Our Profile

The Sexually Transmitted Infections Research Centre (STIRC) was established in 2000, when the Academic Unit of Sexual Health Medicine relocated from Sydney Hospital to Westmead Hospital. STIRC is a stand-alone teaching and research facility and is part of the Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR) at Westmead Hospital and also part of the Western Clinical School at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney.

STIRC has established a comprehensive, internationally renowned, postgraduate teaching and research program in HIV, STIs and Sexual Health. Our teaching courses are of interest to a wide range of doctors, other healthcare workers, laboratory scientists, policy makers, educators and public health practitioners.

We foster an active research environment targeting a number of important areas including epidemiology, diagnostics, treatment and prevention of STIs; HPV and anogenital cancers; STI and HIV interactions, novel diagnostic technologies and health service delivery issues.

Unique in its collaborative model of teaching, the development and fostering of national and international networks, clinical care, research, policy development and advocacy, STIRC promotes synergy of effort and sharing of ideas aimed at reducing the global burden of STI/HIV, enhancing professional competence of health care workers and providing optimal care for patients with STIs and HIV.