Dear STIRF
Dear STIRF
We invite researchers in various fields related to sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to apply for funds to undertake:
Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Foundation (STIRF) was set up to pump prime research projects relating to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and health care delivery of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the
East Midlands – East Midlands Deanery
North east and north Cumbria – HEE North East
North west – North West Postgraduate Medicine and Dentistry
West Midlands – West Midlands Deanery
Yorkshire and Humber – Yorkshire and Humber Deanery
The primary aim is to provide initial funding to allow promising projects from researchers early in their career to obtain preliminary results as a prelude to acquire further funds from larger funding bodies.
We invite applications from researchers in the above regions on projects or part funding of PhD Studentships relating to sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. All projects will be initially screened by the Scientific Committee of STIRF and those considered suitable will be sent for peer review by experts in the field.
The following fields of research will be considered in relation to sexual health, STIs and HIV:
STIRF is also interested in commissioning work based on specific priority topics for research. Applicants should supply a brief (no more than one A4 size) preliminary application, outlining the following:
A more detailed application will be requested if appropriate following review of the preliminary application.
Applications for research grants should not exceed £60,000 in the first year. Depending on satisfactory reports a further £30,000 may be available for the second year. Joint funding with other grant giving bodies will be considered. Applications for part funding of PhD Studentship should not exceed a maximum of £70,000 over 3-4 years
For further information and guidance on how to apply for a research grant visit:
https://stirf.org/application-for-research-funds-from-stirf/
And for details of how to apply for part funding of a PhD Studentship visit:
https://stirf.org/research/applications-for-part-funding-of-phd-in-sexual-health-and-related-topics/
Deadline for applications (both for research projects and PhD Studentship) for 2025 is April 30, 2025
We invite researchers in various fields related to sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to apply for funds to undertake:
Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Foundation (STIRF) was set up to pump prime research projects relating to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and health care delivery of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the West Midlands, Trent, Yorkshire, Northern and North West regions.
The primary aim is to provide initial funding to allow promising projects from researchers early in their career to obtain preliminary results as a prelude to acquire further funds from larger funding bodies.
We invite applications from researchers in the above regions on projects or part funding of PhD Studentships relating to sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. All projects will be initially screened by the Scientific Committee of STIRF and those considered suitable will be sent for peer review by experts in the field.
The following fields of research will be considered in relation to sexual health, STIs and HIV:
Applications for research grants should not exceed £60,000 in the first year. Depending on satisfactory reports a further £30,000 may be available for the second year. Joint funding with other grant giving bodies will be considered. Applications for part funding of PhD Studentship should not exceed a maximum of £70,000 over 3-4 years
For further information and guidance on how to apply for a research grant visit:
https://stirf.org/application-for-research-funds-from-stirf/
And for details of how to apply for part funding of a PhD Studentship visit:
https://stirf.org/research/applications-for-part-funding-of-phd-in-sexual-health-and-related-topics/
Deadline for applications (both for research projects and PhD Studentship) for 2022/3 is December 31, 2022
A recent article in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections has looked at changes in behaviour in MSM in London during the Covid 19 pandemic. The study was web-based and only among HIV-negative MSM in a large urban setting.
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions have affected attendance to and delivery of UK sexual healthcare services.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey among HIV-negative MSM at high risk of HIV infection who attended a sexual health and HIV clinic in London in August 2020. They collected data on sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behaviour and related mental well-being experienced during lockdown.
Results: 814 MSM completed the questionnaire: 75% were PrEP users; three quarters reported they have been sexually active, about half had sex outside their household. The majority reported fewer partners than prior to lockdown. Interestingly 73% had discussed COVID-19 transmission risks with their sexual partners.
One out of five reported guilt for breaching COVID-19 restrictions and three out of four implemented one or more changes to their sexual behaviour. PrEP users reported higher partner number, engagement in ‘chemsex’ and use of sexual health services than non-PrEP users.
Conclusions: COVID-19 restrictions had a considerable impact on sexual behaviour and mental well-being in respondents. High rates of sexual activity and STI diagnoses were reported during lockdown. Changes to sexual health services provision for MSM must respond to high rates of psychological and STI-related morbidity and the challenges faced by this population in accessing services.
We invite researchers in various fields related to sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to apply for funds to undertake:
This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic we will only consider research applications or PhD Studentships that in some way address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on sexual health, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Foundation (STIRF) was set up to pump prime research projects relating to the epidemiology, pathophysiology, management, and health care delivery of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the West Midlands, Trent, Yorkshire, Northern and North West regions.
The primary aim is to provide initial funding to allow promising projects from researchers early in their career to obtain preliminary results as a prelude to acquire further funds from larger funding bodies.
We invite applications from researchers in the above regions on projects or part funding of PhD Studentships relating to the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. All projects will be initially screened by the Scientific Committee of STIRF and those considered suitable will be sent for peer review by experts in the field.
The following fields of research will be considered in relation to the impact of COVID-19 on sexual health, STIs and HIV
Applications for research grants should not exceed £50,000 in the first year. Depending on satisfactory reports a further £25,000 may be available for the second year. Joint funding with other grant giving bodies will be considered. Applications for part funding of PhD Studentship should not exceed a maximum of £60,000 over 3-4 years
For further information and guidance on how to apply for a research grant visit:
https://stirf.org/application-for-research-funds-from-stirf/
And for details of how to apply for part funding of a PhD Studentship visit:
https://stirf.org/research/applications-for-part-funding-of-phd-in-sexual-health-and-related-topics/
Deadline for applications (both for research projects and PhD Studentship) has been extended to January 31, 2021
Visit STIRIG: if you are interested in current research going on in sexually transmitted infections.
