A Faster, Portable Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment Tool for LMICs
Official title: POINT of CARE: PrOviding an Innovative New Triage and Treatment strategy for Cervical cAncer scReening Efficiency
Funded at Basic Health International, INC. · NIH-11400415 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new handheld, battery-powered device with AI support aims to make cervical cancer screening and treatment faster and more accessible in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Basic Health International, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,520,339 |
| NIH project number | 4R01CA285369-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400415 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals undergoing cervical cancer screening in LMICs who test positive for high-risk HPV or show CIN2+ lesions and require treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings without access to LMIC-compatible device deployment or those with conditions unsuitable for thermal ablation may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on improving cervical cancer screening and treatment in LMICs by combining a portable thermal ablation device with an endocervical probe and a digital colposcope. It plans to integrate machine learning to guide treatment decisions and expand access where traditional equipment is scarce. The goal is to achieve high cure rates and streamline care by allowing safer, on-site ablation of CIN2+ lesions without the need for centralized clinics. Researchers will test device performance, user workflows, and patient outcomes in real-world settings to inform scalable adoption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients in LMICs could receive faster, effective screening and treatment at local clinics.
How similar studies have gone: Prior handheld TA devices show promising results, but current devices lack an endocervical probe; this project builds on that work with an integrated ML-guided approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Basic Health International, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masch, Rachel — Basic Health International, INC.
- Study coordinator: Masch, Rachel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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mSaada: a mobile tool to boost cervical cancer screening in western Kenya
A mobile app helps community health volunteers manage cervical cancer screening tasks and follow-up for women in low-resource areas.
-
HPV self-collection in HIV care to screen for cervical cancer in Ethiopia
A patient-centered program tests a simple HPV self-collection approach within HIV clinics in Ethiopia to help detect cervical cancer earlier.
-
HOPE-inG: Increasing cervical cancer screening for women with HIV in Ghana
A study tests a home-based HPV self-sampling approach plus a tailored communication plan to help women living with HIV in Ghana get screened more often for cervical cancer.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening for LMICs using CRISPR and fluorescence
A low-resource, rapid test called CODA uses CRISPR and light signals to detect cervical cancer markers in women in sub-Saharan Africa to improve screening.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings
A new, quick, low-cost test using CRISPR and fluorescence readouts to help screen for cervical cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa.
-
CATSystem: a digital tool to boost cervical cancer screening and follow-up in Kenya
A digital tracking system helps doctors and patients in Kenya improve cervical cancer screening, treatment referrals, and follow-up, especially for women living with HIV.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.