AI-powered portable cervical check to fast-track care in low-resource settings
Official title: Development and Validation of an Artificial-Intelligence-enabled Portable Colposcopy Device for Optimizing Triage Alternatives for HPV-based Cervical Cancer Screening
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11533916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portable AI-enabled imaging device for cervical screening that can triage women for treatment in one visit, especially in areas with limited healthcare resources.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | May 20, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $41,400 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA269192-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11533916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women undergoing HPV-based cervical cancer screening, particularly in low-resource or rural settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings with robust screening infrastructure may experience less impact from this technology.
What this research studies
This grant aims to develop and validate a portable, AI-assisted colposcopy device to provide quick, point-of-care diagnosis for HPV-positive women. It focuses on a single-visit model that combines cervical imaging with an automated diagnosis to reduce the need for multiple visits and specialist pathways. The project enlists Duke University researchers to create and test the device in real-world settings to see if it can accurately identify precancerous changes without traditional colposcopy infrastructure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could enable faster, more accessible cervical cancer screening and treatment, potentially reducing deaths in resource-limited communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts show promise for AI-assisted diagnostics in cervical cancer, but this portable, single-visit approach is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramanujam, Nirmala — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Ramanujam, Nirmala
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.