Automated imaging to diagnose high-grade precancerous anal lesions in people with HIV
The Effectiveness of Automated Multimodal Imaging in High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions (HSIL) Diagnosis for People Living with HIV: An International Trial
This project uses low-cost automated imaging and AI to help clinicians spot and diagnose high-grade precancerous anal lesions in people living with HIV in real time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11158964 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, the team will use a portable, low-cost high-resolution micro-endoscope (HRME) together with automated multimodal imaging and AI tools during high-resolution anoscopy to provide an immediate "optical biopsy" of abnormal anal tissue. The approach is intended to highlight cellular changes without waiting for traditional histology, reducing the need for separate biopsy visits and lowering discomfort. The trial is being run across international clinical sites to test the technology in both low- and high-resource settings and to support a see-and-treat workflow. You would receive the imaging at specialized clinics where clinicians are trained in high-resolution anoscopy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people living with HIV who are undergoing anal cancer screening or who have abnormal findings on high-resolution anoscopy suggestive of HSIL.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those already diagnosed with invasive anal cancer, or individuals who cannot tolerate anoscopy procedures are unlikely to benefit from this diagnostic-focused approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce unnecessary tissue biopsies, speed up diagnosis and treatment, and lower loss to follow-up for people living with HIV at risk for anal cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work showed that treating anal HSIL reduces cancer incidence and the mobile HRME has been optimized and initially validated, but broader international testing of automated multimodal imaging is still needed.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anandasabapathy, Sharmila — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Anandasabapathy, Sharmila
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.