Dr Rebecca F Baggaley

I am a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow in infectious disease epidemiology. My research involves investigating the effect of treatments for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and other interventions on HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. HSV-2 is a major cofactor for the acquisition and onward transmission of HIV. Results from randomised controlled trials of the impact of HSV-2 therapy on HSV-2 and HIV viral loads and HIV incidence are now becoming available. I am investigating the potential influence of choice of HSV-2 treatment (acyclovir versus valacyclovir) on study outcome, as well as designing mathematical models to determine the effect of HSV-2 treatment on HIV transmission in sub-Saharan Africa at the population level, to determine the public health benefit of HSV-2 control.

I am also investigating the transmission of HIV drug resistance in developing countries, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, as antiretroviral therapy coverage is scaled-up in these regions, and estimating HIV transmission probabilities for various modes of transmission.

My other areas of interest include maternal health and mental health. I have been looking at the long-term health and psychosocial consequences of obstetric complications in West Africa as well as exploring interventions to reduce maternal mortality in developing countries.