Peter Weatherburn

Director (Sigma Research); Associate Professor of Health Promotion (LSHTM)

Telephone: 020-7927 2797
Email: peter.weatherburn@lshtm.ac.uk

Peter Weatherburn has been the Director of Sigma Research since 1997, and has worked in sexual health research since 1988. As Director of Sigma Research he manages most of Sigma Research’s research and development programmes. He has developed and expanded the units research and development programme, and identified, specified and managed more than 80 new research and evaluation projects, with an income of almost £10,000,000. He has written more than 90 articles in peer reviewed journals, a book, and over 100 research reports, monographs and book chapters. He is an Associate Professor in Health Promotion at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, where he is the Stream Advisor for Health Promotion on the MSc in Public Health and Head of his departmental Sexual & Reproductive Health Research Group in the Faculty of Public Health & Policy. He is graduate member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Recent journal articles

Datta J, Reid D, Hughes G, Mercer CH, Wayal S, Weatherburn P. Awareness of and attitudes to sexually transmissible infections among gay men and other men who have sex with men in England: a qualitative study. Sexual Health, published online first 6 December 2018. (doi:10.1071/SH18025).
Gabriel MG, Dunn DT, Speakman A, McCabe L, Ward D, Witzel TC, Harbottle J, Collins S, Gafos M, Burns FM, Lampe FC, Weatherburn P, Phillips A, McCormack S, Rodger AJ. Protocol, rationale and design of SELPHI: a randomised controlled trial assessing whether offering free HIV self-testing kits via the internet increases the rate of HIV diagnosis. BMC Infectious Diseases, 2018; 18:531 (doi:10.1186/s12879-018-3433-x).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Bourne A, Reid D, Hickson F, Bonell C, Weatherburn P. Typology of drug use in United Kingdom men who have sex with men and associations with socio-sexual characteristics. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2018; 55:159–164 (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.01.007).
Wayal S, Reid D, Blomquist PB, Weatherburn P, Mercer CH, Hughes G. The acceptability and feasibility of implementing a bio-behavioral enhanced surveillance tool for sexually transmitted infections in England: mixed-methods study. JMIR Public Health Surveillance, 2018 May, 4;4(2):e52 (doi:10.2196/publichealth.9010).
Seguin M, Dodds C, Mugweni E, McDaid L, Flowers P, Wayal S, Zomer E, Weatherburn P, Fakoya I, Hartney T, McDonagh L, Hunter R, Young I, Khan S, Freemantle N, Chwaula J, Sachikonye M, Anderson J, Singh S, Nastouli E, Rait G, Burns F. Self-sampling kits to increase HIV testing among black Africans in the UK: the HAUS mixed-methods study. Health Technology Assessment, 2018 April; 22(22):1-158 (doi:10.3310/hta22220).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Bourne A, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P. Correlates and subgroups of injecting drug use in UK gay and bisexual men: Findings from the 2014 Gay Men’s Sex Survey. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 2018; 187:292-295 (doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.03.014).
Tran H, Ross MW, Diamond PM, Berg RC, Weatherburn P, Schmidt AJ. Structural validation and multiple group assessment of the short internalized homonegativity scale in homosexual and bisexual men in 38 European countries: results from the European MSM internet survey. Journal of Sex Research, 2018; 55(4-5):617-629 (doi:10.1080/00224499.2017.1380158).
Datta J, Reid D, Hughes G, Mercer CH, Wayal S, Weatherburn P. Places and people: the perceptions of men who have sex with men concerning STI testing - a qualitative study. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2018; 94:46–50 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2016-052983).
Pachankis JE, Hatzenbuehler ML, Berg RC, Fernández-Dávila P, Mirandola M; Marcus U, Weatherburn P, Schmidt AJ. Anti-LGBT and anti-immigrant structural stigma: an intersectional analysis of sexual minority men's HIV risk when migrating to or within Europe. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2017 Dec 1; 76(4):356-366 (doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000001519).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Bonell C (2017) Findings from within-subjects comparisons of drug use and sexual risk behaviour in men who have sex with men in England. International Journal of STDs & AIDS, 2017; 28(3):250-258 (doi:10.1177/0956462416642125).
MacGregor L, Martin NK, Mukandavire C, Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Hickman M & Vickerman P Behavioural, not biological, factors drive the HCV epidemic among HIV-positive MSM: HCV and HIV modelling analysis including HCV treatment-as-prevention impact. International Journal of Epidemiology, 2017; 46(5):1582–1592 (doi:10.1093/ije/dyx075).
Witzel TC, Weatherburn P, Rodger AJ, Bourne AH & Burns FM Risk, reassurance and routine: a qualitative study of narrative understandings of the potential for HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men in England. BMC Public Health, 2017; 17:491 (doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4370-0).
Hickson F, Melendez-Torres GJ, Reid D, Weatherburn P HIV, sexual risk and ethnicity among gay and bisexual men in England: survey evidence for persisting health inequalities. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2017 Nov; 93(7):508-513 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2016-052800).
Bourne A & Weatherburn P Substance use among men who have sex with men: patterns, motivations, impacts and intervention development need. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2017; 93(5):342-346 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2016-052674).
Weatherburn P, Hickson F, Reid D, Torres-Rueda S, Bourne A Motivations and values associated with combining sex and illicit drugs (‘chemsex’) among gay men in South London: findings from a qualitative study. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2017; 93:203-206 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2016-052695).
Witzel TC, Weatherburn P, Burns FM, Johnson C, Figueroa C, Rodger AJ Consolidating emerging evidence surrounding HIVST and HIVSS: a rapid systematic mapping protocol. Systematic Reviews, 2017; 6:72 (doi:10.1186/s13643-017-0452-4).
Bourne A, Davey C, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P Physical health inequalities among gay and bisexual men in England: a large community-based cross-sectional survey. Journal of Public Health, 2017; 39(2):290-296 (doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdw029).
