About us
BRISE’s mission is to deliver a world-class BBV and STI research program that provides evidence and strategic advice that focuses on the prevention and diagnosis of infections, and treatment and care of people living with infection.
BRISE was originally funded by NSW Health between 2014-2019 and additional funding has been approved until 2024. BRISE brings together leading experts in the field of BBV and STI from the UNSW faculties of Medicine and Arts, Design and Architecture.
BRISE supports the following BBV and STI related strategic goals of NSW Health:
- Work towards the virtual elimination of HIV transmission in NSW by 2020
- Reduce hepatitis infections in NSW
- Improve the health outcomes of people living with hepatitis in NSW
- Reduce the transmission of STIs
- Reduce morbidity associated with STIs
Strategic Directions
Building Research Capacity
Capacity building is integral to the work undertaken by BRISE, through leading roles in professional societies, mentoring and training of staff, and participating in professional development activities.
To continue to appropriately address the capacity building needs of policy makers and practitioners working in the field of BBV and STI, BRISE will develop a Workforce Development Plan.
The Workforce Development Plan will detail the annual professional development program that will be delivered and support other key components of research capacity building that include:
- Reporting on monitoring and evaluation projects
- Collaborating on relevant funding schemes with key stakeholders.
Maximising Use of Research
The improvement of health outcomes and reduction of health inequities in BBV and STI populations requires surveillance, research and evaluation of the highest standards of scholarship that is directly relevant to policy and practice.
BRISE will implement a number of strategies to successfully maximise the use of BBV and STI research, including the central involvement of stakeholder groups representing marginalised communities. Strategies that will be implemented include:
- Establishing expert advisory committees to guide and oversee research projects
- Disseminating annual research updates to NSW Health and key stakeholders
- Producing and disseminating reports and summaries of significant research and evaluation projects
- Delivering evidence synthesis reports that compile published and unpublished data
- Publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals
- Providing expert advice on BBV and STI related issues provided to NSW Health
- Delivering presentations and briefings at relevant policy forums and meetings
- Convening an annual BBV and STI research forum to discuss findings and new evidence
- Participating in relevant NSW Health and sector advisory groups and committees
Facilitating Research
BBV and STI programs of surveillance, research and evaluation that are relevant, productive, influential and sustainable are a necessary response to the evolving and expanding suite of strategies that support health policy.
BRISE will develop a comprehensive and integrated research program that addresses issues regarding prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care of affected communities with BBV and STI. The Research Plan that underpins the program will be developed in close collaboration with key stakeholder representatives from the BRISE Advisory Board and reviewed annually.
The research program will encompass:
- Monitoring frameworks developed for NSW Health BBV and STI related strategies, including collation of key indicators
- Significant evaluations relevant to NSW Health BBV and STI related strategies
- Applied research and quality improvement projects, developed and conducted in collaboration with local health districts and/or NGOs
- Primary and secondary BBV and STI research projects
- Provision of advice to NSW Health for research, monitoring and evaluation design
- Proposals for ongoing surveillance, research and evaluation to support the program
Communication and Marketing
A fourth strategic objective of BRISE is to communicate the purpose and role of the Research Program and effectively market its products and services to target audiences.
Our Partners