STIRIG aim to:
See the January issue of their newsletter.
The publication of national treatment guidelines does not usually generate headlines in national newspapers. However, the recent release of draft management guidelines for Mycoplasma genitalium infection was accompanied by high profile media coverage suggesting that it is the next sexually transmitted “superbug.” So what are the facts behind these headlines, and how concerned should we be?
First isolated in 1981, M genitalium is the smallest known self replicating bacterium. Most infections are probably asymptomatic and have no adverse health outcomes. Nonetheless, evidence that M genitalium is associated with serious genitourinary and reproductive health morbidity is accumulating.
In men, there is an unequivocal association with non-gonococcal urethritis, and it is detected in up to 40% of men with persistent and recurrent urethritis. In women, a recent meta-analysis found significant associations with a range of clinical syndromes and adverse reproductive health outcomes, including cervicitis, postcoital bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, preterm birth, and spontaneous abortion, and a weak association with infertility.
The population prevalence of M genitalium infection ranged from 1.3% to 3.9% and was higher in countries with a low development index. In Britain, a probability sample survey estimated a prevalence of around 1.3% in the sexually active British population aged 16-44 years.4 In common with many other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), M genitalium infection rates can be considerably higher in men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people attending STI clinics.
The main concern is M genitalium’s increasing resistance to azithromycin and moxifloxacin, the recommended first and second line treatments in Europe, North America, and Australia, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. For example, single nucleotide polymorphisms in region V of the 23S rRNA gene, which confer macrolide resistance, were found in over 60% of M genitalium specimens from people attending STI clinics in Australia in 2015. Furthermore, selective pressure can lead to the emergence of macrolide resistance after exposure to suboptimal levels of drug.
Importantly, resistance markers are highly correlated with treatment failure, especially when the organism load is high.
Project title: Exploring perspectives on provision and accessibility of Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in North England and the West Midlands.
Principal Investigator Professor Marie Claire Van Hout
Team: Professor Vivian Hope; Mr Jim McVeigh: Mrs Jennifer Germain
Site: Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool
The United Kingdom (UK) has a concentrated HIV epidemic, with an estimated 101,200 people living with HIV in 2015. A decrease in diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM), the group most affected by HIV transmission, has recently been observed, and is probably due to increased frequency of testing (3 monthly) among those at greatest risk and rapid treatment for those testing positive.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an evidence based biomedical HIV prevention strategy which involves HIV negative individuals taking antiretroviral drugs to reduce probability of infection if exposed. The UK PROUD study found PrEP reduced HIV infection risk by 86% among MSM. PrEP is available on the NHS in Wales and Scotland. In October 2017, the IMPACT trial commenced in England, with PrEP being rolled out to 10,000 eligible people.
The project will explore and describe MSM and health professional perspectives on PrEP using qualitative interviews in three Northern cities (Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield) and one city in the West Midlands (Birmingham) where PrEP is available through the IMPACT trial. Interviews with a purposive sample of participants (8-12 MSM and 4-8 health professionals per city) will focus on: PrEP awareness and sources of information including eligibility, compliance, drug interaction and online sourcing; impact of PrEP on HIV testing patterns, hepatitis C, sexual risk and other sexually transmitted infections; and on issues related to accessing PrEP and optimal service provision
The project is timely given the current IMPACT trial in England, with results informing policy, practice and professional training.
The Sexually Transmitted Infection Research Foundation (STIRF) is a local charity which supports research relating to all aspects of sexual health including clinical practice, public health, microbiology, health economics and behavioural science.
STIRF wishes to fund a PhD Studentship up to a maximum of £60 000 over 3-4 years and is inviting applications with a closing date of July 31, 2018.
Applications would only be considered from universities in the following UK health regions:
West Midlands, Trent, Yorkshire, Northern and North West regions
For details of how to apply go to:
A commissioned article in Lancet Infectious Diseases on July 9, 2017 highlights some of the major issues and challenges facing us in the growing global epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Authors Prof Mabhus Unemo et al summarise the key issues as follows:
WHO estimated that nearly 1 million people become infected every day with any of four curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs): chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis. Despite their high global incidence, STIs remain a neglected area of research.
In this Commission, we have prioritised five areas that represent particular challenges in STI treatment and control.
Chlamydia remains the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in high-income countries despite widespread testing recommendations, sensitive and specific non-invasive testing techniques, and cheap effective therapy. We discuss the challenges for chlamydia control and evidence to support a shift from the current focus on infection-based screening to improved management of diagnosed cases and of chlamydial morbidity, such as pelvic inflammatory disease.
The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is globally recognised. We review current and potential future control and treatment strategies, with a focus on novel antimicrobials.
Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal disorder in women, but current treatments are associated with frequent recurrence. Recurrence after treatment might relate to evidence that suggests sexual transmission is integral to the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis, which has substantial implications for the development of effective management approaches.
STIs disproportionately affect low-income and middle-income countries. We review strategies for case management, focusing on point-of-care tests that hold considerable potential for improving STI control.
Lastly, STIs in men who have sex with men have increased since the late 1990s. We discuss the contribution of new biomedical HIV prevention strategies and risk compensation.
Overall, this Commission aims to enhance the understanding of some of the key challenges facing the field of STIs, and outlines new approaches to improve the clinical management of STIs and public health.
Read full article on Lancet Infectious Diseases