Affordable, simple cervical cancer screening and diagnosis tools for women with HIV in LMICs and the US
Official title: The AVANÇO Research Consortium: A Mozambique/Brazil/Texas Alliance to advance novel and affordable technologies for the prevention and diagnosis of cervical cancer in women living with HIV
Funded at University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr · NIH-11535315 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A collaboration to create affordable, easy-to-use cervical cancer screening and diagnostic tools for women living with HIV, especially in low-resource settings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $120,096 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA277843-04S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535315 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women living with HIV who are at risk for cervical cancer, particularly in LMIC settings, and populations in the US seeking improved screening options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to HIV care or cervical cancer screening programs may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This project brings together teams in the United States, Mozambique, and Brazil to develop low-cost technologies that can screen, diagnose, and treat cervical cancer in women with HIV. It focuses on making prevention and early detection accessible where resources are limited, with practical tools that can be deployed in real-world clinics. The effort combines engineering, pathology, epidemiology, and behavioral science to move from idea to usable solutions that fit patient needs and local healthcare systems. If successful, these innovations could reduce the burden of cervical cancer in vulnerable populations and improve outcomes for people living with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could lead to affordable, accessible screening and diagnostic options that catch cervical cancer earlier and improve survival for women with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show that low-cost screening approaches can work in LMICs, but this project aims to advance practical, deployable options suitable for varied healthcare settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmeler, Kathleen — University of Tx Md Anderson Can Ctr
- Study coordinator: Schmeler, Kathleen
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer burden
A nurse or health team will test a community-based, digital strategy to help girls and young women, especially in rural areas, get HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer in women with HIV
A community- and digital-technology program aims to help girls and young women, including those with HIV, get more HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention services.
-
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.
-
Globally useful predictor for cervical cancer treatment response
This project aims to develop a simple predictive signature to personalize treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer using easy tests and imaging.
-
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.
-
Hybrid approach to boost cervical cancer screening in Uganda
A tested, community-driven program helps Ugandan women encourage their peers to get free VIA cervical cancer screening.
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.