Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Research Program

Overview

The purpose of the grant is fund research activities that support the implementation of the five National Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Strategies 2018-2022 (the Strategies). Activities will continue to build the evidence base that informs development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of BBV and STI health policy and improved practices in Australia.   This grant opportunity allows funding for BBV and STI research to enable the research centres to retain experts in the sector and continue to guide Australia’s efforts to significantly reduce the transmission of BBV and STI, and improve rates of diagnosis and treatment via policy relevant research. The objectives of the grant are to:• provide information to improve the safety and quality of the Australian health care system to meet future health needs in relation to BBV and STI, and reduce the burden of BBV and STI on Australian communities and affected populations;• support the Commonwealth’s commitment to meeting the targets contained in each of the Strategies by; o reducing the rates of BBV and STI; o improving quality of life of people living with BBV; and o improving the clinical care and management of BBV and STI in primary care. The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are to: • increase the knowledge of BBV and STI in the Australian context and support Australia’s goal of reducing or virtually eliminating the transmission of, and morbidity and mortality caused by BBVs and STIs;• increased information to support the development of evidence-based preventive health policy and programs in relation to BBV and STI;• allow for the evaluation of existing initiatives; and• development of new initiatives for the detection, prevention, treatment and management of BBV and STI.