HPV self-collection program for women with HIV in West Africa
West Africa Self-Sampling HPV Based Cervical Cancer Control Program (WA-SS-HCCP) for WLWHA: Barriers, challenges, and needs
This program offers HPV self-test kits to women living with HIV in West Africa to help find early signs of cervical cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11396464 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you take part, you would be given a simple kit to collect your own cervical sample for HPV testing. The program partners with HIV clinics in West Africa (including Mali and Nigeria) to return results and link women with high-risk HPV to follow-up care. Researchers will also talk with participants and providers to learn what makes self-testing easier or harder and what support is needed. The goal is to adapt the program so more women living with HIV can be screened and treated earlier.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women living with HIV in participating West African sites, especially those who are due for cervical screening, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Women who do not live in the participating countries, who are not living with HIV, or who already receive regular clinic-based screening may not directly benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could increase early detection of HPV and cervical disease in women with HIV and speed access to treatment, lowering cervical cancer risk.
How similar studies have performed: Self-sampling HPV programs have shown promise and cost-effectiveness in other settings, but wide implementation in West Africa—especially for women with HIV—has been limited.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hou, Lifang — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Hou, Lifang
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.