VicHealth researcher: Margaret Hellard
“What behaviours place people at risk of infection? How can we reduce that risk among particular population groups?”
Dr Margaret Hellard’s research focuses on populations at risk of HCV, HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Based at the Burnet Institute she is a recipient of an NHMRC Career Development Award and a VicHealth Senior Supplementary Research Fellowship.
Research topic: Using innovative epidemiological methods to understand and reduce the transmission of blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections in marginalised people
Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are serious health concerns in Australia and worldwide. Over the last five years most of these infections have increased substantially in Victoria and they can have serious long-term health complications.
Margaret’s research focuses on populations at particular risk from these infections such as injecting drug users; individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse communities; young people and men who have sex with men. Margaret and her research team use innovative study designs and methods to reach and follow these “at risk” groups in an attempt to better understand the behaviours placing people at risk of these infections and to identify ways to reduce their risk.
Margaret is the Director of the Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne. She also works as an infectious disease physician at the Alfred and Royal Melbourne Hospitals, with a particular focus on patients with blood borne virus infections.
The high levels of HIV, hepatitis C and sexually transmitted infections in our community demand vigilance and a focused research response. The research undertaken as part of Margaret’s VicHealth Fellowship will assist in the development of focused and appropriate public health strategies to reduce the impact of HIV, HCV and Chlamydia, provide vital information about the early treatment of HCV infection; and provide vital information in the development of HCV vaccines.
The independence of a VicHealth fellowship enables Margaret to undertake research that will improve the health of vulnerable and marginalised Victorians.