Dr Catherine Dodds is a Senior Lecturer in Public Policy in Bristol's School for Policy Studies and is currently Director of Undergraduate Studies. She has extensive qualitative research and policy analysis experience related to HIV, sexual and reproductive health inequalities. She is a founding member of the Bristol HIV Fast Track Cities Steering Group (a collaboration between the Council, clinicians, third sector and academics focussed on eliminating HIV transmission and tackling stigma). Catherine has led on the collaborative development of key HIV policy and planning frameworks and a national HIV prevention needs assessment among people of African ancestry living in England. Catherine is recognised internationally for her research and policy experience relating to criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission, and she continues to be deeply committed to her work as an advocate and infleuncer among those who deliver services and devise HIV policy in the UK and elsewhere. She is critical of the impact that the biomedicalisation of HIV has had on policy development and lived experience of HIV - particularly for marginalised groups such as gay and bisexual men and trans people; migrants; people of African and Caribbean heritage; people who inject drugs and sex workers. She has recently documented the ways in which clinical trial epistemologies have translated into PrEP policy making and roll-out in England that has marginalised and excluded some parts of the population at high risk of HIV exposure. 

Catherine's ongoing commitment as a researcher/activist who is primarily focussed on co-produced research with immediate relevance for community members and policy makers was forged during her many years working with Sigma Research - a mixed methods social research group founded on participatory community based principles.