Sharon Hanley

Dr. Sharon Hanley is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Academic Primary Care at the University of Aberdeen's School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition. She is also a member of the Aberdeen Centre for Women’s Health Research. Her academic background includes a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology from Hokkaido University, Japan, and an MA (Hons) in Modern Languages from the University of St Andrews.

Her research focuses on cancer epidemiology, particularly cervical cancer prevention through HPV vaccination and screening. She is internationally recognized for her leadership in public health equity, vaccine hesitancy, and behavioral drivers of health. Hanley actively contributes to global health initiatives, including the WHO reference group on Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSD) of HPV vaccination and the HPV Prevention and Control Board.

Her recent publications span topics such as HPV vaccine effectiveness in Japan, mental health impacts of the pandemic, and equity in cervical screening. She has led multiple JSPS-funded projects on HPV self-sampling and nurse-led screening, and her work has been recognized with awards including the Excellent Original Paper Award (2021) and the Butterfield and Daiwa Awards for UK-Japan collaboration.

Scientific awards include:

• Excellent Original Paper Award (2021)
• Excellent Teacher Award (2020)
• Daiwa Award (2020)
• Butterfield Award (2019)
• Women in Global Science Award (2016)
• Best Oral Presentation (2014)
• Best Original Paper (2012)

She has advised public health agencies in Ireland, Denmark, and Colombia on HPV vaccine safety and has delivered over 100 national and international presentations. She is a visiting lecturer at Hokkaido University and a volunteer interpreter for Sapporo English Medical Interpreters, supporting access to healthcare for non-Japanese speakers. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in health equity and gender equality.