Game Changers to help women promote cervical cancer screening in Uganda
Official title: A Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Trial of Game Changers for Cervical Cancer Prevention in Uganda
Funded at Rand Corporation · NIH-11404687 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A peer-led program trains women who were screened to encourage friends and family to get cervical cancer screening in Uganda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rand Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Santa Monica, United States) |
| Project start | August 8, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $16,796 |
| NIH project number | 3R01CA282284-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11404687 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women in Uganda who are eligible for cervical cancer screening or women who have recently been screened and want to serve as peer leaders are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not live in participating Ugandan communities, men, or women who already get regular screening are unlikely to benefit directly from joining this program.
What this research studies
You would be part of a community program where women who recently had cervical screening lead seven group sessions to share knowledge, dispel myths, and reduce stigma about screening. Those trained peers are supported to talk with women in their social networks and encourage them to get visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening. The research team will compare communities where the program is offered to others to see whether more women get screened and whether the approach can be kept going over time. The work builds on a small pilot that showed much higher screening among people reached through peers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could increase screening so more cancers are caught earlier and fewer women present with advanced disease.
How similar studies have gone: A prior pilot randomized trial funded by an R21 showed dramatic increases in screening among social network members reached by the peer-led intervention.
Where this research is happening
-
Rand Corporation
Santa Monica, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wagner, Glenn John — Rand Corporation
- Study coordinator: Wagner, Glenn John
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Community and digital tools to reduce HPV and cervical cancer burden
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mSaada: a mobile tool to boost cervical cancer screening in western Kenya
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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.
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Hybrid approach to boost cervical cancer screening in Uganda
A tested, community-driven program helps Ugandan women encourage their peers to get free VIA cervical cancer screening.
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.