Fast, low-cost cervical cancer screening using CRISPR and light-based detection
Composing CODAs to cervical cancer screening through an integrated CRISPR and fluorescent nucleic acid approach
A rapid, affordable CRISPR-based test is being brought to clinics in Uganda and Ghana to help find precancerous cervical changes in women who lack easy access to screening.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11399240 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, this project adapts a handheld lab test that uses CRISPR and a light-based fluorescence method to spot HPV and other DNA markers linked to cervical precancer. The test produces automated results in under 30 minutes and was already checked on human samples in the lab. Researchers will work with clinicians and lab staff at partner clinics in Uganda and Ghana to make the test easy to use in low-resource settings. The goal is to set up practical workflows so women can be screened more widely and quickly at point-of-care locations.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women eligible for cervical cancer screening who visit participating clinics in the project’s partner sites in Uganda and Ghana.
Not a fit: People without a cervix, men, and women who do not attend participating clinics or whose conditions are not detected by HPV/DNA screening would not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could make cervical screening faster, cheaper, and more widely available in low-resource settings, helping detect precancer earlier.
How similar studies have performed: The team has already validated the CODA CRISPR-fluorescence method on human samples, and other CRISPR-based diagnostics have shown promising rapid detection, though routine point-of-care use in low-resource settings is still relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castro, Cesar M — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Castro, Cesar M
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.