Who we are
Professor Sharon Hutchinson
Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health
Consultant Scientist at Public Health Scotland
Sharon Hutchinson is a Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at Glasgow Caledonian University and Consultant Scientist at Public Health Scotland. She is Co-Chair of the National Monitoring, Assurance and Research Group for Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses in Scotland, and co-author on proposals for Hepatitis C Elimination and Ending HIV Transmission in Scotland by 2030.
“Scotland is well placed to eliminate HIV transmission and hepatitis C as a major public health concern. Through early adoption of key public health measures, Scotland is one of few countries to have achieved major progress already with demonstrable population-level impact on HIV transmission and hepatitis C infection and disease.
“Enhanced public health surveillance will be central to direct efforts going forward. And there remain unanswered questions – regarding how to reach people who remain unaware of their infection and how to reduce inequities in access to prevention and treatment services – which rigorous research needs to address.
“Now, more than ever, we need to work effectively across key organisations and sectors in order to achieve our bold ambitions. Our team at GCU is incredibly proud to be part of national efforts to end HIV transmission and the impact of hepatitis C at such a key point in Scotland’s journey. I am confident that we can achieve these ambitious goals through collaborative working with Public Health Scotland, NHS boards, patient and community organisations, and Scottish Government.”
Professor Claudia Estcourt
Professor of Sexual Health and HIV; SHBBV Research Group Lead
Claudia Estcourt is a Professor of Sexual Health and HIV at Glasgow Caledonian University and a consultant physician. Her research addresses: 1) HIV PrEP public health programmes, service development, evaluation and monitoring; 2) Self-managed, digital healthcare; 3) Interventions to prevent STI and HIV transmission.
She is lead of Monitoring and Evaluation for Scotland’s National HIV PrEP programme, co-author Ending HIV Transmission in Scotland by 2030, is a co-author on the BHIVA BASHH National PrEP Guidelines (2022), and was Chair of England’s PrEP Impact trial. She and Prof Hutchinson’s team won the 2021 Emerald Publishing International Real Impact Award – Mobilising Research into Action category – and received a Minister for Public Health commendation for blood borne virus research impact on the health of Scotland.
"Beyond BBV aims to produce world-leading research, readily translated into national policy and public health action to deliver population-level sustained health improvement.
“This focused and ambitious national approach, built on strong policy, academic, public health, clinical and NGO partnership working, could form a blueprint for other health conditions and nations. In the meantime, for people at risk of BBV-associated poor health, we need to ensure we don’t give up.
“This fantastic 10-year commitment from GCU highlights the University’s standing as a world leader in HIV and hepatitis C elimination research, our award-winning collaborative working, our mission for the Common Good and commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals."
Professor Alison Rodger
Professor of Infectious Diseases and HIV, University College London and Honorary Consultant, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Co-Chair of BHIVA/BASHH PrE
Learn moreScotland’s HIV transmission elimination proposal to end HIV transmission by 2030
The launch of the Beyond BBV research programme coincides with the unveiling by the Scottish Government of Scotland’s HIV transmission elimination proposal to end HIV transmission by 2030.
Professors Claudia Estcourt and Sharon Hutchinson will be driving the research programme in partnership with GCU Honorary Professors Rak Nandwani, a Non-Executive Director of Public Health Scotland, and Nicola Steedman, the Scottish Government’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and Professor Alison Rodger.
The proposal to end HIV transmission in Scotland was written by GCU Professors Nandwani (as lead/chair), Estcourt, Hutchinson and Steedman, with other experts from the third sector, NHS and the Scottish Government. The expert group is known as the HIV Transmission Elimination Oversight Group (HiTEOG).