Breast Cancer Diagnostic Kit to Improve Early Diagnosis in Uganda
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11535337 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, easy-to-use breast cancer diagnostic kit is being tested in Uganda to help doctors find cancer earlier in primary care clinics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 26, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $99,951 |
| NIH project number | 3U01CA292550-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11535337 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women aged 18 and older presenting at primary care clinics in Uganda who are at risk for breast cancer or have suspicious findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to primary care clinics or with benign conditions unlikely to be helped by the new diagnostic workflow may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to optimize and test a point-of-care kit that combines an AI-enabled ultrasound and a smartphone imaging device with a biomarker chip to improve early breast cancer detection. The team will validate the kit first in the United States against standard approaches, then adapt and test it in Uganda, with feedback from local health workers and patients. The study includes a community-driven rollout plan and a cluster randomized trial across eight community health centers to assess real-world impact. The effort focuses on accessibility, usability, and accuracy in a resource-limited setting to reach women who typically access care late.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the kit could enable earlier and more accurate breast cancer diagnosis in Uganda, potentially improving survival and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary AI-driven diagnostics have shown promise in research settings, with real-world validation remaining crucial.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scheel, John R — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Scheel, John R
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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.