HPV vaccination for girls 9–15 in Africa using youth-led approaches
Official title: Research Project 1
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11627093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-friendly plan to boost HPV vaccination among girls aged 9–15 in Africa by partnering with youth to design and run vaccination programs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 19, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $37,499 |
| NIH project number | 3U54CA284110-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11627093 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Girls aged 9–15 in participating African communities where vaccination services are being expanded.
✕Less likely to help
If a community lacks access to vaccination infrastructure or engagement mechanisms, participants may not see direct benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports a community-led effort to expand access to HPV vaccines for girls 9–15, using youth as partners in planning and implementation. It combines participatory methods, cultural insights, and implementation science to identify and overcome barriers to vaccination. The project will test crowdsourcing and apprenticeships to tailor youth-friendly services and translate HPV prevention into real-world clinics and communities. The work takes place in Africa with involvement from American and Nigerian communities and health systems, aiming to reduce HPV-related cancers over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more girls could receive timely HPV vaccines, lowering future cancer risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous participatory approaches have shown promise in increasing vaccination uptake in some settings, but this project tests youth-led strategies in a new context.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwelunmor, Juliet — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Iwelunmor, Juliet
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.