Associate Professor Dave Hawkes is an internationally recognised expert in molecular virology, specialising in HPV-based cervical screening. He is the Director of Molecular Microbiology at ACPCC and oversees the Australian HPV Reference Laboratory. His pragmatic and implementation-focused research has been pivotal in developing evidence supporting self-collection for HPV-based cervical screening, which has influenced national and global health strategies.
Dave has been involved in various international projects, including working with countries such as India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu to implement, support, monitor, and manage population health programs. He is a member of the WHO Working Group which has developed the WHO HPV Target Product Profile which identifies the characteristics needed for HPV screening tests. He has been an active contributor in the SHE-CAN project in India, contributing his expertise to support and manage HPV testing processes. Dave also supported onsite laboratory strengthening for the EPICC project in Nauru, and program ROSE in Malaysia. Additionally, he holds three academic positions as a Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Malaya, an Adjunct Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University, and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.
