Engagement and re-engagement in care for those living with HIV

About the role

A 3-year full time PhD Studentship in public health funded by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections is available within the Institute for Global Health. The studentship will commence from 1^st February 2026 onwards, under the supervision of Professor Caroline Sabin.

Project title

Understanding the frequency and outcomes of engagement and re-engagement in care for people living with HIV

Background

About 100,000 people were living with HIV in the UK in 2023, with 85% receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and having undetectable levels of virus, ensuring good clinical outcomes and reducing onward transmission. People living with diagnosed HIV who do not attend HIV care at least once a year have poorer health outcomes including a higher risk of developing complications due to HIV infection and an increased risk of mortality. Ensuring people living with diagnosed HIV continue HIV care and treatment and maintain undetectable levels of circulating virus is the next challenge in realising the UNAIDS vision of getting to zero HIV transmissions by 2030.

Interventions to reduce the number of people not seen for care include: identifying people not seen for care; contacting people and re-engaging them; and addressing barriers to engagement (social determinants of health and stigma) to sustain engagement in care in the long term and support people living with HIV. Although there is some evidence about interventions to engage or re-engage people in HIV care when they have stopped attending their specialist HIV clinic, there is little information about the impact of these interventions on outcomes, the cost of disengagement in HIV care and the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. Understanding the financial aspects of engagement in care will help plan and commission interventions to ensure people engage and re-engage in care with the aim of achieving zero transmissions by 2030.

Objectives

1. To describe the outcomes of people not engaged in care and people re-engaged in care.
2. To review the costs to services of people not retained in care
3. To make estimates of the cost effectiveness of interventions to support engagement and/or re-engagement in care

Environment

The student will work in the Institute for Global Health, within the NIHR HPRU in Blood-Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections, a partnership between UCL and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) whose researchers conduct multi-disciplinary research on a range of STIs and blood-borne viruses with the aim of improving the health of the population and developing practical policy guidelines for those working in health protection and managing people living with these infections.

This Studentship presents a unique opportunity to conduct supervised research within the NIHR HPRU at UCL, to work in partnership with colleagues at UKHSA and at the University of Bristol, and to be a part of an exciting and thriving research community within the sexual health field.

About you

Applicants should have a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree and/or a Master’s degree (preferably with a merit or distinction) in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

UCL offers may be conditional, subject to meeting the Global Health MPhil/PhD entry requirements, including English Language Requirements, which must be met before an Unconditional offer can be made.

What we offer

This studentship provides a starting stipend of £22,780 per annum and covers the cost of tuition fees based on the UK (Home) rate (£6,215).

Funding is not provided for paid parental and sick leave. Unpaid interruptions can be requested and may be supported.

Only students eligible for UK/Home fees status, can apply.

EU nationals should see this Student fee status page for information about eligibility for Home fees. If you are unsure whether or not you meet the eligibility criteria for Home fee status we would advise you contact the UCL Graduate Admissions Office for advice. See also to the UKCISA website (England: HE fee status).

How to Apply

Enquiries regarding the post can be made to Professor Caroline Sabin (c.sabin@ucl.ac.uk).

To apply, please send a current CV including the contact details of two professional referees as well as a 1-sided A4 cover letter to Professor Caroline Sabin (c.sabin@ucl.ac.uk)

Closing deadline for applications: Friday 5th December 2025.

Interview date/s: week commencing 15th December 2025.

The successful applicant will then be required to apply to and register on the Global Health research degree to take up the studentship.

Anticipated start date: 1st February 2026 to be confirmed subject to successful graduate application following interview.

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