Better cervical cancer screening and follow-up in Puerto Rico
Official title: The effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of interventions to improve the delivery of cervical cancer screening in Puerto Rico.
Funded at Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr · NIH-11184225 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries different approaches—like HPV self-sampling and patient navigators—to help more women in Puerto Rico get cervical cancer screening and timely follow-up.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Juan, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $560,185 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA282424-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184225 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are women in Puerto Rico who are eligible for cervical cancer screening (roughly ages 21–65) who are overdue or under-screened, especially Medicaid or Medicare enrollees seen in government clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People who are up-to-date with cervical screening, outside the eligible age range, or who have had a total hysterectomy for benign disease are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
What this research studies
You would be invited through community and government clinics across Puerto Rico to join a randomized, four-arm trial comparing ways to improve screening. The trial compares HPV self-sampling at home, patient navigators who help overcome barriers and schedule follow-up, combined multicomponent approaches, and usual clinic care. Researchers will track who completes screening and follow-up care, and will collect data on costs and the budget impact for clinics. Findings will be used to recommend practical, affordable programs for government clinics serving low-income women.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase timely screening and follow-up, lower late-stage cervical cancer diagnoses, and support affordable programs in Puerto Rico's clinics.
How similar studies have gone: HPV self-sampling and patient navigation have increased screening in other settings and early work in Puerto Rico shows self-sampling is acceptable, but full effectiveness and cost-effectiveness have not yet been demonstrated for this population.
Where this research is happening
-
Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr
San Juan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ortiz, Ana Patricia — Comprehensive Cancer Center/ Univ/pr
- Study coordinator: Ortiz, Ana Patricia
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.