HPRU3 + 5: Introducing our new PhD researchers

HPRU’s third phase focuses on reducing the transmission, under-diagnosis, and effects of STIs and blood-borne viruses. This spring, we welcomed five PhD students from excitingly diverse backgrounds, with broad skillsets. These new PhD researchers respective research projects will contribute towards our aims of understanding the barriers and facilitators to preventive interventions such as PrEP and vaccines; developing novel strategies to diagnose, manage, and prevent infections; and delivering equitable, maximally effective services. There’s a strong thread of co-creation running through many of their PhD research questions: the people impacted are the people involved, from day one. Read on to learn more about each HPRU3 PhD student and their work.

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Jodie Crossman she/her

Background: I worked as a sexual health specialist nurse for 20 years, developing an interest in research after seeing how it impacted HIV care, prognosis and prevention. I completed a masters in health research in 2024, and following this was successful in obtaining an NIHR doctoral fellowship, studying at UCL's Institute for Global Health. I am the current nurse representative to the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV, a member of the BASHH Blood-borne viruses specialist interest group and am on the editorial board for the International Journal of STD and AIDS.

Project: My PhD is using mixed methods to explore the barriers and enablers of access to sexually transmitted infection prevention for heterosexual men who have sex with men living in coastal communities.

Alix Fox she/her

Background: Originally from Oop North in Macclesfield, I’ve spent the last 20+ years in London working as a journalist, broadcaster and screenwriter, specialising in sexual wellbeing and culture. I’ve produced articles and fronted podcasts, TV shows and live events for The Guardian, BBC Radio 1, Audible, Channel 4, Grazia, Stylist, and more, and was a script consultant for Netflix series Sex Education. Behind the scenes, I’ve done consulting work for sexual health brands including Durex, Tenga, Pfizer and Womanizer, and am proud to collaborate with charities and activist groups such as ACT UP, The Eve Appeal and Positive East. Off duty, I enjoy cryptic crosswords, escape rooms, thrift shopping, live comedy and late-night cake baking. Ask me about: my short-lived career as a circus performer; underwater bondage; my ‘podchildren’; and how to get great press for your sexual health research project.

Project: ⁠My research focuses on co-creating innovative digital resources - including a chatbot - to help the public make informed, safer choices about medication to prevent and manage HIV. I work closely with the Drug Interactions Group at the University of Liverpool.

Anisa Hasan-Granier she/her

Background: Prior to starting my PhD, I worked at a policy consultancy conducting evaluations and impact assessments of global health interventions in the areas of sexual health, communicable disease control and health systems strengthening. As part of this role, I evaluated the introduction of near-patient diagnostics and self-testing for COVID-19 and HIV into health systems in Africa, Asia and Latin America. I have a strong interest in understanding how POC technologies can be integrated into health systems to improve access, equity and sexual health outcomes. My academic background is in public health, and I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Societies from the University of Pennsylvania followed by my Master’s Degree in Public Health from LSHTM.

Project: My PhD project aims to contribute to the evidence base on how near-patient syphilis diagnostics can be integrated into the health system in England to optimise testing, minimise missed opportunities, and ensure equity.

Lucas Mannion he/him

Background: I graduated from the University of Nottingham with an MSci in Psychology in 2024, with my Masters dissertation focusing on sexual risk-taking and substance use in transmasculine people who have sex with men. Since graduating I have worked as a support worker for homeless people, and as a research assistant on a project investigating experiences with medication, mobility impairments, and poor mental health in people with multiple long-term health conditions. In my spare time I play in a queer band, play rugby, and make art. I especially enjoy drawing cartoons and comics!  

Project: My PhD is focused on engaging with people at high risk of sexually transmitted infections in public sex environments (PSEs) in rural and coastal parts of the UK. I am supported by researchers from the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH).  

Siobhán Allison she/her

Background: I have over a decade of experience working in HIV care and research, including as an HIV nurse in the UK and Zambia where I supported people living with HIV across a range of clinical and community settings. I later completed an MSc in Public Health at LSHTM and joined the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit at the University of Bristol, where I contributed to research evaluating the opt-out blood-borne virus testing and implementation in emergency departments.

This combination of clinical and research experience has shaped my interest in engagement in care, health inequalities, stigma, and the evaluation of public health interventions.

Project: My PhD project aims to understand the frequency and outcomes of engagement and re-engagement in care for people living with HIV.

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We look forward to to hearing developments and results from these projects over the coming years. If you're interested in learning more about all of our HPRU projects, head to our research page for more information. Or if you would like to learn more about the broader HPRU team or get in contact, have a look at our team pages. To keep up to date with the unit, the link to subscribe to our newsletter is here.

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The PhD portraits on this page were drawn by Lucas Mannion