AI-powered cervical cancer screening and treatment guidance for LMICs
Official title: A novel, one stop, affordable, point of care and artificial intelligence supported system of screening, triage and treatment selection for cervical cancer and precancer in the LMICs
Funded at International Agency for Res on Cancer · NIH-11418515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based system helps screen for cervical cancer and guide treatment choices for women in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | International Agency for Res on Cancer NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lyon, France) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $147,753 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA275824-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who are screen-eligible for cervical cancer screening, including those in Zimbabwe and the USA, who test positive for hr-HPV.
✕Less likely to help
Women without hr-HPV or with non-actionable findings may not receive direct benefit from the AI-guided treatment recommendations.
What this research studies
This project aims to create and test an AI-enabled approach that uses urine tests for hr-HPV signals and high-quality cervical images to identify precancer and cancer, then recommends the best treatment option. It will be implemented in Zimbabwe and the United States to compare performance and adapt to different care settings. The study will involve capturing cervical images, analyzing infrared signals from urine, and providing real-time guidance to clinicians on next steps. By focusing on accessibility and expert-assisted decision-making, the project seeks to improve early detection and appropriate treatment in resource-limited environments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this system could reduce missed precancer cases and tailor treatments to individual patients, potentially lowering cervical cancer deaths.
How similar studies have gone: AI-assisted cervical cancer screening has shown promise in some settings, but this project uniquely combines urine-based hr-HPV signals with image-based triage and treatment guidance across two countries.
Where this research is happening
-
International Agency for Res on Cancer
Lyon, France Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Basu, Partha — International Agency for Res on Cancer
- Study coordinator: Basu, Partha
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.