Alan Winston

Professor Alan Winston serves as Professor of Genito-Urinary Medicine within the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He concurrently holds a Consultant Physician position at St. Mary's Hospital, London, where he directs the HIV and GU clinical trials unit managing over 20 active studies. His clinical and academic work bridges patient care with cutting-edge research in HIV comorbidities.

Winston qualified from Glasgow University and completed specialized training in general medicine and HIV care across the UK and Australia. This foundation supports his current focus on non-infectious complications in the modern antiretroviral era, particularly neurological and mental health aspects.

His research prominently explores central nervous system complications in HIV, cognitive impairment mechanisms, and mental health disparities including depression and anxiety. He investigates multimorbidity patterns in aging HIV populations and develops person-centered approaches to reduce stigma. His work integrates clinical trials, cohort studies like POPPY, and mixed-methods research to address quality-of-life challenges beyond viral suppression.

Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals three dominant trends: (1) neurocognitive effects of specific antiretrovirals (dolutegravir, bictegravir), (2) psychosocial determinants of cognitive performance, and (3) systemic barriers in mental healthcare access for HIV patients. The POPPY cohort study serves as a critical data source across multiple publications examining aging, polypharmacy, and multimorbidity.

Winston leads the POPPY study tracking comorbidities in HIV-positive individuals over time and directs the St. Mary's clinical trials unit conducting therapeutic research. His team includes clinical project managers, trials coordinators, and research staff like PhD candidate Merle Henderson. While specific grants aren't detailed, his management of 20+ concurrent studies indicates substantial research funding from sources including European AIDS Clinical Society collaborations.

His laboratory and clinical operations are centered at the Winston Churchill Wing of St Mary's Campus, with affiliations to the Section of Virology and St Mary's Clinical Trials Centre. He contributes to European guideline development, notably statin use recommendations for cardiovascular prevention in HIV patients.