Kate Cuschieri (PhD FRCPath)

Director, Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory (NHS) and Lead HPV Research Group (U of E)

  • NHS Lothian
  • Centre for Reproductive Health
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Street

Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4SA
Street

HPV Research Group, Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute of Regeneration and Repair

City
Edinburgh
Post code
EH16 4UU

Research summary

Human Papillomavirus infection, while normally transient can lead to the development of anogenital cancers cancers as well as cancers of the head and neck.  The focus of the HPV research group at the Centre for Reproductive Health is to support in the prevention and management of HPV associated disease. The HPV research group works in close partnership with the Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory in NHS Lothian 

Current research interests

Development and evaluation of biomarkers for the identification of clinically significant HPV infection Cervical cancer screening for hard to reach groups, including self sampling Implications of HPV infection in transgender individuals Implications of HPV vaccination on residual infection and associated disease management Assessment of circulating DNA for the improved management of HPV associated disease in high risk groups Evaluation and development of HPV assays diagnostics Biobanking to support HPV based research

Knowledge exchange

Kate is a founder member of the Scottish HPV Investigators Network, a multidisciplinary network of professionals and third sector individuals with an interest in HPV: SHINe | SHINe (ed.ac.uk)

Kate has recently been engaged  in outreach work with the BioQuarter Education and Community team, this has involved awareness raising around HPV vaccination in Castlebrae High School and the aspiration is to roll this work out to other schools.  Additionally she is on the local organising committee for the International Papillomavirus Society meeting which will be hosted in Edinburgh in November 2024;  an active legacy committee associated with the meeting has been set up to support knowledge exchange in the community, this will include working with further education colleges and the public.

Invited speaker

European Society for Clinical Virology 2024

European Organisation for Genital Infections and Neoplasia 2024

Organiser

British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology 2024

International Papillomavirus Society Meeting 2024

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