Hickson F, Davey C, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Bourne A Mental health inequalities among gay and bisexual men in England, Scotland and Wales: a large community-based cross-sectional survey. Journal of Public Health, 2017; 39(2):266-273 (doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdw021).
Pachankis JE, Hatzenbuehler ML, Mirandola M, Weatherburn P, Berg RC, Marcus U, Schmidt AJ The geography of sexual orientation: structural stigma and sexual attraction, behavior, and identity among men who have sex with men across 38 European countries. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 2017; 46(5):1491–1502 (doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0819-y).
Ahmed A-K, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Hickson F, Torres-Rueda S, Steinberg P, Bourne A Social norms related to combining drugs and sex (“chemsex”) among gay men in South London. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2016; 38:29–35 (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.10.007).
Schmidt AJ, Bourne A, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Marcus U, Hickson F, & The EMIS Network Illicit drug use among gay and bisexual men in 44 cities: Findings from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS). International Journal of Drug Policy, 2016; 38:4-12 (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.09.007).
Witzel TC, Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Weatherburn P HIV testing history and preferences for future tests among gay men, bisexual men and other MSM in England: results from a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 2016; 6:e011372 (doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011372).
Witzel TC, Rodger AJ, Burns FM, Rhodes T, Weatherburn P HIV self-testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the UK: A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators, intervention preferences and perceived impacts. PLoS ONE, 2016; 11(9):e0162713 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162713).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Bonell C, Hickson F, Bourne A, Reid D, Weatherburn P Predictors of crystal methamphetamine use in a community-based sample of UK men who have sex with men. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2016; 36:43–46 (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.06.010).
Pool ERM, Dogar O, Lindsay RP, Weatherburn P, Siddiqi K Interventions for tobacco use cessation in people living with HIV and AIDS. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD011120. (doi:10.1002/14651858. CD011120.pub2).
Bourne A, Dodds C, Keogh P, Weatherburn P Non-condom related strategies to reduce the risk of HIV transmission: Perspectives and experiences of gay men with diagnosed HIV. Journal of Health Psychology, 2016; 21(11):2562-2571 (doi:10.1177/1359105315581066).
Prah P, Hickson F, Bonell C, McDaid LM, Johnson AM, Wayal S, Clifton S, Sonnenberg P, Nardone A, Erens B, Copas AJ, Riddell J, Weatherburn P, Mercer CH Men who have sex with men in Great Britain: comparing methods and estimates from probability and convenience sample surveys. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2016; 92:455-463 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052389).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Bonell C Nested event-level case-control study of drug use and sexual outcomes in multipartner encounters reported by MSM by men who have sex with men. AIDS and Behavior, 2016; 20(3):646-654 (doi:10.1007/s10461- 015-1127-6).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Bonell C An initial typology of contexts of dyadic sexual encounters between men and associations with sexual risk and pleasure: findings from an observational study. Sexual Health, 2016; 13(3):221-227 (doi:10.1071/SH15218).
Melendez-Torres GJ, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Bonell C Drug use moderates associations between location of sex and unprotected anal intercourse in men who have sex with men: nested cross-sectional study of dyadic encounters with new partners. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2016; 92:39-43 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2014-051954).
Keogh P, Weatherburn P, Reid D Learning from the experiences of people with HIV using general practitioner services in London: a qualitative study. Primary Health Care Research & Development, 2016 Jul; 17(4):351-60 (doi:10.1017/S1463423615000481).
Bourne A, Reid D, Hickson F, Torres-Rueda S, Weatherburn P Illicit drug use in sexual settings (‘chemsex’) and HIV/STI transmission risk behaviour among gay men in South London: findings from a qualitative study. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2015; 91(8):564-8 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2015-052052).
Bourne A, Reid D, Hickson F, Torres-Rueda S, Steinberg P, Weatherburn P “Chemsex” and harm reduction need among gay men in South London. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2015; 26(12):1171–1176 (doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.07.013).
Pachankis JE, Hatzenbuehler M, Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Berg RC, Marcus U, Schmidt AJ Hidden from health: structural stigma, sexual orientation concealment, and HIV across 38 countries in the European MSM Internet Survey. AIDS, 2015; 29(10):1239–1246 (doi:10.1097/QAD.0000000000000724).
Berg RC, Weatherburn P, Ross MW, Schmidt AJ The relationship of internalised homonegativity to sexual health and well-being among men who have sex with men in 38 European countries. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 2015; 19(3):285-302 (doi:10.1080/19359705.2015.1024375).
Marcus U, Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Furegato M, Breveglieri M, Berg R, Schmidt AJ and the EMIS network Antiretroviral therapy and reasons for not taking it among men having sex with men (MSM) - Results from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS). PLoS One. 2015 Mar 20;10(3):e0121047 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121047).
Colledge L, Hickson F, Reid D, Weatherburn P Poorer mental health in UK bisexual women than lesbians: evidence from the UK 2007 Stonewall Women’s Health Survey. Journal of Public Health, 2015; 37(3):427-37 (doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdu105).
Hickson F, Tomlin K, Hargreaves J, Bonell C, Reid D, Weatherburn P Internet-based cohort study of HIV testing over 1 year among men who have sex with men living in England and exposed to a social marketing intervention promoting testing. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2015; 91:24-30 (doi:10.1136/sextrans-2014-051598).
Berg RC, Schmidt AJ, Weatherburn P & the EMIS Network Transactional sex: Supply and demand among European men who have sex with men (MSM) in the context of local laws. International Journal of Sexual Health, 2015; 27(3):286-302 (doi:10.1080/19317611.2014.982263).

