Closing the gap between cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment in Botswana
Thibang Diphatlha: Testing adaptive strategies to close the gap from cervical cancer diagnosis to treatment in Botswana
This project tries different ways to help people in Botswana with cervical cancer—many living with HIV—get from diagnosis to treatment more quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11162465 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As someone facing cervical cancer in Botswana, this project will test flexible care approaches that change based on how well initial steps work, using a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) design. The team will try strategies that address both personal barriers (like appointments, transport, and navigation) and system problems (like scheduling and referrals) to speed up treatment. Researchers will track how quickly people begin recommended therapy and learn which combinations of changes work best in different clinics and patient groups. The study emphasizes people living with HIV because they face higher risk and extra obstacles to timely care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people in Botswana who have a confirmed cervical cancer diagnosis, including those living with HIV, and who receive care at participating hospitals or clinics.
Not a fit: People who do not have a cervical cancer diagnosis, who live outside the study regions, or who cannot engage with clinic-based care are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these adaptive strategies could shorten delays to treatment and reduce cervical cancer deaths in Botswana and similar low-resource settings.
How similar studies have performed: While many programs have improved screening and prevention in low-resource settings, few trials have tested adaptive strategies to speed treatment after diagnosis, so this approach is relatively new for Botswana.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grover, Surbhi — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Grover, Surbhi
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.