Affordable rapid HPV self-test kit for women in Nigeria
Innovative Rapid Enabling, Affordable, point-of-Care HPV Self-Testing Strategy (I-REACH)
This project develops a low-cost, fast HPV self-test kit to help women in Nigeria check for HPV linked to cervical cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400608 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a simple self-test kit that uses a rapid, paper-strip HPV test adapted for low-resource settings. The team will use a LAMP-based test combined with a one-step, dried (lyophilized) lateral flow strip so the kit is stable and easy to use. Women in Nigeria will help design and refine the kit through crowdsourcing open calls and learning communities so the final product fits local needs. After refinement, the kit will be tested with screen-eligible women (typically ages 30-49) to see if it is acceptable and usable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are women in Nigeria who are eligible for cervical cancer screening (commonly ages 30–49) and willing to try a self-collected HPV test.
Not a fit: Women outside the target screening age range, those with urgent cervical symptoms needing immediate clinical care, or those unable to perform self-sampling may not receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make HPV screening more accessible and help detect cervical disease earlier, lowering cervical cancer deaths.
How similar studies have performed: Low-cost HPV self-tests and LAMP-based assays have shown promise in other low-resource settings, but combining this technology with crowd-designed, woman-centered kits for Nigeria is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwelunmor, Juliet — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Iwelunmor, Juliet
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 below.