Recent research reports

Hickson F, Reid D, Hammond G, Weatherburn P (2016) State of play: findings from the England Gay Men's Sex Survey 2014. London, Sigma Research @ LSHTM, May 2016 (ISBN: 978-1-906673-24-6).
Bourne A, Reid D, Weatherburn P (2014) African Health & Sex Survey 2013-2014: headline findings. London, Sigma Research.
Bourne A, Reid D, Hickson F, Torres Rueda S, Weatherburn P (2014) The Chemsex study: drug use in sexual settings among gay and bisexual men in Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham. London, Sigma Research.

Recent talks and presentations

What role does HIV self-testing have for men who have sex with men in the UK? Testing needs, social norms and biological citizenship. 21^st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016), Durban, South Africa, July 18-22, 2016 (poster).
Values and preferences of HIV self-testing options in UK men who who have sex with (MSM): Barriers, facilitators and intervention preferences. 21^st International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2016), Durban, South Africa, July 18-22, 2016 (talk).
Are drug use and situational characteristics at last sex associated with sexual outcomes? HIV Prevention England Conference 2015, London, 19 February 2015.
Drug use in sexual settings among gay and bisexual men: findings from the South London Chemsex Study. HIV Prevention England Conference 2015, London, 19 February 2015.
HIV prevention objectives among MSM in England: Data from the Gay Men’s Sex Surveys 2010 and 2014. HIV Prevention England Conference 2015, London, 19 February 2015.
African Health & Sex Survey 2013-14: Headline findings. HIV Prevention England Conference 2015, London, 19 February 2015.
Harm reduction and HIV prevention need among gay men in London using (chemsex) drugs during sex. 20^th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25 2014 (poster).
A perfect storm? Modern technological & structural facilitators of drug use during sex among gay men. 20^th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25 2014 (poster).
Are interactions between substance use and place associated with sexual risk? 20^th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25 2014 (poster).
Event-level analysis of multi-partner sexual encounters: situational characteristics & sex outcomes. 20^th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25 2014 (poster).
Multi-encounter analysis of substance use; situational characteristics, and types of sexual outcomes. 20^th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne, Australia, July 20-25 2014 (poster).

ResearchGate Profile for Peter Weatherburn