Ford Hickson

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Telephone: 020-7927 2791

Dr. Ford Hickson is a senior researcher with Sigma Research and a lecturer at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. After working at Terrence Higgins Trust and Frontliners in the late 1980s, Ford joined Sigma Research in 1990 and has spent the last twenty years researching and describing patterns of sex between men, particularly with reference to HIV transmission. For the past ten years he has led the design of the National Gay Men's Sex Survey. In 1998 he led the development of the national HIV prevention strategy for gay and bisexual men (Making it Count) with CHAPS Partners, subsequently adopted by the Department of Health. He received his doctorate, Authority, HIV and sex between men, in 2008. Ford is also co-author of 18 articles in peer reviewed journals, a book, and numerous monographs and book chapters. He has sat on several HIV and MSM related committees, most recently the Department of Health's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Group (Equality and Human Rights sub-group) and the Office for National Statistics' Sexual Identity Project Expert Research Group.

Recent journal articles

Bonell C, Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Reid D (2010) Methamphetamine use among gay men across the UK. International Journal of Drug Policy, 21(3): 244-246.
Hickson F, Bonell C, Weatherburn P, Reid D (2010) Illicit drug use among men who have sex with men in England and Wales. Addiction Research & Theory, 18(1): 14-22.
Cameron S, Collins A, Hickson F (2009) Metal signals and labour market disadvantage: empirical evidence on visible body piercings and gay men in the UK.Equal Opportunities International, 28(8): 646-659.
Cameron S, Collins A, Drinkwater S, Hickson F, Reid D, Roberts J, Stephens M, Weatherburn p (2009) Surveys and data sources on gay men’s lifestyles and socio-sexual behavior: some key concerns and issues. Sexuality & Culture, 13(3):135–151.
Bailey AC, Roberts J, Weatherburn P, Hickson F, Reid DS, Fisher M, Dean G (2009) Community HIV testing for Men who have Sex with Men (MSM): results of a pilot project and comparison of service users with those testing in Genitourinary Medicine (GUM). Sexually Transmitted Infections, 85: 145-147.
Macdonald N, Elam G, Hickson F, Imrie J, McGarrigle CA, Kenton K, Baster K, Ward H, Gilbart VL, Power RM & Evans BG (2008) Factors associated with HIV seroconversion in gay men at the start of the 21st century. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 84(1): 8-13.
Bonell C, Weatherburn P, Rhodes T, Hickson F, Keogh P, Elford J (2008) Addressing gay men’s use of methamphetamine and other substances. Addiction Research & Theory, 16(5): 417-420.
Dodds C, Hammond G, Weatherburn P, Hickson F, Keogh P, Reid D, Henderson L, Jessup K (2008) Homosexually active men’s views on criminal prosecutions for HIV transmission are related to HIV prevention need. AIDS Care, 20(5): 509 - 514.
Elam G, Macdonald N, Hickson F, Imrie J, Power R, McGarrigle C, Fenton K, Gilbart V, Ward H, Evans B (2008) Risky sexual behaviour in context: qualitative results from an investigation into risk factors for seroconversion among gay men who test for HIV. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 84(6): 473-477.

Recent research reports

Hickson F, Bourne A, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Jessup K, Hammond G (2010) Tactical dangers: findings from the United Kingdom Gay Men’s Sex Survey 2008. London, Sigma Research.
Hickson F, Owuor J, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Hammond G, Jessup K (2009) Bass Line 2008-09: assessing the sexual HIV prevention needs of African people in England. London, Sigma Research.
Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Jessup K, Hammond G (2009) Testing targets: findings from the United Kingdom Gay Men’s Sex Survey 2007. London, Sigma Research.
Dodds C, Hickson F, Weatherburn P, Reid D, Hammond G, Jessup K, Adegbite G (2008) Bass Line 2007: findings from a survey assessing HIV prevention need among African people in England. London, Sigma Research.

Recent talks and presentations

What’s the point of HIV prevention? British Psychological Society, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of HIV & Sexual Health Conference: Sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll: how far from the tombstone have we come? London, 24^th September 2010.
What’s the point of HIV prevention? UK meeting of the International Society for Critical Health Psychology, Open University, Milton Keynes, 15^th September 2010.
A framework for planning and implementing HIV prevention interventions for African people in England. XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 22^nd July 2010 (Poster).
Harmonizing surveillance and prevention research: The European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS). XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 22^nd July 2010 (Poster).
Trends in lifetime HIV testing among gay men and other MSM in England and Wales: 1997-2008. XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, 21^st July 2010 (Poster and talk).
Be part of something huge! European Man-for-Man Internet Sex Survey (EMIS). Be Heard, Global Forum on MSM & HIV, Pre Conference Vienna, 17^th July 2010.
Working towards the best sex with the least harm: recent developments in HIV prevention in England. Seminar at National Centre in HIV Social Research (NCHSR), Sydney, Australia, 27^th May 2010.
What’s the point of HIV prevention? Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) HIV Educators Conference (plenary speech), Sydney, Australia, 25^th May 2010.
Working towards the best sex with the least harm: recent developments in HIV prevention in England. Seminar at The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS), Melbourne, Australia, May 19^th 2010.
Positive prevention for all (plenary). Still Living With HIV: Building Together for Tomorrow, Manchester, 20^th April 2010.
What is Making it Count Four? (workshop). 13^th annual CHAPS Conference (C13), Sheffield, 2^nd - 3^rd March 2010.
Bass Line seminars. NAHIP research & development seminars, London 23^rd February and Manchester 25^th February 2010.