About us
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Sexual Health brings together global expertise in epidemiology, health economics, mathematical modelling and digital health to support the World Health Organization’s response to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Based at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University, the Centre works closely with WHO, national programmes and community partners to generate high-quality evidence, develop practical decision-support tools, and support countries to translate guidance into effective, equitable action — particularly for key populations and priority settings.
Centre activities
What we do
Integrated HIV & STI Services
We support countries to integrate STI testing and treatment into HIV and PrEP services in ways that are effective, cost-effective and responsive to local epidemics. Our work focuses on key populations, including gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW), who experience a high burden of HIV and STIs.
Through modelling, economic evaluation and co-designed tools, we help programmes determine optimal testing strategies and investment priorities that maximise health impact.
Evidence for WHO Guidelines
The Centre conducts rigorous systematic reviews and meta-analyses to support WHO normative guidance across HIV, syphilis and other STIs. Our work synthesises global evidence on testing strategies, disease burden, diagnostics and service delivery to inform guideline development and policy recommendations.
We work closely with WHO technical units to ensure outputs are timely, policy-relevant and methodologically robust.
Modelling, Economics & Decision Tools
We develop dynamic transmission models, decision-analytic models and cost-effectiveness analyses to inform HIV and STI policy and programme design.
Our tools translate complex epidemiological and economic data into user-friendly outputs that support national programmes, donors and service providers to make transparent, evidence-informed decisions.
Digital & AI-Enabled Sexual Health
Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming sexual health. The Centre evaluates AI-enabled risk assessment tools, diagnostic algorithms and image-recognition technologies for STI care, with a focus on safety, effectiveness, equity and real-world applicability.
We also synthesise evidence on best practices and guiding principles for digital sexual health to inform WHO recommendations and future policy development.
Country Implementation & Capacity Building
Beyond evidence generation, we support countries to implement WHO guidance through tailored technical assistance, training and ongoing support.
This includes online workshops, one-on-one country consultations and support to adapt tools to local epidemiology, health systems and data availability.
Tools & Outputs
Our work produces a range of practical, policy-relevant outputs, including:
- Decision-support and economic models
- User-friendly tools and interfaces for programmes
- WHO technical reports and evidence briefs
- Peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals
Where possible, tools are designed for open or adaptable use to maximise global impact.
Impact & Global Reach
The Centre’s work has informed WHO guidance and supported decision-making across diverse health systems and epidemic contexts. Through modelling, evidence synthesis and country support, we help ensure limited resources are directed where they can achieve the greatest health benefit.
Our work spans multiple regions, including Asia-Pacific, Latin America and high-income settings, with a strong focus on equity and key populations.
Partnerships & Collaboration
We work in close partnership with:
- The World Health Organization
- National HIV and STI programmes
- Academic and technical partners
- Community-led and key population services
Collaboration is central to our approach, ensuring that evidence is grounded in real-world needs and translated into action.
People & Leadership
The Centre is led by Professor Jason Ong, and a multidisciplinary team with expertise in sexual health, epidemiology, health economics, mathematical modelling, digital health and implementation science. Our work is supported by strong institutional partnerships with the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Monash University.
Contact & Collaboration
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with WHO technical units, national programmes, researchers and partners working to strengthen HIV and STI responses globally.
For enquiries about collaboration, tools or technical support, please contact us.