The following page presents the Fast Track Cardiff and Vale’s affiliated research projects and evaluation of services in Wales. Each project shows its contribution towards the three areas of work as outlined in our FTC Research Strategy: Improving Data, Testing, and Stigma. Check the Reports and Publications page to read the outputs of the research projects.
Updated on 01 March 2022.
Development of an intervention to optimise use of PrEP for at-risk individuals living in Wales (DO-PrEP)
Description: This is a five-year post-doctoral research fellowship. The aim is to measure and understand PrEP taking behaviours across Wales and develop an intervention to optimise its use.
Project researcher: David Gillespie
Project supervisors / mentors: Kerry Hood, Fiona Wood, Dyfrig Hughes, Marijn de Bruin, Richard Ma, Zoe Couzens, Adam Jones
Organisations involved: Cardiff University, Bangor University, Radboud UMC, Imperial College London, Public Health Wales
Funder(s): Health and Care Research Wales
Read one of the published papers here.
Understanding the relationship between HIV PrEP, STIs, and AMR (UPrEP)
Description: This is a mixed-methods PhD studentship where the aim is to explore te relationship between PrEP use, STIs, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Project researcher: Adam Williams
Project supervisors / mentors: David Gillespie, Kerry Hood, Fiona Wood, Kathryn Hughes, Zoe Couzens
Organisations involved: Cardiff University, Public Health Wales
Funder(s): KESS2 East
A systematic review evaluating the effectiveness of HIV self-stigma interventions in high-income countries
Description: This is a BSc Medical Intercalated project aiming to estimate the effectiveness of HIV self-stigma interventions studied in randomised controlled trials across high-income countries.
Project researcher: Molly Timlin
Project supervisors / mentors: Kerry Hood, David Gillespie, Adam Williams, Darren Cousins
Organisations involved: Cardiff University, Cardiff and Vale UHB
HIV stigma among primary healthcare professionals in Cardiff – an explorative qualitative approach
Description: This is an MSc dissertation where the aim is to explore HIV stigma among healthcare professionals in Cardiff.
Project researcher: Nina Nedder
Project supervisors / mentors: Kerry Hood, Adam Williams
Organisations involved: University of Bath, Cardiff University
Context-specific factors that drive HIV transmission among men who have sex with men: Modelling the role of behavioural, social and legal factors
Description: This is a PhD studentship where the student will use epidemiological analysis and modelling to explore the role of context-specific factors (e.g. chemsex in UK, stigma and criminalisation in Africa) in elevating HIV transmission among MSM across contrasting global settings.
Project researcher:
Project supervisors / mentors: Jack Stone, Peter Vickerman, David Gillespie, Kerry Hood, Jane Nicholls
Organisations involved: University of Bristol, Cardiff University, Cardiff and Vale UHB
Funder: GW4 PhD studentship
Scoping the feasibility of developing and evaluating a peer-support service for people living with HIV in Wales using a rapid qualitative inquiry approach
Chief Investigator: Sue Channon (project lead)
Project researchers: Adam Williams, David Gillespie
Description: The study aims are to identify ways in which a Wales-based peer support service for people living with HIV could work, describe potential approaches for how a service could deliver peer support in a sustainable way, and the acceptability of a service to people living with HIV. Funder: Public Health Wales
Self-testing pilot in GP cluster in Cardiff: service evaluation
Description: This pilot will explore the impact of HIV testing in primary care practices, in collaboration with Cardiff City & South GP cluster.
Project supervisors / mentors: Darren Cousins, Lisa Power
Organisations involved: SW Cluster, Llamau Oasis
Frisky Wales postal testing: evaluating clinical pathways
Description: This SSC will evaluate the follow-up of test results and patients accessing the Frisky Wales postal testing service who are local to Cardiff & Vale sexual health service.ertation where the aim is to explore HIV stigma among healthcare professionals in Cardiff.
Project researcher: Mia Pham
Project supervisors / mentors: Jane Nicholls, Adam Williams
Organisations involved: Cardiff and Vale UHB, Cardiff University
A systematic review and narrative synthesis of the research evidence-base for peer-support services which aim to improve health and wellbeing outcomes
Description: This MSc dissertation will systematically review published literature and liaise with HIV/sexual health organisations to characterise existing interventions in the UK which aim to reduce HIV self-stigma.
Project researcher: Carlos Alvarado
Project supervisors / mentors: David Gillespie, Jane Nicholls
Organisations involved: Cardiff University
Initial evaluation of Frisky Wales postal testing (completed)
Description: This was an initial evaluation of the Frisky Wales postal testing service commissioned by Public Health Wales.
Project researcher: Adam Williams
Project supervisors / mentors: Zoe Couzens, Jane Nicholls, Jamie White, Honor Young, Kerry Hood, David Gillespie
Organisations involved: Public Health Wales, Cardiff and Value UHB, Cardiff University
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