• Nov. 2008 - Apr. 2013 - PhD in Social Epidemiology and Public Health, Institute for Global Health, University College London (UCL), United Kingdom
• 2005 - 2006 - MSc Public Health Research, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• 2000 - 2001 - Human Rights and Advocacy, National Centre for Advocacy Studies, Pune, India
• 1996 - 1998 - Master of Arts in Political Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India.
• 1993 - 1996 - Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Fergusson College, Pune, India.

• Overseas Research Students Award and UCL Scholarship for PhD, 2008-2013.  
• International Society for STD Research Scholarship to present my PhD research findings on partner notification for STIs/HIV at the ISSTDR conference held in Quebec, Canada July 10-13, 2011.  
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Young Women Physicians and Scientist Award to present research findings on serological- and behavioural surveillance for HIV among men who have sex with men at the 13th International Society of Infectious Diseases held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2008.
• International Society for STD Research Scholarship to present research findings on HSKs for STIs/HIV at the ISSTDR conference held in Seattle, USA in July 2007.  
• British Chevening, Shell and University of Edinburgh Joint Scholarship for MSc in Public Health Research, University of Edinburgh, UK, Sep 2005-Aug 2006.  
• Open Merit Scholarship for Bachelors of Arts, Fergusson College, University of Pune, India, June 1993-May 1996.
• Open Merit Scholarship for Higher Secondary Education, Fergusson College, University of Pune, India, June 1991-May 1993. 

Mohammed H, Migchelsen S, Duffell S, Karina A, Ram T, Were J, Patel S, Moncrieff M, Hardie J, Shahmanesh M, Phillips D, Wayal S, Nardone A, Sullivan A, Estcourt C, Cassell J, Hughes G, Sinka K. Enhancing surveillance of sexually transmitted infections in England with gender identity and behavioural data: the GUMCAD STI Surveillance System. PLOS One, 2026; https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0341128 

Clare A, Mclaren M, Dalal N, Murray J, Wayal S, and Hollowell J. Adapting WHO’s Step-by-Step digital intervention for anxiety and depression for delivery via radio: development, piloting and mixed-methods evaluation of the Lumuno radio campaign in Zambia. Mental Health Science, 2025; 3:e70035. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhs2.70035 

Give C, Morris C, Murray J, José B, Machava R, Wayal S. Sociocultural understanding of Tuberculosis and implications for care-seeking among adults in the province of Zambezia, Mozambique: qualitative research. PLOS One, 2024;18,19(1):e0289928. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289928 

Wayal S, Murray J, Michel B, Kembou S. Short films influence caregiving behaviours in Côte d’Ivoire. Culturally relevant stories shared as videos on SD cards get fathers involved. Early Childhood Matters, 2022. https://earlychildhoodmatters.online/2022/short-films-influence-caregiving-behaviours-in-cote-divoire/ 

Wayal S, Estcourt C, Mercer C, Saunders J, Low N, et al. Optimising partner notification outcomes for bacterial sexually transmitted infections: a deliberative process and consensus, United Kingdom, 2019. Euro Surveillance, 2022;20; 27(3): 2001895. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.3.2001895

Curtis, T. J., Rodger, A. J., Burns, F., Nardone, A., Copas, A., Wayal, S. Patterns of sexualised recreational drug use and its association with risk behaviours and sexual health outcomes in men who have sex with men in London, UK: a comparison of cross-sectional studies conducted in 2013 and 2016. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2020; 96(3):197-203. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31744928/ 

Wayal S, Gerressu M, Weatherburn P, Gilbart V, Hughes G, & Mercer C. H. A qualitative study of attitudes towards, typologies, and drivers of concurrent partnerships among people of black Caribbean ethnicity in England and their implications for STI prevention. BMC Public Health, 2020; 20(1), 188. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32028917/ 

Wayal S, Reid D, Weatherburn P, Blomquist P, Fabiane S, Hughes G, Mercer C.H. Association between knowledge, risk behaviours, and testing for sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men: Findings from a large online survey in the United Kingdom. HIV Medicine, 2019; 20(8):523-533. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31124278/  

Wayal S, Reid D, Blomquist P. B., Weatherburn P., Mercer C. H. & 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 and Surveillance; 2018; 4(2): e52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29728348/ 

Wayal S, Aicken C. R. H., Griffiths C, Blomquist P. B., Hughes G. & Mercer C. H. Understanding the Burden of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections and Trichomonas Vaginalis among Black Caribbeans in the United Kingdom: Findings from a Systematic Review. PLOS One, 2018; 13(12): e0208315

Wayal S, Hughes G, Sonnenberg P, Mohammed H, Copas A. J., Gerressu M, Tanton C, Furegato M, and Mercer C. H. Ethnic Variations in Sexual Behaviours and Sexual Health Markers: Findings from the Third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3). Lancet Public Health, 2017; 2, E458-E472. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29057382/ 

Wayal S, Aghaizu A, Nardone A, Parsons V, Copas A, Mercey D, et al. Sexual behaviours, HIV testing, and the proportion of men at risk of transmitting and acquiring HIV in London, UK, 2000-13: a serial cross-sectional study. The Lancet HIV, 2016; 3(9):e431-e40. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352301816300376?via%3Dihub 

Wayal S, Llewellyn C, Smith H, Richardson D, and Fisher M. Self-sampling For Pharyngeal And Rectal Specimens For Sexually Transmitted Infections: Acceptability Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending The Genitourinary Medicine Clinic. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2009; 85: 60-64.

