This research explores how to improve STI testing uptake within African and Caribbean communities in the UK. Using evidence reviews, interviews, and co-production workshops guided by the ACE framework, the project develops community-informed sexual health interventions designed to increase trust, accessibility, and acceptance of STI testing while reducing stigma and health inequalities.

This research reconstructs viral transmission trees using genomic sequencing data to study how human behavior shapes infectious disease outbreaks. Analyzing COVID-19 transmission in Iceland revealed differences in infectiousness across quarantined and demographic groups, informing vaccine distribution strategies that improved population-level protection and influenced national public health policy.

This research examined how COVID-19 viral loads change over time across saliva, throat, and nasal samples. The study found that different sample types detect infection at different stages, demonstrating that testing method matters. These findings could improve diagnostic strategies for COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and future emerging respiratory viruses.

This research investigates whether thallium exposure from 9/11 dust contributes to long-term memory loss in first responders. By linking biological samples with decades of cognitive data, findings suggest higher exposure increases risk of early Alzheimer’s indicators. The study emphasizes early detection and prevention for those exposed to environmental toxins.

This research quantifies years of life lost due to preventable injuries such as road traffic accidents, falls, and drowning. By identifying injuries with the greatest impact on premature mortality, it aims to guide public health policies toward targeted prevention strategies that save lives.

This research develops a risk-based model to prioritize gallbladder surgery for women with gallstones in high-risk regions. Using ultrasound and clinical data from Chilean women, the model predicts gallbladder cancer risk, enabling life-saving triage, earlier intervention for high-risk patients, and avoidance of unnecessary surgery.

This research uses linked provincial health data to measure the population burden of coeliac disease in Alberta. By identifying diagnosis rates, care gaps, and early-life risk factors, the work informs healthcare planning and policy. The findings highlight rising diagnoses in children and the long-term personal and economic impact of a lifelong, diet-based condition.

As urban living increases, access to green and blue spaces may play a crucial role in pregnancy health. This longitudinal PhD research uses anonymised health records to examine how nearby nature affects maternal mental health and birth outcomes, with evidence suggesting reduced pregnancy complications and important implications for urban planning and public health policy.