Improving cervical cancer screening and care for women living with HIV in Kenya
Official title: ENHANcing CErvical cancer screening and treatment in women LIviNg with HIV in KenyA (ENHANCE LINKAge)
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11416457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program in Kenya will test practical ways to screen for cervical cancer among women with HIV and connect them quickly to necessary treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $417,967 |
| NIH project number | 5U01CA275120-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women living with HIV in Kenya who attend public HIV clinics and are eligible for cervical cancer screening and follow-up care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have access to HIV clinics or cervical cancer screening services in the studied settings may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project partners with HIV clinics in Kenya to integrate cervical cancer screening into routine care for women living with HIV. It will study real-world barriers—like patient, provider, and system challenges—to screening and timely treatment, and test strategies to improve referrals and follow-up. The team will use implementation science methods to identify what works in publicly funded clinics and document how care can be improved, with an emphasis on scalability and accountability. By focusing on linking women who need further testing or treatment to appropriate services, the work aims to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lead to higher screening rates, faster referrals, and better treatment access for WLWH in Kenya, potentially lowering cervical cancer deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Implementation-focused studies in similar settings suggest that integrated screening and referral can improve care, though results depend on local context.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Michael Hoonbae — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Chung, Michael Hoonbae
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mSaada: a mobile tool to boost cervical cancer screening in western Kenya
A mobile app helps community health volunteers manage cervical cancer screening tasks and follow-up for women in low-resource areas.
-
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.
-
HOPE-inG: Increasing cervical cancer screening for women with HIV in Ghana
A study tests a home-based HPV self-sampling approach plus a tailored communication plan to help women living with HIV in Ghana get screened more often for cervical cancer.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening for LMICs using CRISPR and fluorescence
A low-resource, rapid test called CODA uses CRISPR and light signals to detect cervical cancer markers in women in sub-Saharan Africa to improve screening.
-
CODA-based cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings
A new, quick, low-cost test using CRISPR and fluorescence readouts to help screen for cervical cancer in women in sub-Saharan Africa.
-
CATSystem: a digital tool to boost cervical cancer screening and follow-up in Kenya
A digital tracking system helps doctors and patients in Kenya improve cervical cancer screening, treatment referrals, and follow-up, especially for women living with HIV.
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.