Bringing HPV screening and same-day treatment to prevent cervical cancer
The Empilisweni Initiative - Advancing Implementation of Cervical Cancer Control
This program helps expand HPV-based screening with immediate treatment in communities to prevent cervical cancer, especially in low-resource settings like South Africa.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11402471 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This initiative builds on a long partnership between Columbia University and the University of Cape Town to scale up HPV-based 'screen-and-treat' services in clinic and community settings. Teams will offer HPV testing and, when needed, immediate treatment for pre-cancerous changes, while training local health workers and adapting procedures to local costs and logistics. The project will track who gets screened and treated, test strategies to increase uptake and follow-up, and work with health systems to integrate screening into routine care. The aim is to make effective, same-day cervical cancer prevention widely available where it is most needed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a cervix who are due for cervical cancer screening or who receive care at participating clinics or community programs, particularly in South Africa and similar low-resource settings.
Not a fit: People without a cervix, those already diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer needing specialized treatment, or individuals who cannot access participating clinics are unlikely to benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people could be screened and treated early, lowering cervical cancer cases and deaths in participating communities.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical trials from the same research team have shown HPV-based screening with same-day treatment is safe and effective, but large-scale implementation in routine health systems is less well established.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castor, Delivette — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Castor, Delivette
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.