRU in BBSTI, led by Professor Sabin, has significantly bolstered UKHSA’s efforts to safeguard public health. The unit’s research has been widely disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and global conference presentations, influencing policy and guideline development.
The research will focus on understanding the barriers to diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination for STIs and BBVs. It will investigate why some individuals continue to acquire new infections and explore the potential benefits of innovative control methods.
The unit aims to build networks and prepare research protocols to enhance the UK’s preparedness for future pandemics and outbreaks of STIs and BBVs.
A critical aspect of the HPRU’s work will be to identify and address inequalities in the causes and outcomes of STIs and BBVs, as well as in the utilization of services and interventions.
This new HPRU represents a significant step forward in the fight against STIs and BBVs, ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of public health research and protection.
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