Bailey J, Mann S, Wayal S, Abraham C, Murray E. Digital media interventions for sexual health promotion-opportunities and challenges: a great way to reach people, particularly those at increased risk of sexual ill health. British Medical Journal, 2015; 350:h1099. https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1099.long 

Gafos M, Brodnicki E, Desai M, McCormack S, Nutland W, Wayal S, et al. Acceptability of an open-label wait-listed trial design: Experiences from the PROUD PrEP study. PLOS One. 2017;12(4):e0175596. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0175596  

Bailey, JV., Wayal, S., Aicken, C., et al. Interactive digital interventions for prevention of sexually transmitted HIV. AIDS, 2020, 4;35(4):643–653. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002780  

Aicken, C. R. H., Wayal, S., Blomquist, P. B., Fabiane, S. M., Gerressu, M., Hughes, G., & Mercer, C. H. Pathways to, and use of, sexual healthcare among Black Caribbean sexual health clinic attendees in England: evidence from cross-sectional bio-behavioural surveys. BMC Health Services Research, 2019; 19(1). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31533716/8) 

Aicken C, Wayal S, Blomquist P, Fabiane S, Hughes G, Mercer C.H. Ethnic variations in sexual mixing and in the numbers and types of partnerships reported by behaviourally heterosexual sexual health clinic attendees: do these explain differences in STI risk?: Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2019; 17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31422350/ 

Aicken C, Wayal S, Blomquist P, Fabiane S, Hughes G, Mercer C.H. Ethnic variations in sexual mixing and in the numbers and types of partnerships reported by behaviourally heterosexual sexual health clinic attendees: do these explain differences in STI risk?: Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2019; 17. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31422350/ 

Fisher M, Wayal S, Smith H, Llewellyn C, Alexander S, Ison C, et al. Home sampling for sexually transmitted infections and HIV in men who have sex with men: a prospective observational study. PLOS One, 2015; 10(4):e0120810. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0120810 

McDonnell J, Haddow L, Daskalopoulou M, Lampe F, Speakman A, Gilson R, Phillips A, Sherr L, Wayal S, Harrison J, Antinori A, Maruff P, Schembri A, Johnson M, Collins S, Rodger A; Cognitive Impairment in People with HIV in the European Region (CIPHER) Study Group.. Minimal cognitive impairment in UK HIV-positive men who have sex with men: effect of case definitions and comparison with the general population and HIV-negative men. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014, 1;67(2):120-7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4175121/ 

Wayal S, Cowan F, Warner P, Copas A, Mabey D, Shahmanesh M. Contraceptive practices, sexual and reproductive health needs of HIV-positive and negative female sex workers in Goa, India. Sexually Transmitted Infections; 2011, 87: 58-64.

Shahmanesh M, Wayal S, Cowan F, Mabey D, Copas A, Patel V. Suicidal Behavior Among Female Sex Workers in Goa, India: The Silent Epidemic. American Journal of Public Health, 2009; 99(7):1239–46.

Shahmanesh M, Wayal S, Copas A, Patel V, Mabey D, Cowan F. A study comparing sexually transmitted infections and HIV among ex-red-light district and non-red-light district sex workers after the demolition of Baina red-light district. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2009 1;52(2):253-7. doi:10.1097/QAI.0b013e3181ab6d75.

Shahmanesh M, Cowan F, Wayal S, Copas A, Patel V, Mabey D. Towards evidence based HIV prevention: The burden and determinants of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in a population based sample of female sex. Sexually Transmitted Infections; 2009; 85: 50-59.

Shahmanesh M, Wayal S. Targeting commercial sex-workers in Goa, India: time for a strategic rethink? The Lancet, 2004; 9;364(9442):1297–9.

Wayal S, Llewellyn C, Smith H, Fisher M. Home sampling kits for sexually transmitted infections: preferences and concerns of men who have sex with men. Cult Health Sex. 2011;13(3):343-53. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2010.535018.

Shahmanesh M, Wayal S, Andrews G, Copas A, Patel V, Mabey D, Cowan F. HIV prevention while the Bulldozers roll: A qualitative study exploring the effect of the demolition of Goa’s red-light area on HIV prevention amongst Sex Workers. Social Science and Medicine, 2009; 69: 604-612.

Public health benefits of partner notification in Europe. European Commission for Disease Control; June 2013. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/media/en/publications/Publications/Partner-notification-for-HIV-STI-June-2013.pdf 

Davar, B. and Wayal, S. Linkages between reproductive health and mental health: systematic review. MacArthur Foundation; August 2003.